Promenade and public domain
We're delivering new public domain in Honeysuckle, providing quality connections and outdoor spaces to walk, cycle, jog, scoot and picnic along the waters edge.
Now open: Cottage Creek south-east
Works complete, April 2024
Honeysuckle's newest section of public space has now opened on the south-east section of Cottage Creek, alongside the brand new Little National Hotel.
This new public domain blends seamlessly with the existing park at Cottage Creek north-east, connected by a pedestrian crossing across Honeysuckle Drive. It features new native trees, lawn space, gardens, seating, a picnic table, paving and lighting.
- Media release: New public space now open
Foreshore promenade and Cottage Creek
Works completed
We've opened the latest community space alongside Cottage Creek, delivering more mature trees and native grasses, connecting pathways, new bench seating and embedded with inspiring public art.
This work follows the completion of Honeysuckle's new harbourside promenade, which connects 11km of uninterrupted coastal pathways from Wickham to Merewether Beach, and features a pedestrian and cycle bridge over Cottage Creek, native plantings, seating and water bubblers. We also reinstated a connection that extends further west to Wickham Marina.
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We collaborated with Hunter Water to deliver a more natural looking Cottage Creek between the harbour and light rail. The concrete walls were replaced with attractive tiered sandstone and native plantings were added to soften the creek's edge, creating a welcoming community space.
The Cottage Creek works were funded by HCCDC, Hunter Water and grants from the NSW Government’s Newcastle Port Community Contribution Fund.
The next phase of works will take in the land on the western side of Cottage Creek to coincide with the future development of Honeysuckle HQ.
Honeysuckle HQ
The final Honeysuckle lands to be transformed
The far western edge of Honeysuckle is comprised of two parcels of land: 'Honeysuckle Quays' on the waterfront side of Honeysuckle Drive, and 'Honeysuckle Quarter' on the city side.
On the city side sits the former Wickham School of Arts building, which has undergone repairs to give it the best possible chance of being repurposed. The remaining land provides temporary car parking until a future use is identified.
We’re seeking an experienced development partner to transform Honeysuckle HQ into a magnetic and vibrant destination, where the new CBD meets the waterfront. This process is being managed in a progressive manner, with shortlisted development partners now participating in a final design stage. We expect to announce the successful partner late 2024.
University of Newcastle
The University of Newcastle (UoN) is significantly expanding its city centre presence with its Honeysuckle City Campus development.
The masterplan for this 10-year development sees seven new buildings over 6.2 hectares of Honeysuckle land. Construction of the UoN Honeysuckle site commenced in 2020, with its first building (the Q Building) opening the following year.
UoN Q Building
Construction complete 2021
UoN's first Honeysuckle building, 'Newcastle's School of Creative Industries and Integrated Innovation Network Hub', known as the Q Building, opened mid-2021.
Q Building at 16 Honeysuckle Drive includes specialised spaces and technologies that enhance working and collaborative environments enriching teaching, learning, co-working and entrepreneurial experiences.
Q is the first building in regional NSW to achieve a 6-star Green Star rating for it's innovative, sustainable design initiatives.
Student accommodation
Works in progress
UoN is proposing a 450-bed student accommodation building at 20 Civic Lane to help address the critical shortage of student housing and add to the revitalisation of Newcastle's CBD.
The project includes ground floor student and staff facilities, retail, outdoor communal spaces, landscaping and associated public domain works.
There will be temporary changes to conditions and parking during construction, visit the UoN's project page for updates.
Hope at Honeysuckle
Planning in progress
Following HCCDC's restoration of Honeysuckle's iconic 'The Wharf' building, and a competitive process to identify its future use — Hope Estate have announced their plans to deliver their new destination venue, 'Hope at Honeysuckle'.
The new tourist destination will bring the best of the Hunter to Newcastle by showcasing the wine, spirits and craft beer the Hope family is known for; along with cooking masterclasses, wine tastings and beer matching experiences.
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The initial Development Application (DA) for the venue was approved by City of Newcastle in late-2021, and was followed by a DA amendment by Hope in 2023 to enhance the venue offering.
Other private sector developments
Little National Hotel
42 Honeysuckle Drive
Construction complete, April 2024
Developer: Doma Group
Doma’s new Little National Hotel caters for business, conference and leisure guests in the heart of the Honeysuckle precinct. The boutique hotel features 181 rooms, bar, gym, lounge and library facilities, with an adjoining 5,500m2 office building and parking.
Horizon on the Harbour
45 Honeysuckle Drive
Construction complete, December 2023
Developer: Miller Property Corporation
110 high quality architecturally designed residential apartments, 970m2 of ground floor retail, and two levels of basement car parking. HCCDC has delivered new public domain adjacent, as part of the harbourside promenade connecting the city to Wickham.
Huntington
35 Honeysuckle Drive
Construction complete, November 2022
Developer: Doma Group
Doma’s Huntington development features 86 apartments and 1500m2 of ground-floor retail space. It is surrounded by attractive public open space that integrates with the picturesque Honeysuckle harbourfront delivered by HCCDC.
Will Throsby Carpark remain open?
The Throsby Carpark is temporary and will eventually close when the land is repurposed.
What other carparks are there in Newcastle?
There are hundreds of parking spaces in Newcastle city centre, including 19 off-street parking stations. Many of these offer all day parking for reasonable fees.
Visit the Parking in Newcastle webpage to download the EasyPark App and Off-street Parking Map.
What is the future of the remaining land in the west of Honeysuckle?
Of the remaining land held in Honeysuckle, more than one third is being transformed into high-quality public space, while the other land is zoned for mixed use and commercial development. This land is strategically located in Newcastle’s emerging west end CBD and close to the transport interchange. Visit our Honeysuckle HQ project page for more information.
What will happen to the Wickham School of Arts building?
The former Wickham School of Arts building has local heritage significance. The building is recognised within the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2012.
City of Newcastle approved our DA for repair works to the building, which commenced in October 2021. These works are now complete and included removing hazardous materials, removing non-heritage components, adding a new roof, and making the building watertight. The works will enable the building to be repurposed as part of the Honeysuckle HQ development.
We've asked potential developers to incorporate the building into their proposals, provide adaptive reuse and run a design competition for the inclusion of public space adjacent to the building.
Useful links
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- Honeysuckle urban renewal: Project page
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