Life took Mr Consalvo elsewhere and when he returned 38 years later he was dismayed at the fences everywhere that made access to ships and the harbour nearly impossible.

‘‘I used to sit and watch the loading of the ships, but now I can’t get close,’’ he said. 

With the help of Newcastle Now, especially executive manager Michael Neilson, Mr Consalvo was given an artist residency at the lighthouse and harbour.

Last week, Mr Consalvo finished two weeks of recording the life of Newcastle’s famous harbour from Nobbys lighthouse, and has since moved to a studio near the harbour itself for the next four-week phase of the residency. 

He said the experience had been ‘‘totally amazing’’. 

His father was an Italian immigrant who worked for Port Waratah, and this gives Mr Consalvo an emotional link to the port. 

His wife, Kate Wilkins, said he had pulled five all-nighters already.

‘‘He wants to know what makes the harbour tick,’’ she said. 

‘‘A lot of people don’t think about the port despite it being the biggest part of our town,’’  Mr Consalvo said. 

The paintings produced will be on display at the lighthouse from Friday, November 14. The celebrations will start at 6pm the same day for a ‘‘sunset opening’’.

More information can be found at Dino Consalvo- WORKING the HARBOUR  on Facebook.