Wallsend Brickworks Park is a public park in Wallsend, Newcastle Australia, located at the site of a historic brickmaking operation which ran from 1891 to 1977. Featuring a playground, picnic shelters, barbecues, a pond with birdlife, and remnants of the brickworks’ machinery, it’s a great family destination.
The park is also part of the Jesmond Bushland, which offers nature trails for walking, cycling and mountain biking. The bushland is home to some native species such as powerful owls, flying foxes and squirrel gliders. The park is a great place to enjoy history, nature and fun with family and friends.
Brickworks History
Operating from 1891 to 1977 the Wallsend Brickworks used steam-powered machinery to make bricks. At its peak, the operation had orders of 400,000 bricks a week.
The brickworks produced a variety of bricks, including firebricks, pressed bricks and common bricks. Local buildings, such as the Wallsend Hospital and the Wallsend Post Office used some of the bricks.
Due to competition from other brick manufacturers and environmental concerns, the brickworks closed in 1977. Abandoned for many years, it became an environmental eyesore until the council decided to redevelop it as a park in 2002. The resulting public space provides play areas and walking tracks and an environmental wetland while paying homage to its industrial past.
How to Get There
We parked on Iranda Grove where car parking spots are available.
Throughout the grassed rehabilitated areas, concrete retaining walls have been constructed to resemble industrial buildings’ roofs. Several concrete structures remain as a reminder of the site’s heritage. The old clay quarry has been made safe and now forms a lake and habitat for local wildlife.
Entrance and main pathway through Brickworks ParkThe old quarry face. Hidden behind treesThe old quarry is now a wetlandWalking track through the parkSome of the few industrial remainsRehabilitated area with retaining walls made to look like industrial building rooves
The park also features artworks made from recycled bricks, including some of the original Wallsend bricks. One of the artworks is a sculpture named Kullas Incubator, which represents the regeneration of life and nature at the site.
Now a heritage listed ruin, Trial Bay Gaol originally served as housing for a prisoner labour force to build a nearby breakwater. The breakwater was intended to provide a safe harbour for ships sailing up the eastern Australian coast. Construction of the gaol commenced in 1877, with work on the breakwater following in 1889 after delays caused by funding shortfalls.
Planning however underestimated the strength of local storms with the work constantly washed away. By 1903 only 20% of the breakwater had been completed, but with huge cost over-runs. Improvements in sea-going vessels and with an overland route established, the project was cancelled and the gaol closed.
The gaol found a renewed purpose with the commencement of World War One, when it was used as an internment camp. High ranking Germans and prominent German businessmen were housed here until July 1918 when they were moved to Holsworthy Interment camp.
Following its second closure, all moveable fittings were sold. It then fell into disrepair and became the runs we see today.
Getting There
Located in the Arakoon National Park and managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service Trial Bay Gaol is roughly an hour’s drive north of Port Macquarie on the New South Wales mid-north coast. We drove from Port Macquarie and made it a day trip in the area, including nearby South West Rocks.
Walking through the ruins shows how bleak living here would have been. The cells are small and would have been cold in winter and hot in summer. The roofless buildings and hollow interiors have a haunting atmosphere and were great fun to walk through.
Watch out for the resident kangaroos, there were around ten there when we visited. One even had a joey in its pouch.
Views over the coastline are spectacular especially from the guard towers on the walls.
Once we had finished with the gaol, we drove through the nearby camping ground for a close-up look of the coast. The area is very popular with campers many of them were on the water fishing in boats.
What Did We Think?
We really enjoyed our visit here because of the ruins and spectacular views. Its also easy to get to with many other great things to see nearby.
Entrance to the GaolMain Gaol BuildingCourtyardArchway to the gaol cellsInside the GaolOne of the gaol cellsRusted barred windowKangaroo with a joey in her pouchShoreline at Trial BayShoreline at Trial Bay
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Located in the Wollemi National Park the Newnes Industrial Ruins is a heritage listed collection of decaying ruins of a once thriving shale oil processing plant. Established in 1902 and closed in 1932 due to the availability of cheaper crude oil, all that remain are decaying buildings and processing plant. The area is great for bushwalking with great tracks to the ruins and the surrounding area.
Getting There
The drive from Lithgow to the ruins takes a little over an hour, or three hours from Sydney. Road quality varies from excellent sealed road, narrow winding road down to the Wolgan Valley and dirt road for the final 12km. The views from the road as you descend from the top are amazing but, unfortunately there are few spots to stop and take advantage of them.
Where To stay
Accommodation is available through the Newnes Hotel which has five self contained cabins. The hotel itself does not offer rooms and no longer operates as a hotel. You will need to brings your own food and drinks.
Camping is available at two spots on either side of Wolgan River, but you will need a four-wheel drive to cross to the far side. Booking for campsites is through New South Wales Parks and Wildlife.
We chose to stay in one of the cabins which proved to be very comfortable, with a comfortable bed and nice shower. You do need to bring your own bedding including sheets, blankets and pillows. You will also need to bring all food and drinks as there isn’t a kiosk on site.
View from our cabin balconyCabin No.4Cabin No.3The five cabins
Newnes Hotel
On arrival, we went to the Newnes Hotel to collect our keys. the owner also gave us a booklet with information on the area and a list of the walks available. From here we went to our cabin and unpacked before exploring.
Scattered around the Hotel area are some relicts of the past. Some old rail cars line the road to the river crossing and some old buildings are near the river bank. Across the road from the Hotel is a great view of the Wolgan River. With the recent rain it was flowing well.
Newness Industrial Ruins MapNewness HotelThe Wolgan RiverOld railway carOld railway carTable and seat near the Wolgan River
Newnes Industrial Ruins Walk
Deciding to walk to the ruins first, we headed to the river crossing. As we were walking, we waded across, as the stepping stones were under water and did not look safe. If driving, you will need a four-wheel-drive to cross the river. Otherwise, leave your car at the crossing and walk across.
From the river to the start of the track takes around 30 minutes. It is flat and well graded, so an easy walk.
A locked gate is at the start of the walk along with a detailed map of the industrial ruins. The first ruins are the most interesting, a row of brick bee hive kilns. There are still 13 kilns in good condition with the other 80 odd kilns in various states of decay.
Also in the area are the remains of retaining walls and ruined buildings. It takes about two hours to walk around and take in the atmosphere of the place.
Wolgan River CrossingUnstable stepping stone over the Wolgan RiverTrack to the Industrial ruinsPart of the ruins walking trackBeehive kilnsDamaged beehive kiln showing the interiorIntact beehive kilnThe surrounding mountains Fireplace and chimney ruinOld brick steps in the industrial areaSign near the ruins detailing the operationRemains of the industrial area, now just ruinsOld industrial area brick wallWhat used to be the railway sidingEscarpment
Philosophers Walk
This walk starts at the far side of the camp ground, where it crosses Little Wolgan Creek. As we were staying in the cabin, we walked the short distance to the creek early in the morning. Crossing the creek was easy, but after rain, and with a higher water level, it might be difficult without getting wet.
Heading uphill, the first section of the track is steep and rocky in places, but with amazing views of the surrounding mountains. Little piles of stones mark the way, and the track had recently been cleared, so it was easy to follow. Along the way we passed small rock overhangs and tiny caves, but didn’t see anything inside.
At the top of the hill you are rewarded with views over the forest, river and out to Mystery Mountain. After recovering from the uphill walk, we set off for the return leg, which was all downhill.
The Return Leg
Walking past the ruins of the manager’s house all we saw were old brick stairs, but not far away were two old Zephyr cars. A manager left them here and after several bushfires and forest regrowth they are rusty wrecks surrounded by trees.
This was a great walk with views through trees to the mountains, old ruins and rusty cars. With more time we would have added the Hidden Valley walk, but will do that on our next visit.
Camping ground surrounded by bush and mountainsThe Philosopher’s Walk trackSteps on the The Philosopher’s WalkRocks to climb over on the Philosopher’s WalkOld brick steps at the manager’s residenceTwo rusted out Zephyrs in the bush near the manager’s residencePhilosopher’s Walk
School Ruins Walk
Starting behind the cabins, this short walk takes you through trees and across a small creek to what is left of the old school. Time, weather, and bushfires have left only brick chimneys and scattered bricks to show where the school once stood. It was hard to imagine that a small town once stood here that required a school, when there is so little of it left.
Dry stone wall in Capertee CreekSchool house ruinsThe surrounding mountains and eucalyptsSome of the surrounding bush and mountains
What Did We Think?
We loved it here and could have stayed longer, because there are so many more walks to do. We would have liked to the walk to Hidden Valley and the Glow Worm Tunnels, but just didn’t have the time. With the old industrial ruins, great bush walking and amazing accommodation, this was a great visit.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
