Museum Grounds

Newcastle Museum is not confined by walls. There are some fascinating things to discover on our grounds too. 

Living Labels

The soil of Newcastle sprouts life in all its forms, and the plants that grow here connect us to millennia of stories, experiences and history. 

Living Labels links our unique natural environment with the diverse collection of Newcastle Museum. Outside, in Museum Park, you can discover living examples of trees and plants that have shaped and defined the place we live. Inside the Museum, you can trace how these trees weave their way through our objects and exhibitions. 

To uncover these stories, use your phone to scan the QR codes on the labels inside and outside the Museum. This will link you to the Living Labels website, where you can discover local aboriginal names for each plant from both the Awabakal and Worimi languages. You'll also find Common and Scientific names, as well as the stories each plant relates to. If you need help, please ask museum staff. 

Constance the Camel

The history and culture of migrants to this city is celebrated in a life-sized sculpture of a camel located on the eastern corner of Newcastle Museum. 

Constance the Camel was designed and installed by artists Suzie Bleach and Andrew Townsend supported by Newcastle Museum and the Newcastle Art Gallery’s public arts program in 2012. 

The artists say the sculpture speaks of Newcastle's migrant history and portrays the camel as a vessel of migration. 

“Within the sculpture are tools of trade, mementos, cultural, historical and everyday items. These are the things brought by migrants from the country of their birth on their journey to the new country. The thistle is a reference to Newcastle's Scottish heritage. The hammer and sewing machine speak of industry, the canary a reference to coal mining, the ukulele speaks of the music that all people bring with them and the books are the literature and photo albums that define us.” 

The camel was named Constance following a naming competition on Newcastle Museum’s Facebook page. Thirty nominations were posted and Constance was chosen as the winning name by a panel of Museum staff. 

The name Constance was put forward by Emilie Caillot who said it was "to remind us to constantly move forward and enrich our cultural identity within Newcastle. As well as remembering that this can only be done by accepting those who have a different outlook on life into our community." 

When Constance was installed, she caused two traffic collisions due to driver’s unexpected shock at seeing a camel on the sidewalk. A Newcastle herald article in August 2012 was titled Constance Distraction and labelled her as the most dangerous camel since Camel cigarettes. 

Foundry Frames

Officially titled Beyond the Frame, this work by artist Rebecca Whan was named Winner - People's Choice Award of the Wasteknot Annual Sculpture Prize 2012. 

These cast iron moulding boxes were made at local foundries RC Whan, Goninans and OneSteel and have been used for many decades to produce iron and steel castings for Australian industry. 

The boxes frame a new vision for Newcastle - a clean bright city reinvented against the backdrop of our industrial heritage. 

The landscape of Honeysuckle is an element of the sculpture. Viewers are encouraged to look through the frames to get a view of the new Newcastle landscape. 

Museum Photowalls

Created by artist Trevor Dickinson in the summer of 2011/2012, these murals are designed to create an interactive photo opportunity for visitors to reflect, laugh and share. The murals contain images of Newcastle Museum objects as well as local landmarks. 

Have your photo taken in front of a roaring dinosaur or pretend you are the Lord Mayor for a day! 

There are two Museum photowalls for you to pose in front of. One is at the west of Newcastle Museum, near Wright Lane. The other is along the southeastern wall between Newcastle Museum and the adjacent apartment block. 

Pose with your friends, family and even total strangers! 

Post your pictures up on your socials and share them with friend.

Big Picture Fest Murals

In October 2020, the inaugural Big Picture Fest led to a legacy of murals surrounding Newcastle Museum by significant artists Fintan Magee, Sophia Flegg, Mitch Revs and Tom Henderson. 

For more information about the works, artists and festival, please visit the Big Picture Fest website for more details.