Newcastle and the Hunter Region

Newcastle and the Hunter Region provides a compendium of factual information about the Region. First published in 1960, it is a unique reference tool for anyone interested in the Hunter Region.

The 450 page 38th edition of the publication includes information on population and demography, industry sectors, employment, education, culture, health, utilities, transport, quality of life, property market, the environment and climate. It is produced as an e-book and can be downloaded chapter by chapter or contact the Foundation for a hard copy.  

  • Request a copy of Newcastle and the Hunter Region E-book - by contacting our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
  • Free downloads of individual chapters (PDF file format) are available below.

Newcastle and the Hunter Region 2008-2009

Section heading Sub-section Inclusions
Cover pages and table of contents

Resources

Land

Boundaries of the Hunter Region  
Land types
Geology
Biodiversity
National parks, conservation areas and nature reserves
Forests
Wetlands
Marine parks
Land management agencies
Water The Hunter River system  
Coastal lakes and estuaries Lake Macquarie; Hunter estuary; Port Stephens estuary; Smiths Lake; Wallis Lake estuary
Water resources management  
Flood mitigation  
Water storages  
Private irrigation districts Pokolbin; Broke-Fordwich
The Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme  
Water supply and waster water services - Lower Hunter Hunter Water Corporation - regulation; water supply; wastewater treatment; recycling effluent; storm water
Water supply and waste water services - Hunter Balance MidCoast Water; Gloucester Shire Council; Upper Hunter
Climate General characteristics  
Weather records Monthly average maximum and minimum temperatures;monthly record maximum and minimum temperatures; total annual rainfall; average monthly rainfall; hourly rainfall and maximum wind gust readings for the 24 hours to 9am, 9 June 2007
June long weekend - Pasha Bulker storm 2007 Hourly rainfall and maximum wind gust readings for the 24 hours to 9am, 9 June 2007

The population and the labour force

Population and demography Age distribution and growth 1996-2006 Lower Hunter; Upper Hunter; Other Hunter; the Hunter Region (local government area)
Estimated resident population 2007  
Gender distribution  
Ethnicity Country of birth; language spoken at home; indigenous status (local government area analysis of growth 1996-2006; age distribution); Aboriginal cultural groups and local planning
Household and family structure Household relationships; types of families
Population projections Determinants of population growth; the HVRF population projection model; medium growth projections
Socio-economic indexes for areas (SEIFA)  
The labour force Employment Long-term trends; part-time and full-time employment; hours-based measures of employment
Unemployment  
Labour force participation  
Employment by industry Long-term trends; broad sectoral analysis; current data; local government area analysis; industry dependence
Employment by occupation Long-term trends; current data

The Economy

Primary industry
Agriculture and fishing Agriculture, forestry and fishing Counts of businesses; employment
Agriculture Area and landuse; grains, cereals and hay; wheat exports; fruit, vegetables and nuts; livestock; the grape and wine industry; the equine industry
Fishing Resource management; commercial fishing; operations; sale of the commercial catch; catch volume and value; recreational fishing; aquaculture
Mining Mining Counts of businesses; Employment
Coal mining Early history; coal resources; production; exports and export prices; mine developments

Secondary industry

Manufacturing Overview (non-current data)

Manufacturing census

1991-92 - 2001-02

Current data and the definition of manufacturing 1993 and 2006 versions of ANZSIC
Counts of businesses  
Employment (1993 ANZSIC) Overview and detailed industry analysis - 1996 and 2006
Employment (2006 ANZSIC) Overview 2006
Major Industries Aluminium (Tomago and Hydro Aluminium smelters)

Tertiary industry

Accommodation and tourism

Accommodation, cafes and restaurants

Counts of businesses; employment
Accommodation Hotels, motels and serviced apartments; caravan parks; holiday flats, units and houses; visitor hostels
Tourism Tourism regions in NSW; domestic overnight visitation; international overnight visitation; domestic day trip visitation; Hunter Region Strategic Tourism Plan 2005-2008

Culture and recreation

Cultural and recreational services

Counts of businesses; employment (1993 ANZSIC); employment (2006 ANZSIC)
Screen Hunter Central Coast Films, documentaries and television series shot in the Hunter 1998-2006
Other organisations Website references for other organisations associated with the arts, entertainment and sport in the Hunter
Hunter residents' use of free time Satisfaction with free time; free-time activities; television and the internet; outdoor leisure activities; voluntary work (data from the Hunter Valley Research Foundation's Wellbeing Watch program)
Communications, and computer and internet usage Communication services Counts of businesses; employment (1993 ANZSIC); employment (2006 ANZSIC)
Broadcasting  
Newspapers  
Computer and internet usage Households; businesses; internet service providers
Construction, property markets and housing Construction Counts of businesses; employment
Construction and property markets Market drivers and financial market impacts
Residential property Housing supply (building approvals); major residential projects; housing demand (investors, first home buyers and owner-occupiers); housing prices and sales; residential lot values; residential market outlook
Non-residential property Building approvals
Retail property Market issues; retail property values
Industrial property Market issues; industrial property values
Office property Market issues; office rents and yields
Housing Housing stock; housing tenure; public housing and government support; housing affordability (issues and causes, effects on owner-occupiers, rental affordability and community perceptions of affordability)
Education and educational attainment Education Counts of businesses; employment (1993 ANZSIC); employment (2006 ANZSIC)
  Enrolments in educational institutions  
  Technical and vocational education TAFE - the Hunter Institute of Technology; apprenticeship training; group training; the Hunter Valley Training Company; Australian technical colleges; Tocal Agricultural College; Adult and Community Education
  University Education The University of Newcastle; Avondale College
  Educational Attainment Participation in school education; high school completion; reasons for leaving school early' labour forrce status and early school leaving; post-school qualifications; labour force status and post-school qualifications
Energy: electricity, gas and alternative energy sources Electricity, gas and water supply Counts of businesses; employment (1993 ANZSIC); employment (2006 ANZSIC)
Electricity Proposed State Government policy; generation; transmission; distribution and retail
Gas  
Alternative energy sources Geothermal; solar; bio-mass; hydro; wind
Finance and insurance Finance and insurance Counts of businesses; employment (1993 ANZSIC)
National Stock Exchange of Australia  
Government administration and defence Government administration and defence Employment (1993 ANZSIC); Employment (2006 ANZSIC)
Local government councils Comparative information
Defence RAAF Base Williamtown; Singleton Military Area; Adamstown Army Base; Myambat Logistics Company
Public order and safety Correctional centres; firefighting services; police services; State Emergency Services
Health, disability and carers, and childcare Health and community services Counts of businesses; employment
Hunter New England Health Area of service; employment; hospitals (facilities, separations and bed days); emergency care; after hours GP access; surgical services; mental health; community health centres and services; community links
Private hospitals and aged care facilities  
Ambulance services  
Rescue helicopter services  

The health of the population (including data from the Hunter Valley Research Foundation's Wellbeing Watch program)

Life expectancy and mortality; cardiovascular disease; cancer; health checks; respiratory disease; communicable diseases; mental health
Health-related behaviors (including data from the Hunter Valley Research Foundation's Wellbeing Watch program) Nutrition; smoking; alcohol consumption; physical activity; obesity; immunisation
Indigenous health  
Access to GP services Data from the Hunter Valley Research Foundation's Wellbeing Watch program)
Access to dental services
Access to medicines
Disability (including data from the Hunter Valley Research Foundation's Wellbeing Watch program) Incidence; types of disability; need for assistance; provision of unpaid assistance to the disabled; carer stress; participation of the disabled in the labour force
Childcare Provision of unpaid childcare; attendance at pre-school
Property and business services Property and business services Counts of businesses; employment (1993 ANZSIC); employment (2006 ANZSIC)
Research organisations CSIRO Energy Centre; Hunter Medical Research Institute; Hunter Valley Research Foundation; Newcastle Innovation; University of Newcastle
Transport and storage Transport and storage Counts of businesses; employment (1993 ANZSIC)
The Port of Newcastle Port Waratah Coal Services; other cargo and storage facilities; ship repair and small vessel berths; port developments; imports and exports(including coal exports)
Road transport  
Air transport Newcastle Airport; Sydney Seaplanes; helicopter services
Rail transport Freight services; passenger services; buses and ferries
Transport issues  
Wholesale and retail trade Wholesale and retail trade Counts of businesses; employment (1993 ANZSIC)
Industrial estates and shopping centres Details according to local government area

Social Indicators

Crime Incidence in the Hunter and NSW Recorded incidents of specified crimes per 100,000 head of population, 2005 and 2006
Trends  
Perceptions of safety Data from the Hunter Valley Research Foundation's Wellbeing Watch program
Perceptions of crime
Victimisation rates
Environment Attitudes towards the environment HVRF surveys
Managing the environment State Government authorities
Local government action State of the Environment Reports; waste management
Income Individual income - Census data According to local government area
Average weekly earnings - survey data For persons, males and females according to industry
Wage and salary earners - ATO data According to local government area
Household income - Census data According to local government area
Median incomes and the Henderson Poverty Line For individuals, families and households, according to industry
Perceptions of income and poverty Data from the Hunter Valley Research Foundation's Wellbeing Watch program
Factors affecting household income
Journey to work Mode of transport  
Origin and destination of journeys to work  
Trips by purpose  
Quality of Life Hunter Valley Research Foundation's Wellbeing Watch program The Wellbeing Watch publication; measuring wellbeing
Satisfaction with, and benefits from, work  
Parenting and work-life balance  
Carers  
Community connectedness and neighbourhoods  
Religion Religious affiliation  
Religious beliefs Data from the Hunter Valley Research Foundation's Wellbeing Watch program
Road traffic accidents Degree of accident, contributing factors and degree of casualty  
Work accidents WorkCover reports of injuries  

Hunter History Highlights

Timeline: 1770-2008 Key Hunter Region events