Shepherds Hill Cottage

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Shepherds Hill cottage has stood watch over the city from atop King Edward Park since the 1890s. We are now planning ahead for a new future for the cottage.

The cottage, battery observation post and gun emplacement were originally designed to defend Newcastle’s burgeoning coal port after the 1878 Royal Commission into Colonial Defences. The military site served as an integral command position up to the end of World War II and is one of the only coastal defence sites in Australia manned simultaneously during World War II by the Royal Australian Navy, Army and Royal Australia Air Force. 

From the early 2000s the cottage was leased to Marine Rescue NSW as one of their headquarters, until a severe storm event damaged the cottage extensively in 2015.

Conservation Management Plan

The Shepherds Hill Defence Group Military Installations Conservation Management Plan (CMP) provides guidance for the future management of the site. It considers adaptive re-use options for the cottage and the whole of the Defence Group.

A draft Conservation Management Plan was prepared and exhibited in October 2018. Heritage consultants, City Plan Heritage finalised the plan where only minor changes were made to the exhibited plan. The Conservation Management Plan was referred to the then Office of Environment and Heritage for endorsement given the site's State heritage listing. On 16 July 2019 advice was received from the delegate of the Heritage Council to advise that the Conservation Management Plan was endorsed under Section 38A of the Heritage Act. View the endorsed copy of the Conservation Management Plan (pdf).

Cottage restoration

The restoration of the 1890s-built Shepherds Hill Cottage was completed in early 2022 following an intensive 3-year process. The work was completed in stages under the supervision of a heritage architect and in accordance with approval from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (formally Office of Environmental Heritage).

Our restoration work included:

  • Removal of asbestos and lead paint contaminations, and stabilisation of termite damaged elements.
  • Restoration of the Cottage interior and exterior.
  • Reconstruction of the lean-to former laundry and construction of an ancilliary storeroom.
  • Demolition of the outdoor brick toilets and construction of a new external brick amenities block using recycled bricks.
  • Restoration of the site's landscaping and perimeter fencing, and construction of a new driveway and new gates.
  • Installation of accessible parking access.

The next chapter

With the approval of Heritage NSW, we are currently seeking development approval to deliver a new commercial kitchen and improved amenities, so that the community can once again visit the historic building as a food and drink premises.

We will also soon seek expressions of interest from potential operators, offering a new space to dine and enjoy the sweeping views from one of Newcastle’s highest vantage points.

Artist impression of an operational food and drink premises at Shepherds Hill CottageAbove: Artist impression of an operational food and drink premises at Shepherds Hill Cottage.