THE BHP Newcastle steelworks opened in 1915, positioning the city and its port a significant centre of Australian industry. Over the course of World War I, the city became an important supplier of steel for ships and other material. For more than 80 years, until the steelworks closed in 1999, Newcastle was Australia’s steel city.

In February 1923, Daily Commercial News ran an article describing Newcastle as the Pittsburgh of Australia. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania played a significant role in the history of the United States’ steel industry – it is still known as the “steel city” even after the city was de-industrialised in the 1970s and 1980s.

Below is the article looking at the future of Newcastle, published in February 1923.

THE PITTSBURGH OF AUSTRALIA

Newcastle is going to be the Pittsburgh of Australia. Everything points to that industrial centre becoming the greatest producer of steel, and the chief centre in this continent for the manufacture of industrial machinery, and all heavy products. It will also be one of the main ports for ship construction, and probably the centre for the construction of motor cars for the many millions of the Australia of the future.

The developments of the past few weeks have made manufacturers optimistic about Australia’s future as a manufacturing country. We can see with half an eye that high tariffs will eventually have the effect we want them to have. Overseas manufacturers, who desire to exploit the Australian market, will establish Australian factories; factories which we have not the money to establish ourselves. Only last week the great firm of Babcock and Wilcox established an Australian branch at Sydney, so as to supply the needs for their goods in Australia while being on the same footing as the Australian manufacturer.

Now there comes the announcement that Henry Ford, the greatest producer of motor cars in the world, has decided to establish a chain of factories throughout the world, and that Newcastle has been chosen as the site for the Australian factory. This is heartening. Twice before the same thing has been announced, and Australians have been disheartened by the non-appearance of the factory; but now it appears that everything has been fixed for the Australian factory to be established at Newcastle.

It is stated that one of the great motor car manufacturer’s officers has been waiting in Newcastle for the gloom to shift from the industrial activity of that centre, and now that most of the big concerns have once more started in to work under the much more settled industrial conditions, the American has returned to the United States to tender his report to Mr Ford. Before his departure, he stated that within three years or four at the outside, it will be possible for Ford cars to be sold in Australia for £100.

Many manufacturers have stated that this is just a statement to give Newcastle an industrial boom; but then the fact remains that when Henry Ford has started he will immediately go ahead with his idea of establishing a chain of factories throughout the world. Under settled industrial conditions it is certain that Mr Ford could manufacture cars and get a much greater return for them on mass production in Australia than by manufacturing them in America and exporting them to agencies in Australia.

Newcastle could be the centre for the manufacture of all cars for the markets within closed proximity to Australia. Java, with other Eastern countries and New Zealand naturally come into the orbit of the Newcastle works.

It is certain, however, that the industrial conditions govern the whole question of erecting a Ford factory in Australia.

This article appeared in the February 2023 edition of DCN Magazine