newy.com.au – Shepherds Hill Cottage will open to the public for the first time on Wednesday, the restored 1890s former military mess hall becoming Newcastle’s newest cafe.
Eddie’s at Shepherds Hill will serve coffee and food from the heritage-listed site, which sits at the midpoint of the Bathers Way coastal walk and offers expansive views of the Pacific Ocean and the coastline from Port Stephens to Dudley.
The opening follows a $1.8 million transformation by the City of Newcastle, including the installation of a commercial kitchen, upgraded amenities and a new accessible entry path. Heritage interpretation signs are expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
Lord Mayor Gavin Morris said the cottage had been part of Newcastle’s coastline for more than 130 years but had not previously been open for general public access.
“It is a beautiful spot on Bathers Way to pause for coffee and a bite to eat, a well-deserved reward at the top of the hill for those who walk, ride or run past here. It’s the perfect place to rest and take in the view before continuing your journey,” Cr Morris said.
The building was previously occupied by Defence and later Marine Rescue NSW. Restoration work began after the 2015 super storm damaged the cottage and forced Marine Rescue to leave the site.
Marine Rescue moved into a purpose-built $3 million facility on City of Newcastle-managed land at Stockton in December 2023. The two-level building includes a radio room, training and crew areas, administration spaces, vessel and equipment storage, and the capacity to operate as a command centre during major incidents.
Shepherds Hill Cottage forms part of the Newcastle Recreation Reserve and Shepherds Hill Defence Group Military Installations precinct on the NSW Heritage Register. The cottage, battery observation post and gun emplacement were designed to defend Newcastle’s growing coal port and later served as a command position during World War II.
The precinct is the only coastal defence site in Australia to have been crewed simultaneously during World War II by the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force.
City of Newcastle interim executive director of corporate services Kathleen Hyland said the project had adapted the cottage for a new purpose while preserving its heritage.
“We think the community will be impressed with how the project has sympathetically adapted the Cottage for a new use, while showcasing and preserving the important heritage elements that tell the 130-year story of the site,” Ms Hyland said.
Local hospitality operators Noah Leonard and Blake Gontier, of Noke Group, completed the finishing touches this week and will run Eddie’s.
“It’s been a long road to get here, so we’re excited to finally open the doors and welcome the community in,” Mr Leonard said.
“We hope Eddie’s becomes a place people love to visit, whether it’s for a morning coffee, breakfast with family or simply to enjoy the incredible surroundings.”
Eddie’s follows several other cafe openings in City of Newcastle-owned spaces, including Sunnyboy Park at Foreshore Park, First Light Café at Lambton Park and Hilliers Café at Newcastle Art Gallery.
The final phase of the Shepherds Hill restoration was supported by a $465,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Crown Reserves Improvement Fund.
State Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said the project had unlocked the potential of the historic site for residents and visitors.
“Shepherds Hill Cottage has important Newcastle history in its walls,” Mr Crakanthorp said.
