Shepherd's Hill Cottage

Shepherds Hill cottage has stood watch over Newcastle from atop King Edward Park since the 1890s. The cottage, battery observation post and gun emplacement were originally designed to defend Newcastle's burgeoning coal port after the 1878 Royal Commission into Colonial Defences. The military site served as an integral command position up to the end of World War II and is one of the only coastal defence sites in Australia manned simultaneously during World War II by the Royal Australian Navy, Army and Royal Australia Air Force.

From the early 2000s the cottage was leased to Marine Rescue NSW as one of their headquarters, until a severe storm event damaged the cottage extensively in 2015. Restoration works were completed in early 2022 following an intensive 3-year process, and a cafe and restaurant are now set to open at this historic site in 2026.

The Cottage is positioned near Newcastle's King Edward Park and forms part of the iconic Bathers Way walk, stretching from Nobby's Beach to Merewether Ocean Baths.