Newcastle Harbour — Historical Wall Map (1902)
Surf over the Bar, stone thrown into swell, a shoreline remade by hand—this 1902 engineering sheet gathers Newcastle Harbour, NSW at the moment when rock, dredge and design were reshaping a working port. Existing and proposed breakwaters read at a glance; Newcastle, Stockton and Bullock Island (now Carrington) settle into place; hachures give the foreshore relief and grade. Signed by Principal Engineer Thomas William Keele, it’s part plan, part promise—harbour craft turned into a clear, compelling picture for your wall.
Why it captivates
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Harbour in transition (to 30 June 1902) — finished works shown in black; proposed works in red for instant comparison.
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Authoritative pedigree — compiled under Thomas W. Keele, Principal Engineer, NSW Harbours & Rivers Branch; signed on the sheet.
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Built to be read — breakwaters, channels, allotments and town grids arranged in a calm, legible hierarchy.
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Scholarly & beautiful — disciplined draughting with hachured relief that holds from across the room.
What you’ll see
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Newcastle Harbour with existing/proposed breakwaters, channels and improvement works.
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Townships & districts: Newcastle, Stockton, Bullock Island (Carrington) with allotments and waterfronts.
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Engineering notation: “Work completed to 30th June 1902 shown in black. Proposed work shown in red.”
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Period finish — titlework, neatline, and Keele’s signature retaining official character.
A richer historical frame
At the turn of the century, Newcastle’s coal trade demanded safer bars, deeper channels and modern breakwaters. This plan—prepared by the NSW Harbours & Rivers Branch and signed by T. W. Keele—compresses that ambition into evidence arranged with care: what stood, what would be built, and how geology, tide and town would be reconciled.
Choose your finish
Heavyweight Paper (160 gsm matte)
Best for: framing under glass in homes, studios and offices
Look & feel: non-glare matte that preserves fine linework and small labels
Laminated (true encapsulation)
Best for: classrooms, libraries, council rooms and shared spaces
Build: sealed edge-to-edge between two 80-micron gloss sheets
Benefit: wipe-clean, durable, moisture-resistant
Laminated + Timber Hang Rails (Ready to hang)
What you get: encapsulated print plus natural lacquered timber rails top & bottom with a discreet hanging cord
Where it shines: foyers, museums, planning offices—polished look with everyday toughness
Install: arrives ready to hang (just add a wall hook)
Lead time: please allow up to 10 working days for professional rail mounting
Archival Canvas (395 gsm HP Professional Matte)
Best for: premium interiors, boardrooms and galleries
Print system: pigment-based, fade-resistant inks for long display life
Presence: textured surface adds warmth and museum-style depth
Canvas + Timber Hang Rails (Gallery-ready)
What you get: canvas fitted with natural timber rails top & bottom, matching cord
Where it shines: statement walls, curated harbour history displays
Install: ready to hang; single-hook friendly
Lead time: please allow up to 10 working days for rail mounting
Sizes (W × H)
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500 × 385 mm — compact, intimate study scale
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1000 × 760 mm — large, room-anchoring presence
At-a-glance materials
Option |
Best for |
Key benefits |
Paper (160 gsm) |
Framing under glass |
Matte clarity; crisp engineering detail |
Laminated (encapsulated) |
Busy/shared spaces |
Wipeable; tough; edge-to-edge protection |
Laminated + Rails |
Ready-to-hang display |
Professional mount; easy install; durable |
Canvas (395 gsm) |
Premium display |
Archival inks; textured depth; gallery appeal |
Canvas + Rails |
Gallery-ready feature |
Period-true presentation; simple hanging |
Styling ideas
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Harbour heritage wall: add a caption card noting family wharves, breakwater dates or shipyards.
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Council or museum foyer: choose Laminated + Rails for a polished, robust public display.
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Study or boardroom: canvas with rails above timber cabinetry for warm industrial character.
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Research nook: frame the paper edition; keep a magnifier handy for allotments and annotations.
Specifications
Detail |
Description |
Title |
Newcastle Harbour — Historical Wall Map |
Edition |
1902 |
Region |
Newcastle Harbour, NSW (Newcastle, Stockton, Bullock Island/Carrington) |
Prepared by |
NSW Harbours & Rivers Branch |
Principal Engineer |
Thomas William Keele (signed on sheet) |
Content Highlights |
Existing/proposed breakwaters; channels; allotments; township grids; hachured relief; colour-coded works (black = completed to 30 June 1902; red = proposed) |
Finishes |
Paper; Laminated (encapsulated); Laminated + Timber Rails; Canvas; Canvas + Timber Rails
|
Lead Time (Rails) |
Up to 10 working days (laminated or canvas with rails) |
Orientation |
Landscape |
Sizes |
500 × 385 mm; 1000 × 760 mm
|
Production |
Made in Australia |
Who it’s for
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Newcastle families, engineers & maritime historians tracing the port’s shaping
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Councils, libraries & museums curating coastal works and urban growth
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Collectors & designers seeking precise early-1900s engineering cartography
Claim your wall. Choose Paper for crisp, frame-ready clarity. Go Laminated + Timber Rails for tough, ready-to-hang polish. Step up to Archival Canvas + Timber Hang Rails for gallery weight. Printed in Australia with pigment-based, fade-resistant inks. Built to last. Hang it. Live with it. Keep the harbour in view.