$770,200 Funding to Boost Night-time Districts Across Newcastle and Lower Hunter

newy.com.au – Night-time precincts in Newcastle and the Lower Hunter have received a major boost, with the NSW Government allocating $770,200 through its Uptown Grant Program to support four local districts. Announced on 1 August 2025, this marks the first time the region has secured funding under the initiative, which aims to strengthen the state’s 24-hour economy.

The funding will support East End Collective and Midtown in the Newcastle CBD, the Five Villages of Newcastle’s Throsby Basin—comprising Wickham, Islington, Carrington, Maryville and Tighes Hill—and the Shoaly Collective in Shoal Bay, Port Stephens. These areas will receive support for branding, marketing, event coordination and community engagement.

The Uptown program, now in its third round, is part of a $5.5 million strategy to foster place-based collaboration and long-term sustainability in night-time districts across New South Wales. The initiative includes the Uptown Accelerator Program, which offers workshops to help precincts refine their identity and strategy.

Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, John Graham, said the program has helped cash-strapped businesses work together to create offerings that highlight the stories of their local areas. “We want to create self-sustaining district initiatives that will go from strength to strength in promoting their vibrant local offerings and help promote our visitor economy for years to come,” Mr Graham said.

Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp, welcomed the funding as a boost to both tourism and local business. “A vibrant 24-hour economy does not just benefit Newcastle tourism, but also our local community by supporting small businesses and activating spaces as the sun goes down,” he said.

Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley, said the program would help communities across the region flourish. “Whether it’s the creative energy of Midtown in the Newcastle CBD, the coastal vibe of Shoaly Collective or the village charm of Throsby Basin, this support is helping local communities bring their stories to life,” she said.

President of the Throsby Basin Business Chamber and CEO of Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, Paul O’Rourke, described the grant as transformative. “This investment and support is a gamechanger for the district and the businesses within it,” he said, adding that a walking food, drink and music festival is being planned to launch the district later this year.