Newcastle Herald short story competition 2019: City Within A City

By Sandra Prior
Updated January 6 2020 - 1:40pm, first published January 21 2019 - 6:00am
WORTH 1000 WORDS: The 2019 Herald short story competition is marking 20 years since Newcastle BHP steelworks closed. Entrants took inspiration from news photos.
WORTH 1000 WORDS: The 2019 Herald short story competition is marking 20 years since Newcastle BHP steelworks closed. Entrants took inspiration from news photos.

THEY alighted the train onto the brick platform after the eight-hour trip from Byron Bay into a cold westerly gust. The dusty wind swirled, chilling them to the bone. Hailing a taxi they loaded their two baby daughters, stroller and two bags ready to start a new life in Newcastle. They would remember the dust from the platform covering their scarce belongings for years to come. Their new home was a caravan in the landlords backyard in waratah for six months until they could buy their dream home in New Lambton for 3000 pounds. By 1959 Byron Bay's railways and whaling station had closed down. Newcastle was booming. Byron Bay had been home for two generations, but now changes were needed. Big Harry's, as BHP was known, had jobs, lots of jobs. Bruce was offered a position as a water attendant in the Number Two Merchant Mill.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

Get the latest Newcastle news in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.