Hunter Living Histories

The Hunter (Living) Histories Initiative was established at the University of Newcastle (Australia) in 2003 as the Coal River Working Party.

The University of Newcastle’s Coal River Working Party is a historical research group formed in 2003 by then Dr (now Professor) Erik Eklund in the Dept of History. Mr. Doug Lithgow, President of the Parks and Playgrounds Movement Inc. approached the University with the proposal to form a team of academic researchers dedicated to the investigation of the early history of Newcastle, with a view to safeguarding the heritage fabric of Newcastle’s birthplace, the Coal River Heritage Precinct.

The Coal River Working Party functions under a multi-disciplinary model with volunteers coming from a variety of academic and community research backgrounds including history, engineering, geology, surveying, archaeology, creative arts and education and share a special interest in research and conservation of Newcastle. There are also representatives from the local Aboriginal community and various corporations and government departments.

Originally the group focused research on conservation of the Coal River Precinct, but has broadened its focus to look at other places in Newcastle such as the Newcastle Government Domain, as well as the wider Hunter Region.

Collaborations are encouraged between academic staff, students and organisations to interpret the array of historical material relating to early Newcastle and the Hunter Region.

Some of the projects have involved developing new ways of presenting history using contemporary technology and media. For example see the extraordinary 3D Virtual Time Machine work of Charles Martin.

This wide disciplinary approach lets other narratives be explored so that further research can be undertaken to generate new knowledge and ideas.


In 2015, communications student undertook an audit and suggested a name change to the Hunter Histories Initiative to better represent this work into the history and culture of Australia's Hunter Region through the digital and creative collaboration.

In 2017 we are closing working with staff and students in work integrated learning initiatives through our University's GLAMx Digitisation Lab, working with 50,000 years of human expression in all its forms and formats across the Hunter Region.