Wheeler Place: Civic Theatre behind the palm trees

Wheeler Place was formerly a street, which was closed off to create a large square sometime in the last 40 years. The square is often hired out for events and is a significant “place” in Newcastle, located right beside Town Hall, the Council buildings and Civic Theatre. It has two coffee shops nearby and plenty of public seating. While there are some old palm trees, adding to the ambience of the Place, the centre of the Place is bare, to more easily accommodate events that are held there. This provides an open area often utilised by skateboarders and bike riders doing tricks. It also serves as a handy through way for cyclists to traverse between King and Hunter Streets.

View to King Street

A colourful metal table tennis table is available for public use, also increasing the recreational use of the Place.

Table tennis in Wheeler Place

Wheeler Place works as a “place” because of its prominent location and spacious car free areas, though its lack of intimacy and shade and its openness means it does not work as well as, say, Hunter St Mall. But then, it has been designed for a different purpose.

Art work above the awnings in Wheeler Place