Steelworkers Memorial at Mayfield to Re-Open

newy.com.au – After years of limited access, Newcastle’s tribute to its proud steelmaking history is set to reopen to the public, with the Steelworkers Memorial at Mayfield to welcome visitors once again. The site, which honours generations of BHP steelworkers, has been made safe for public access through new fencing and landscaping, creating a 2.12-hectare park-like area accessible daily from 6am to 6pm via Selwyn Street.

The memorial, originally unveiled in 2015 to mark 100 years since the BHP steelworks opened, has been largely out of reach since a previous management licence expired in 2019. Now, thanks to work backed by the Minns Labor Government, locals and visitors alike will be able to engage with the site’s powerful sculpture, The Muster Point, created by artist Julie Squires with the help of steelworkers before the plant’s closure in 1999.

Standing 16 metres long and 8 metres high, the striking sculpture reflects key aspects of steelworkers’ lives—featuring tools of the trade, a locomotive, and a cross commemorating those lost on the job. For many in the Hunter, the memorial is more than a monument—it’s a reminder of the city’s economic backbone and the legacy of thousands who helped forge Newcastle’s “Steel City” identity.

Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said she was proud to see the space revitalised, calling it a fitting tribute to the workers who helped power the region and the nation. Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper described the site as a place to reflect and remember, while Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp, who has long campaigned for the memorial’s return to public use, said the reopening is a significant moment for the city. He paid tribute to the tireless efforts of the Newcastle Industrial Heritage Association, particularly Aubrey Brooks and Bob Cook, for championing the cause. “The Muster Point is a powerful representation of the lives and skills of thousands of steelworkers who helped build Australia’s manufacturing strength,” Mr Crakanthorp said. “Reopening the memorial means Novocastrians can once again connect with a vital part of our history and celebrate the proud legacy of our Steel City.”

BHP began operations in Newcastle in 1915, establishing what would become one of the largest steelworks in the Southern Hemisphere. For much of the 20th century, the plant was a cornerstone of local employment, providing livelihoods for thousands of families and anchoring Newcastle’s economy. Beyond its economic role, BHP helped shape the city’s culture—defining a sense of resilience, camaraderie and working-class pride that still resonates today. The steelworks not only supplied critical infrastructure across Australia but also embedded Newcastle into the nation’s industrial story, with generations of steelworkers contributing to its legacy before the plant’s closure in 1999.

The reopening marks a new chapter for the memorial, giving Novocastrians a renewed place to gather, reflect and celebrate a defining chapter in their city’s industrial past.