Cottage Creek public domain
Following the creation of the new grassed area and public artwork at Cottage Creek north-east, work is now underway to transform the south-east section across Honeysuckle Drive.
This new public space will blend seamlessly with the existing park, which is connected by a pedestrian crossing across Honeysuckle Drive. It will feature new native trees, lawn, gardens, seating a picnic table, paving and lighting.
The park is expected to open in April 2024.
Foreshore promenade and Cottage Creek work
We've opened the latest community space alongside Cottage Creek, delivering more mature trees and native grasses, connecting pathways, new bench seating and 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, so locals and visitors can continue to walk, cycle, jog or scoot along the water's edge.
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 work will take in the land to the southeast of Cottage Creek, alongside Little National Hotel, followed by the western side of Cottage Creek to coincide with the future development of Honeysuckle HQ.
Honeysuckle HQ
Honeysuckle HQ represents the final lands to be transformed in Honeysuckle. It sits at the far western edge of the precinct and is made up of two parcels of land: Honeysuckle Quays, located 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 City Campus
The University of Newcastle 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 commenced in 2020 and the first building, Newcastle's School of Creative Industries and Integrated Innovation Network Hub, known as the Q Building, opened in July 2021. It includes specialised spaces and technologies that enhance working and collaborative environments enriching teaching, learning, co-working and entrepreneurial experiences.
The university is also proposing a 450-bed student accommodation building to help address the critical shortage of student housing and add to the revitalisation of the Newcastle CBD.
The proposal for 20 Civic Lane, Newcastle will seek approval for:
- ground floor student facilities, staff facilities, and retail
- outdoor communal spaces
- landscaping and associated public domain works.
The university is encouraging public input as planning and development on the project progresses.
Other private sector developments
35 Honeysuckle Drive
Doma’s newly completed 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.
Developer: Doma Group
Status: Construction completed November 2022
Contact:
Chris Farrington,
Doma
02 6260 7750
[email protected]
45 Honeysuckle Drive
Miller Property Corporation is delivering 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, which is part of the continuation of the harbourside promenade connecting the city to Wickham.
Developer: Miller Property Corporation
Status: Construction underway
Estimated completion: December 2023
Contact:
Warwick Miller
Miller Property Corporation
0418 636 613
[email protected]
42 Honeysuckle Drive
Doma’s Little National Hotel will cater for business, conference and leisure guests in the heart of the Honeysuckle precinct. The boutique hotel will feature 181 rooms, bar, gym, lounge and library facilities, with an adjoining 5,500m2 office building and parking.
Developer: Doma Group
Status: Construction underway
Estimated completion: 2023
Contact:
Chris Farrington
Doma
02 6260 7750
[email protected]
Frequently asked questions
In early 2023, HCCDC completed the new permanent accessible amenities in Honeysuckle Park and the next stage of Honeysuckle's public domain alongside Cottage Creek. The next stage of work is set to start in late 2023 and will take in the land to the southeast of Cottage Creek, alongside the Little National Hotel development.
The Throsby Car Park is temporary and will eventually close when the land is repurposed.
There are 20 off-street parking stations in Newcastle city centre and many of them offer all day parking for reasonable fees.
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.
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.
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