One of the best ways to learn about the city’s dark past is to take one of the true crime tours in Newcastle. Taking one of these walking tours is definitely a different way of seeing the city, and gives you an insight into the fraudsters, thieves and con men who once thronged the city. The tour takes about 2 hours, regardless of the weather, although a misty evening arguably just adds to the atmosphere. Two highlights of the tour are the Old Jail and the Convict Lumberyard. The latter was originally a penal settlement, processing thousands of convicts during the early part of the 19th century; today the site is on the NSW Heritage Register. And your tour guide will also tell you all about the infamous tomahawk murder case, in which a 26 year old woman was accused of plotting to have her husband killed.
