Four of Newcastle's special hospitality and business districts are in line for a fresh wave of funding as the state continues its push to revitalise the city's 24-hour economy.
The fourth round of the NSW government's Uptown Districts funding will carve out $4.8 million for 41 districts from Newcastle to south of Sydney, with a slew of Hunter watering holes, retail, and entertainment and culture precincts in line for support.
For the first time, Darby Street in Newcastle will be represented by its own newly minted district, joining the city's other precincts at Midtown, Throsby Basin and the East End, auspiced by the Newcastle City Business Improvement Association.
The Darby Street collective will funnel its funding allocation of up to $120,000 toward seasonal events in the neighbourhood, including the Darby After Dark series that aims to boost the food and cultural high street since the reopening of the renovated Newcastle Art Gallery.
Newcastle Business Improvement Association chair Jacinta Fintan said she has seen first hand how the reopening of Newcastle Art Gallery has brought new energy to the city.
"Darby After Dark helps extend that experience beyond the gallery walls, encouraging visitors to discover local businesses, and strengthening the connection between arts, culture and the wider community," Ms Fintan said.
The series is expected to deliver a string of events and curated experiences including live music, artist interactions, workshops and foodie activations to connect the neighbourhood's hospitality, arts and business sectors.
Newcastle Art Gallery director Lauretta Morton said initiatives like Darby After Dark create new opportunities for people to experience connection in different ways.
"By bringing together the gallery, local businesses and our creative community, we're encouraging visitors to enjoy art as part of a broader cultural experience that celebrates everything Newcastle has to offer," Ms Morton said.
The latest funding splash follows an injection of almost $800,000 into the city's night-time and local business economy last year, which yielded a trial courtesy bus route connecting popular Midtown haunts to venues across the CBD, as well as a street lighting audit, public amenity improvements and other local activations.
The fourth round of funding represents the second time that the regions have been included in program that began in Sydney.
Six districts in Newcastle and the Central Coast are in line for funding allocations, the state's 24-hour economy commissioner said on Monday.
The commissioner, Michael Rodrigues, singled out the Darby Street collective, spruiking the group for its "unique collective initiative".
"As the program expanded, we've seen momentum growing, with more new districts in places like the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Illawarra. It's even better when local councils get behind these districts and work closely with them as part of their own local night-time economy strategies," Mr Rodrigues said.
The Uptown grant program has funded formally organised district business groups to pool resources, link their offerings, and work together to drive visitation to their respective sectors and promote night-time safety across the city.
Long-term crime data shows liquor offences fell sharply in the year after the city's lockout laws were repealed. While the overall rate of non-domestic alcohol violence in Newcastle is twice the state average, the number of incidents specifically linked to licensed premises has remained low.
Over the decade the figure has decreased by almost 65 per cent on Friday and Saturday nights.
Meanwhile, offences that colour public safety perceptions after dark, including offensive conduct, theft and damage, generally occurred around outdoor and residential areas in the year from October 2024.
As the landscape of the city's hospitality economy changes in the long shadow of lockout laws, COVID, a cost-of-living crisis and increases to supply costs, venue owners have said coordinating with their neighbours has helped them navigate rolling headwinds.
