These days artists in residence, rather than prisoners, occupy this former police station (1861). There’s a dynamic contemporary-art program, artists studios and such creepy jailhouse relics as the well-preserved padded cell, whose leather walls are stuffed with horsehair.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Newcastle attractions

1. Newcastle Beach

0.22 MILES

Surfers and swimmers adore this picturesque patrolled beach at the eastern end of the town centre. Nearby accommodation and eating options mean that you…

2. Christ Church Cathedral

0.23 MILES

Dominating the city skyline, Newcastle's Anglican cathedral is filled with treasures like a gold chalice and a remembrance book made from jewellery…

4. Fort Scratchley

0.43 MILES

Perched above Newcastle Harbour, this intriguing military site was constructed during the Crimean War to protect the city against a feared Russian…

5. King Edward Park

0.48 MILES

This magnificently landscaped ocean-side park offers sweeping views, lots of grass and plenty of shady spots for lounging around. The best views are from…

6. Nobby's Beach

0.56 MILES

Surfers should goofy-foot it to Nobby's Beach. The fast left-hander known as the Wedge is at its northern end, which can also offer good kitesurfing…

7. Newcastle Art Gallery

0.64 MILES

Ignore the brutalist exterior, as inside this remarkable regional gallery are some wonderful works. There's no permanent exhibition; displays rotate the…

8. Newcastle Museum

0.7 MILES

This attractive museum in the restored Honeysuckle rail workshops tells a tale of the city from its Indigenous Awabakal origins to its rough-and-tumble…

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