Places For People

What is immediately noticeable about Honeysuckle is the large paved or green, open space hugging the line of the water along the promenade.
From the outset, Honeysuckle has been about giving harbour front land back to the people of Newcastle and opening the foreshore to the city, a vision that has been achieved through the creation of various open spaces for people to enjoy.

At the moment, over 10 hectares of public space have been created at Honeysuckle. This land includes parkland, cycleways, a foreshore promenade that will eventually take the visitor from Linwood right around to Nobbys breakwall, and diverse urban, robust public spaces.

Once Honeysuckle is complete, 17 hectares of open, recreational space will have been provided for the people of the Hunter and their visitors to enjoy. Indeed, the Honeysuckle Development Corporation’s Public Domain Strategy won an Australian Institute of Landscape Architects National Award in the Landscape Planning / Master Planning category in 2001.

Honeysuckle’s Public Domain Strategy won the award for its ability to provide the setting for development; shape the public realm; identify the heart and soul of the place; and its place as an extension of the Honeysuckle Development Corporation’s fundamental objective of providing a breath of new life through its vision of creating a place for people by the harbour.

Foreshore Promenade
The foreshore promenade is a scenic walk that will eventually extend right around the harbour foreshore. In time, the promenade will be an unbroken path for cyclists and pedestrians to enjoy the journey from Linwood to Nobbys breakwall.  At the moment, a temporary footpath links each section of the completed promenade, enabling unlimited access around the foreshore.

With restaurants open, ships moving in and out of the port, yachts sailing on the harbour and live entertainment, the unobstructed thoroughfare around Honeysuckle provides the perfect way to soak up the atmosphere of Newcastle’s active harbour front.

Harbour Square
Harbour Square is the hub of social activity at Honeysuckle, with its completion in 2004 opening even more of the harbour waterfront to the people and enabling them to enjoy the full scope of our beautiful foreshore.

A recreational meeting place, Harbour Square is the centre of Crowne Plaza Hotel, Terminal One Restaurant and The Forum Harbourside Health and Wellness Centre.  It is an accessible area for public events, entertainment and cultural activities. You couldn’t ask for a better setting for a restaurant or café, with Harbour Square looking straight on to our wonderful working harbour.

Visitors can sit down to a meal, drink or coffee and take in the live entertainment while the kids enjoy the unique sculpture and interactive water feature designed to attract small hands and feet.

The attractive foreshore parkland here was created and landscaped in 1993. Carrington was constructed by transporting concrete rubble from the demolition of old buildings on Honeysuckle Drive - an innovative example of recycling.

The concept for a landmark vantage point came from consultation with local residents, Newcastle City Council and Suters Architects when the plan for the foreshore park was being developed. Local residents identified a desire for a view to the harbour and city. The solution was Carrington, which is now a feature of the area.

Students of Carrington Public School and Throsby Landcare completed Stage III of the foreshore landscaping.

The foreshore promenade and landscaped parkland on the shores of Throsby Creek have replaced derelict wool stores at Linwood and created a lovely waterfront recreational space.