Originally home to the Awabakal people, Charlestown is named after the manager of the Waratah Coal Company, which sunk a shaft here in 1873. It’s now one of the biggest suburbs in the City of Lake Macquarie and centres around a large shopping mall that serves the residents of Newcastle.
Things to do in Charlestown
Keen golfers can hit the greens of the Charlestown Golf Club, which is nestled amidst picturesque bushland in the suburb’s west. You can practise your long-range game at the Driving Range or shop for golfing apparel, accessories and training aids at the Pro Shop. Charlie’s on Barker offers superb views across the fairways and dishes up classic bistro fare.
In the heart of the suburb is Charlestown Square, a sprawling shopping mall home to more than 240 retailers, including department stores such as Big W and Target. It’s the largest shopping destination in the Hunter Region, with supermarkets, gyms and beauty salons among its facilities. When you’ve built up an appetite, you can feast at the Bao Brothers or grab a burger from Grill’d before enjoying a round at Holey Moley Mini Golf.
On the southern edge of the shopping mall is Charlestown Oval, where you’ll find facilities for playing soccer and cricket. Kids can let loose at the Charlestown Skate Park or enjoy the arcade games at the nearby Timezone. Departing from the Charlestown Oval is the Great North Walk, a 250-kilometre-long trail that connects south to Macquarie Place in Sydney.
Getting around Charlestown
Charlestown is around 20 minutes’ drive from Newcastle and 40 minutes from Newcastle Airport, which has flights to destinations across Australia. Regular buses connect from Newcastle’s city centre to Charlestown and travel throughout the suburb, accessing most of its attractions.