Newcastle Customs House

Newcastle Customs House is a historic harbor building in New South Wales featuring Italian-influenced architecture and design. The facade displays cream-colored brickwork with a sandstone base, curved arch windows, and a distinctive 32-meter clock tower that rises above the waterfront area.

The building was constructed in 1877 as a customs office and shaped Newcastle's harbor operations for over a century. After earthquake damage, it underwent major restoration and reopened in 1995 as a hotel while preserving its historic character.

The building sits where the harbor zone meets the city center, blending its original role as a customs station with its current function as a hotel and gathering place. It demonstrates how Newcastle honors its past as a major trading port while remaining an active part of community and visitor life.

The building operates today as a hotel with a restaurant on the ground level and event spaces on the upper floors. Its position at Bond Street and Watt Street near the harbor makes it easy to reach and a convenient starting point for exploring the waterfront area.

From 1888 to 1941, the building operated a copper-plated time ball that dropped daily to help ship captains synchronize their chronometers for safe navigation. This mechanical signal was a practical innovation that served international maritime traffic of its era.

Location: New South Wales

Inception: 1877

Architectural style: Italianate architecture

GPS coordinates: -32.92660,151.78500

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:54