Watch our Films
Told through Novocastrian eyes
A new documentary about the riot can be seen on YouTube
The Star Hotel riot made headlines around the world
This year marks 40 years since The Star Hotel was the site of a riot that saw police clash with crowds of young people, who had gathered to mark the hotel’s then-closure.
The clash led to many arrests, made headlines around the world and was the subject of a song by Cold Chisel’s, Don Walker.
But, what exactly happened on the night has been the subject of furious debate on the Lost Newcastle Facebook Group.
One person watching the debate rage, is filmmaker Glenn Dormand – aka ‘Chit Chat Von-Loopin Stab’ from Australian group, Machine Gun Fellatio.
There’s few people in Australia better qualified to produce a documentary about a rock’n’roll riot than Chit Chat.
Newcastle documentary makers forge new vision of BHP steelworks
BHP Newcastle: A City Within A City
If you grew up in Newcastle, then you’re probably connected to the BHP story. In 1959, one in ten Novacastrian worked there. It’s an industry that above all others built this town. This film is about that industry but mostly it’s about the people worked there, risked their lives and loved their jobs. It’s about community. It’s about inclusion, everyone was paid the same rate for the same work, white, indigenous, refugee and women all equal. It’s about winning wars and building bridges. It’s about what we lost when it was over and the mess that was left behind. You may think you know this story, but I guarantee you don’t know all of it. We are proud of this documentary and even prouder that it will be on permanent display at Newcastle Museum.
WE Uncover the captivating story of these two extraordinary women
They were meticulous and understood the biology of their subjects in great detail
The Scott Sisters of Ash Island is a story about Art, Science, Family, Survival, Loss and Conservation. It’s a story of two teenage sisters ignoring obstacles and turning the science world on its head at a time when women couldn’t study science. It is also a story of work so accurate and ground-breaking it is still used 170yrs later. This is an international story and the best parts of it happened in Newcastle. Novocastrian’s need to know it and be proud of it.
This is a wild tale that every Novocastrian needs to know
An art revolution that resulted in the preservation of vast amounts of Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge.
Before the existence of cameras, convict Joseph Lycett captured traditional Aboriginal life in Newcastle as it had existed for millennia, at the nexus point before most of their lifestyle would be lost forever.
So happy to now share our Vera Deacon story
She was full of light and we hoped to capture that essence and share it with you.
This film is a collection of stories from Vera's early life on the islands of the Hunter River.
So happy to now share our Architecture of Newcastle story
Architecture of Newcastle
This film is a collection of stories on Architecture of Newcastle.
So happy to now share our THE CASTANET CLUB STORY story
THE CASTANET CLUB STORY
A newspaper in Scotland once described The Castanet Club as “12 people playing tennis, all of them serving at once”. To witness a concert was to be bombarded with joy. This joy started an hour before the show and stopped you getting to sleep hours after the show finished.
So happy to now share our Fortress Newcastle story
Fortress Newcastle
“Newcastle Fortress” is the term used in the official records held in the National Archives to describe the Australian Government’s defence installations and operations established to protect Newcastle from enemy attack during World War II.
So happy to now share
BIRABAN and THRELKELD: Finding the Third Space
Together, they undertook the first systematic study of an Aboriginal language.
So happy to now share
More Than Hoons: 100 Years of Newcastle Motorsport
This is a celebration of Newcastle and The Hunters love of all things 'petrol'. From the invention of World Speedway in 1923 at Maitland Showground to 100 years later hosting the V8 Supercars. Along the way we visit the names of our legendary events; Mattara Hillclimb, Motordrome, Super Moto, Rickshaw Hot-rod Show and of course the infamous Kooragang Island.