SOLVED: Mysterious Siren Sounds Across Newcastle CBD Leaves Residents Puzzled

16 August 2024

UPDATE (SOLVED)

A staff member from Transport for NSW contacted Newy 87.8 and explained that the “Air Raid” sounding sirens were in fact operated by the Port Authority Of New South Wales.

Newy 87.8 contacted the Port of Newcastle, who are a different organisation, this is why we didn’t receive the correct answer.

The staff member from Transport for NSW provided this statement:

NEWCASTLE FERRY WHARF: A fog horn (on poles pictured above) is located on the Newcastle City side of the Hunter River near the ferry wharf. This horn is primarily to aid the movement of Newcastle ferries.

NOBBYS HEADLAND – A second fog horn is located on Nobbys Headland. The horn is facing towards the sea to aid the navigation of vessels through the port.

The fog horns are maintained by the Port Authority of New South Wales and activated from within Vessel Traffic Services at the Port Centre, 100 Wharf Road Newcastle.

Facts about fog

Fog can sometimes affect shipping in Newcastle Harbour. Fog is formed when air is cooled to a temperature at which it becomes saturated (dewpoint) by the water vapour which is present within it. Normally it is classified as fog when the resultant restricted visibility is less than one kilometre. The fog that form at Newcastle are usually of two types:

”Radiation Fog” occurs when relatively warm, moist air is cooled by contact with cold land surfaces, particularly in the Hunter Valley and around the plains near Williamtown. Radiation fogs that form in the Hunter Valley can extend to Newcastle harbour and occur normally in winter, early spring and occasionally in summer. Radiation fogs can occur in early spring off the port.
“Advection or Sea Fog” occurs when warm moist air flows over a relatively cold sea surface that cools the air flow below its dewpoint.

Shipping movements are not normally commenced in restricted visibility. However, should pilotage of a ship be in progress within the harbour, when restricted visibility occurs, appropriate precautions will be taken such as activating the fog horn.

Shipping movements are generally rescheduled until the fog thins.

Listen to actual recording of the fog horn recorded earlier today.

SOLVED: Mysterious Siren Sounds Across Newcastle CBD Leaves Residents Puzzled Newy Staff

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Original Article from earlier

Mysterious Siren Sounds Across Newcastle CBD Leaves Residents Puzzled

Newcastle residents were startled this morning after a loud, continuous siren rang out across the CBD around 10am. The sound, which resembled an old-fashioned “mechanically driven” or “motor-driven” air raid siren, went on for an extended period, causing some curiosity and concern. Despite its duration and volume, no official information has emerged to explain what triggered the alarm.

A Facebook post by an anonymous participant in the Newcastle and Hunter Community AUS Facebook group captured the mood of many, sharing that despite searches for information, there were no alerts or official warnings issued. The post also dismissed the possibility of a shark alarm or tsunami warning, noting that the sound seemed to be coming from the harbour area, making it unlikely to be either of those.

Community Reactions: Recognising the Sound

Many locals took to social media to share their observations. Several people commented that they recognised the tone of the siren, comparing it to older air raid alarms or industrial warning signals. Here’s what some Newcastle residents had to say:

Participant	Comment
Sarah Mitchell	“I remember hearing a siren like this years ago near the port. Definitely has that old air raid vibe, but I thought they stopped using those?”
Daniel Roberts	“I grew up around here, and that was definitely an industrial siren. You used to hear them more frequently back in the day, but it’s rare now.”
Tom Harding	“It’s almost identical to the one used at BHP back in the day. Sounds like it’s coming from the harbour area – maybe an old system being tested?”
Emily Davis	“It’s got that same eerie tone you’d hear in old movies during air raids. I can’t believe it’s still functioning if it’s from that era!”
James Wylie	“I could hear it all the way from Civic Park. Reminded me of the old emergency drills they used to run near the industrial zones.”
Rebecca Lane	“The siren definitely sounds like the one they used to have at the old coal loader. Could be some old equipment still in use or being tested.”
Michael Turner	“That sound is unmistakably a motor-driven siren. They have a very distinct tone – not like modern alarms at all.”
Alison Green	“Heard it too! It’s definitely not the usual shark siren – that’s much sharper and shorter. This was more of a drawn-out wail.”
Nick Carmichael	“I thought it was part of an old evacuation drill. The pitch and tone match the sirens used in the 1950s industrial sites around here.”
Karen Saunders	“I’ve heard similar sirens during maintenance at the docks. It’s likely some old equipment still being used or tested out of habit.”
George Matthews	“It has that deep, resonant sound you’d expect from a mechanical siren, almost like something from a war movie.”
Amanda Collins	“Definitely not a modern siren. It’s got that old-school, wind-up sound – probably from an industrial site near the port.”
Brendan Jones	“It reminded me of the warning sirens they used at steelworks. I haven’t heard anything like it in a long time, though.”
Olivia Baker	“Sounds like the kind of siren you’d hear at the start of a shift change at some factory. Maybe it’s still used as a backup in case newer systems fail.”
Henry Adams	“This siren has the same tone as the old air raid drills we used to do in the 70s. Could be something leftover from that time.”
Jessica White	“It was loud and very distinct – no mistaking that it was a mechanical siren, not electronic. You just don’t hear those anymore.”
Ian Douglas	“I was around in the days when BHP used those types of sirens. The sound carries for miles. I bet it was an old one being accidentally triggered.”
Lisa Carter	“I’ve heard a siren like this before during a fire drill at one of the old warehouses down near the port. It’s definitely an old model.”
Sam Collins	“That’s an air raid siren, no question. The wail pattern is a dead giveaway – rising and falling in that slow, haunting way.”
Vanessa Morgan	“It sounded so old-school – not like the usual emergency alerts we get these days. Maybe someone dusted off an old system for testing.”
Chris Hamilton	“That’s a mechanical siren, probably one of the last working ones in the area. You don’t get that kind of eerie tone with modern equipment.”
Laura Bennett	“We used to hear those types of sirens every day when I worked at the docks. It’s strange to hear one now, but it brought back memories.”
David Rhodes	“This is likely just old tech still being used in a forgotten corner of the port. It sounds like something out of the 1940s.”
Tina Lawrence	“There’s no mistaking that sound. It’s mechanical, wind-up driven. You can tell by how it starts and stops – not like digital alarms today.”
Paul Thompson	“Heard it from miles away – definitely not a regular siren. It’s got that distinct motor-driven sound that takes you back to the old industrial era.”
Megan Russell	“It was so loud that I could hear it all the way from Hamilton. Sounds like something they’d use during World War II.”

These comments highlight the familiarity some locals have with the type of siren, pointing to potentially old industrial systems or relics from Newcastle’s manufacturing past. Many agree that the sound was unusual, evoking memories of bygone eras when such alarms were more common.

Newy 87.8 spoke to the Port of Newcastle, NSW Police, Fort Scratchley, amd Orica and no one was able to identify the source.

The operations manager at the port of Newcastle stated that the siren isn’t anything that would originate from the port or a ship, he said he would put out his feelers and let me know if he finds anything.

Despite the recognition by some residents, the origin of the siren remains uncertain. With no confirmation from authorities, the community is left to speculate. Whether it was a malfunction, an intentional test, or something else entirely, the incident certainly has a lot of interest across the city.