New life for Clocktower hoped to bring Beaumont Street back to former glory
Newcastle Liberal Cr Jenny Barrie and Hunter Ageing Alliance chair Emeritus Professor Julie Byles at 111 Beaumont Street. Picture by Jonathan Carroll
THE Clocktower has been dormant for more than four years.
Now, a new push is hoped to inject life back into the space and ameliorate issues with homelessness and antisocial behaviour on Beaumont Street.
The charge, led by Newcastle Liberal councillor Jenny Barrie, will see Seniors Festival activities hosted in the Hamilton Municipal Building this month followed by Newcastle Fringe Festival volunteers in March.
"I think the community is going to embrace it," Cr Barrie said.
"I just think people feel safer when they're in an environment that's friendly and welcoming.
"People are there to embrace change and it needs change, but it takes a village in the community to work together to try to change the patterns of people loitering in the street and causing grief or concern to other residents and visitors."
Cr Barrie said there is still a lot of work to be done when it comes to homelessness in the Hamilton CBD.
Business owners told the Newcastle Herald in September last year that rough sleepers and anti-social behaviour had driven customers away from Hamilton.
In January, residents and business owners met to air concerns about escalating drug use, theft, aggression and intimidation around Beaumont Street.
The ground and first floors of the Hamilton Municipal Building owned by City of Newcastle, which is also known as The Clocktower, have been vacant for more than four years with no rental income.
The Hamilton Business Improvement Association wrote to the council asking it to consider casual leasing options similar to Renew Newcastle, which enabled not-for-profits and creative industry retailers to occupy empty spaces.
In December, councillors voted to explore events the vacant space could support and enter into short-term leases with community groups best suited to support those events.
As of February 17, the Seniors Festival will have use of the space, inviting the city's ageing population to enjoy activities and connect at 'Shine Central'.
Source: Newcastle Herald Madeline Link 14.2.25