Redhead, New South Wales

Suburb of Greater Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

33°00′36″S 151°43′23″E / 33.010°S 151.723°E / -33.010; 151.723Population3,785 (2021 census)^[1] • Density701/km² (1,815/sq mi)Established1829Postcode(s)2290Area5.4 km² (2.1 sq mi)Location

16 km (10 mi) SSW of Newcastle
6 km (4 mi) SSE of Charlestown

LGA(s)City of Lake MacquarieParishKahibahState electorate(s)

Federal division(s)Shortland

Suburbs around Redhead:
Bennetts Green	Dudley	Dudley
Jewells	Redhead	Pacific Ocean
Belmont	Belmont	Pacific Ocean

Redhead is a coastal suburb of the City of Lake Macquarie, Greater Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia 16 kilometres (10 mi) south of Newcastle's central business district on the Pacific Ocean. It was named for the appearance of its headland, Redhead Bluff, when viewed from the sea.

History

The Aboriginal people, in this area, the Awabakal, were the first people of this land.^[2]

Early industries included a banana orchard and mining. A mine explosion killed five people in 1926. The suburb was developed in the late 1940s. The first school opened in 1908.

The railway line that connected Redhead with Newcastle and Belmont was closed in 1971. It was converted to a popular walking and cycling path called the Fernleigh Track. It was opened in 2009.

The suburb is best known for its beach which is a popular surfing location in Newcastle.

Over the past few years the suburb has been plagued by a number of fires, including in 2013.

References

^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Redhead". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
^ "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people". Lake Macquarie City Council. Retrieved 8 September 2020.