Special Sub-Topic: My Newcastle Click Here To Play: My Newcastle

Newcastle lies along the banks of the Hunter River.

t. Newcastle is one of the largest cities in New South Wales. At the time of the 2006 Census, the Newcastle Local Government Area had a population of 288,732. Newcastle has larger populations than the state capitals of Darwin and Hobart.

The largest permanent saltwater lake in the southern hemisphere is located just south of Newcastle. What is its name?

Lake Macquarie. Lake Macquarie covers an area of approximately 110 square kilometers, which is twice the size of Sydney Harbour. The lake was actually known as Reid's Mistake (an explorer who mistook the lake for a tributary of the Hunter River further north) until 1826 when it was renamed in honour of the then Governor of NSW, Lachlan Macquarie. You can find this information and more at - http://walkabout.com.au/locations/NSWLakeMacquarie.shtml Lake Eyre is the largest lake in Australia and also a salt water lake. When full it has an area of around 9,500 sq km but it is rarely full, evaporation diminishing it's area until flooding rains fill it again.

A long stretch of white sand arcs off into the distance just north of Newcastle. What is the name of this beach?

Stockton Beach. Stockton beach stretches north from the suburb of Stockton, 32 kilometers up to Port Stephens. The monstrous sand dunes on Stockton Beach are the largest continuous mobile land mass in New South Wales. If you're interested in learning more, this info comes from - http://www.exploroz.com/TrekNotes/NSWCoast/Stockton_Beach.asp

In May, 1974 a terrible storm wreaked havoc on Newcastle and resulted in a cargo ship being stranded on Stockton Beach. What was the name of this ship?

Sygna. The Sygna was a Norwegian container ship bound for the Port of Newcastle. It was anchored off Stockton beach when the storm struck. The ship foundered on the beach, where any valuables where salvaged, and then left for wreckage. The decaying hull of the ship still lies in the water off Stockton Bight.

One of the most influential rock bands to grace the contemporary era were born and bred in Newcastle. The three members of the band grew up together here. Who are they?

Silverchair. The 'three members' statement should have given you a clue. Daniel Johns, Chris Joannou and Ben Gillies, all natives of the seaside suburb of Merewether, formed the band when they were attending Newcastle High School. Their original name was the Innocent Criminals, and they could often be heard at one of the many fine Newcastle pubs and clubs in the mid-90's.

This suburb of Newcastle is generally regarded as the Red Light district and is associated with street walkers. Can you name it?

Islington. Islington (and also nearby Carrington) are inner-city suburbs of Newcastle that go hand-in-hand with large numbers of 'ladies-of-the-night', especially on weekends.

If I wanted a multi-cultural meal, I would be sure to find one in this diverse and interesting suburb.

Hamilton. Hamilton has a diverse history, with large numbers of Italians, Greeks and Macedonians first settling the area. In recent years Vietnamese, Lebanese and Indian cultures have abounded, enriching Hamilton with their unique festivals and their especially wonderful foods.

This suburb of Newcastle shares its name with the floral emblem of New South Wales. Where am I?

Waratah. Lambton is the only other one of these that is an actual suburb of Newcastle, however, it's not a flower. Waratah is one of the oldest suburbs of Newcastle and is the site of Newcastle's Mater Hospital.

Every year a world-renowned surfing competition is held on Newcastle Beach, which has attracted the likes of Kelly Slater, Mark Richards, Andy Irons and Layne Beachley over the years. What is the name of this competition?

Surfest. Surfest was first held 1985 to boost Newcastle's profile. The competition has become a tribute to surfing great and Novocastrian Mark Richards, and attracts thousands of spectators every year. In 2004, for the first time in history, Layne Beachley competed in the men's event, going head to head with World Champion Andy Irons.

One for the sports fans to finish on: Newcastle's Rugby League team in the NRL are the Newcastle _______?

Knights. The Knights have one of the largest and most loyal fan bases in the NRL. Their then inspirational captain Paul (the Chief) Harrigan led them to their first grand final victory in 1997. They repeated the feat in 2001, under the guidance of arguably the best man to have played the game, Andrew (Joey) Johns.