“Warrawelong” was the name given to Mount Sugarloaf by the Awabakal people. This translates to “wedge-tailed eagle”. Today, we know it as Mount Sugarloaf. Prepare to discover its stories.
Mount Sugarloaf stands tall in New South Wales. It reaches 412 metres high. The mountain overlooks Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Maitland. Its summit lies within West Wallsend, a suburb of Lake Macquarie. Yet, Mount Sugarloaf also extends into Cessnock suburbs. These include Mulbring and Richmond Vale.
This mountain is more than just a scenic viewpoint. Mount Sugarloaf holds significance for the Awabakal people. It served as an important teaching place. Sacred ceremonies took place here. The mountain’s shape is said to resemble a wedge-tailed eagle. This form is central to a cautionary tale. It tells of two children facing a monster named Puttikin.
Mount Sugarloaf is home to television transmitters. These towers broadcast to the lower Hunter region. Analogue television used to transmit from here. That was on VHF. Later, UHF analogue stations joined them. Since 2003, digital television transmits in UHF. The analogue transmitters switched off in 2012. The “NBN Tower” transmits NBN and government digital TV. Another tower transmits other commercial digital TV stations. Many radio antennae are on these towers. They belong to stations like 105.3 NEWFM.
A smaller tower exists, too. It houses directional antennae. These serve telecommunications. They also support two-way radio for emergency services. Telstra markings appear on its equipment.
Mount Sugarloaf even saw snow. On July 18 and 19, 1965, 10 centimetres fell. The summit also experienced snowfall in 1975. A plaque commemorates the first recorded snowfall on the mountain in 1965.
From the Mount Sugarloaf carpark, you can look toward Newcastle. The summit offers views. It is a place of broadcasting and indigenous history. It is also a place of natural beauty. Mount Sugarloaf offers much to those who visit. It links the past and present. It connects culture and technology.