Newcastle Harbour
From Engineering Heritage Australia
The Port of Newcastle is a modern deep-water harbour handling a greater tonnage of cargo than any other Australia port.
It was developed to this state from a shallow shoaled estuary by over 150 years of continuous engineering works starting with “Macquaries Pier” from 1818, the first ocean breakwater in Australia and one of the few major convict built works then developed consistently to the plan of Edward Orpen Moriaty of the 1850’s under the supervision of engineers of the Department of Public Works and since 1958 – 1971 of the Maritime Services Board with final deepening of the bars to 15.2 metres completed in 1983.
Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
| Marker Type | National Engineering Landmarke (NEL) |
| Award Date | 18 July 1989 |
| Heritage Significance | The shallow river estuary has been made into a very large harbour by engineering. |
| Nomination Document | Available here. |
| Ceremony Booklet | Available here. |
| Plaque/Interpretation Panel | None Installed. |
