Author(s): Howard Bridgman ((various roles)); Nancy Cushing ((various roles))

History | Books about Newcastle & the Hunter

History of air pollution in Newcastle, NSW. For many years the reputation of Newcastle, NSW, was that of a smoky industrial city. Novocastrians who remember when the BHP dominated the skyline recall the acrid haze that regularly enveloped the city, and, in more recent times, fine black coal dust has affected the lives of residents. Smoky City tells the story of how Newcastle came to be the polluted industrial place it was. Combining both historic and scientific approaches, the book describes the development of industry, transport, housing, and other factors that fouled the air and the impact this had on people's lives. We also meet the Novocastrians whose ground-breaking campaigns to clean up the city led to dramatically cleaner air for Newcastle. This book will capture the imagination of anyone interested in environmental, industrial, or Australian history.