Newcastle Customs House, Historic customs building in Newcastle, Australia
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.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
