Kotara

Kotara Newcastle, New South Wales
Kotara railway station
Kotara
Coordinates	32°55′55″S 151°41′06″E
Population	3,980 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)	2289
Area	2.4 km^2 (0.9 sq mi)
Location	9 km (6 mi) WSW of Newcastle 4 km (2 mi) N of Charlestown
LGA(s)	City of Newcastle City of Lake Macquarie
Parish	Newcastle
State electorate(s)	Charlestown
Federal division(s)	Shortland Newcastle
Suburbs around Kotara: New Lambton Heights New Lambton New Lambton Garden Suburb Kotara Adamstown Garden Suburb Kotara South Adamstown Heights

Kotara (/kəˈtɑːrə/ kə-TAR-ə)^[2] is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located 9 kilometres (6 mi) from Newcastle's central business district. It is split between the City of Newcastle and City of Lake Macquarie local government areas. Kotara is known as one of Newcastle's largest retail destinations and is characterised by its family centred culture.

History

The Aboriginal people, in this area, the Awabakal, were the first people of this land.^[3]

In the late 19th century the Australasia Coal Company operated a mine near Kotara, in the valley below the present-day northern entrance to Tickhole Tunnel. A private railway connected the screens with the Government line near the present-day triangle junctions north of Broadmeadow. Surveying for the line commenced in 1875 and the line was completed in April 1877. However, only a total of 9,052 tons was ever produced and the company went into liquidation in June 1879.^[4]

It was originally designed to create a 'garden suburb' with high quality and quickly grew in population after 1947.^[5]

Population

In the 2016 Census, there were 3,929 people in Kotara. 87.4% of people were born in Australia and 90.9% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 33.2%, Catholic 23.7%, Anglican 18.0% and Uniting Church 5.8%.^[6]

Commercial area

Kotara is a large retail centre of Newcastle.

Westfield Kotara (previously known as Garden City and Kotara Fair) is a large shopping centre on Northcott Drive. Across the road from Westfield is the Kotara Home Centre, consisting of big box department stores and food outlets.

Education

Kotara is home to Kotara South Public School on Rodway Parade and the local Catholic School St James Primary School, located on Vista Parade.

See also

Kotara railway station

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Kotara (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
2. "Search By Letter – ABC PRONOUNCE". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
3. "Aboriginal Culture". City of Newcastle. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
4. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, September 1964 pp161-165
5. "Kotara".
6. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Kotara (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 9 February 2018.