Newcastle has many pokies venues with extraordinary history. Some of the most popular places to play our favourite poker machines in the area are heritage-listed, historic land-marks from eras long before ours – we take a look at the fascinating origins of these buildings before they became the pokies venues we know today.
Best online casino alternatives for Newcastle players
History of Newcastle
Newcastle was originally inhabited by Aboriginal tribes who called the town, Mulubinba. This was until the first European settlement came in 1797, when Lieutenant John Shortland accidentally discovered the area chasing down convicts who had escaped.
He discovered the port and the abundance of coal it had to offer, and a year later ships began to collect the coal from the riverbanks. The coal was taken and sold in Sydney, which then resulted in Australia’s first export in 1799.
As such, convicts were sent to dig out the coal mines as punishment and Newcastle gained a reputation as a ‘hellhole’. Newcastle became a major coal producer, as well as offering a railhead and port and suburbs of Newcastle began to develop, named after coalminers from England, Wales, and Scotland.
Between the 1870s and 1880s, as these suburbs began to flourish, buildings were erected featuring Victorian architecture. Some of these buildings can still found today, and even host a wide selection of pokies to play.
Customs House Hotel
1 Bond St, Newcastle NSW 2300
Customs House Hotel features two floors and a basement, and offers a restaurant, a bar, a beer garden, a pool room, and a gaming room where you will find a small selection of pokies.
You can play a few rounds on the machines, and then enjoy a nice cold beer outside in the beer garden with magnificent views of the harbour.
Argyle House
311 Wharf Rd, Newcastle NSW 2300
In 2013, the venue was renovated and re-opened as a new nightclub with new owners and a new name, attempting to wipe the slate clean from it’s original image.
While this venue is indeed a nightclub, and only open Wednesday and Saturday nights – sometimes Fridays for special occasions – it features a gaming room where you can play an array of pokies.
The Victorian Georgian style building also offers five bars and six different rooms, but the best part is some of the original features, such as the brickwork, was restored in the refurbishment to really add a historical edge.
The Burwood Inn
77 Berner Street, Merewether
The Burwood Inn is also considered to have the best steak in Newcastle, so we recommend grabbing a bite to eat if you plan to visit for a play.
Lambton Park Hotel
19A Morehead Street, Lambton NSW 2299
This pub is beaming with historic value, and while the outside of the building still remains the same, the foyer – specifically the tile work – has been restored. Additionally, a title featuring ‘EH’ was added to pay homepage to its original name. You will also find a 1920’s real estate poster outside.
The pub boasts an extensive food menu, plus a wide range of beer, wine and spirits.
The Lucky Hotel
237 Hunter Street, Newcastle NSW 2300
Inside you will find another bar and more tables as well as a gaming room where you will find a selection of pokies. There’s a photo booth just near the gaming room too, so you can grab some happy snaps with your winnings.
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