Geography of Newcastle
Newcastle, Australia, the second largest city in New South Wales. It is at the mouth of the Hunter River on the Pacific coast, about 75 miles (120 km) northeast of Sydney. Newcastle is the center of the Hunter Valley coal-mining and farming region. Iron and steel, machinery, ships, clothing, processed foods, and chemicals are chief products. The city is a major port.
Newcastle was first settled in 1801 and was used as a penal colony until the middle of the century. It developed rapidly with the increase of coal mining and became a major manufacturing city after steel mills were established here in the early 20th century.
Population: 230,569.