PORT of Newcastle is to mark its 220th year in operation with a fireworks display on Australia Day in partnership with the City of Newcastle.
Port of Newcastle chief executive Craig Carmody said they were excited to celebrate the milestone by sponsoring the fireworks above the harbour.
“The Port and the City of Newcastle have grown and prospered together over more than two centuries,” Mr Carmody said.
“We were pleased to join the City of Newcastle as a Presenting Partner of the New Year’s Eve celebrations and look forward to seeing the fireworks display now occur on 26 January,” he said.
“Little did anyone realise in 1799, when the barque, Hunter, left the harbour with coal bound for India, that the port would go on to become so integral to the growth and economic prosperity of Newcastle and regional NSW.”
Mr Carmody said the port played a significant role as an economic driver and a catalyst for growth throughout the Hunter region, New South Wales Australia.
The fireworks display was originally set to form part of the community’s New Year’s Eve function, however wild weather put paid to those plans.
“City of Newcastle has now advised Port of Newcastle of a revised approved date of Saturday 26 January,” Mr Carmody said.
“We’re pleased to have been given a new date and hope people will find a good vantage point of the harbour.”
Since the first commercial shipment in 1799, Port of Newcastle has grown to become Australia’s third-largest port in terms of volume, exporting vast amounts of coal to our neighbours in Asia.
