The BHP Newcastle steelworks opened in 1915 and for more than 80 years, until the steelworks closed in 1999, Newcastle was known as Australia’s steel city.

BHP (Broken Hill Propriety) began mining silver, lead and zinc at Broken Hill NSW in 1885. At the time it was described as one of the most lucrative deposits in the world.

In 1899, BHP leased an iron ore mine in South Australia and in 1915 ventured into steel making, opening the steelworks at Newcastle.

During World War I, the city became an important supplier of steel for ships, ammunition and guns, with BHP reaping huge profits.

At its height the steelworks was one of Australia’s largest employers with a workforce that peaked at 11,000 in 1981 and with more than 50,000 people estimated to have worked there through its lifetime. It employed generations of steelworkers, many working for the company for the entirety of their working lives.

The work was hot, dirty and physically demanding and there were real dangers faced by the men and women who worked there with many people losing their lives throughout the years.

In 1999, when the Newcastle Steelworks closed, 2000 workers and 1000 contractors were retrenched, an enormous blow to the city.

But the Steelworks and the people who worked there will always be remembered.

The NSW Government is reopening the Newcastle Steelworkers Memorial at Mayfield an important part of Newcastle’s history will again be accessible to the community.

Unveiled in 2015 on the 100th anniversary of the BHP steelworks’ opening, the Newcastle Steelworkers Memorial is an important tribute to the men and women who worked at the steelworks and was established by the Newcastle Industrial Heritage Association.

The 16 metre long, 8 metre high and 12 metre-wide sculpture portrays the steelworkers’ experience with features including a clock, whistle, locomotive driver, men on the gates symbolising friendship, and a cross honouring those who died on the job.

We would like to thank Special Collections, University of Newcastle for generously sharing these images. To see more of the collection go to:  https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/ We also encourage readers to consider making a donation to the Vera Deacon Regional History Fund and help keep our history alive at: https://donate.newcastle.edu.au/vera-deacon-regional-history-fund