Old Newcastle banknote going for big money

Bank On It: This £10 note from the Bank of Newcastle issued in 1828 is for sale. The auction ends on Sunday.

A rare £10 note from the Bank of Newcastle is up for auction.

Bids open at $15,000 on the website invaluable.com, but the artefact is estimated to go for up to $25,000.

"This issue from Australia's earliest proposed regional bank is very rare, being one of only three known surviving notes of this denomination," the description said.

Hamilton South's Ian Bowrey spotted the auction of a "unique and extremely valuable relic of Newcastle's past".

"I really believe it must be housed in Newcastle," Ian said.

The note is from the year 1828.

"How many historical items from the time convicts still laboured on Macquarie Pier are held by this city?" Ian said.

Ian reckons there's little chance another Newcastle Bank-issued banknote will come onto the market.

"Think ahead five, 10, 50 years: it will remain unique and thus valuable," he said.

"To acquire it will add to Newcastle's prestige."

The auction ends on Sunday.

Adnate's Book 

Artist Adnate (left) with a Newcastle mural he painted of Aunty Rose.

Street artist Matt Adnate will launch his new book, titled Adnate: Point of Viewon Thursday.

Adnate is known for his portraits in Newcastle, like the one of Aunty June Rose - a founder of the Awabakal Newcastle Aboriginal Co-Operative - and her great-granddaughter Nayeli Green.

The book is a journey through Adnate's career over the last two decades, from a young graffiti artist tagging the streets to one of the most talented muralists in the world.

Adnate has called Newcastle his "home away from home".

Indigenous culture is his main muse. Each book is individually hand-signed on the cover. All profits will go to indigenous youth charity.

Does Facebook Santa exist? 

We noticed Newcastle Post Office was urging children to practice their letter writing by sending a letter to Santa. [Hang on a sec. Children still write letters?]

Apparently Santa doesn't have email.

But there is a Facebook page called Santa Claus that carries the handle "OfficiallySantaClaus".

Leah from Auckland wrote: "From my daughter: To Santa, I want a unicorn. I love you."

Nancy from Utah sounded menacing: "Santa, I have one of your elves."

Kristin from Alabama told Santa in a sad but matter-of-fact way that the father of her four kids would be absent this Christmas "due to poor life choices".

Billy from Doncaster said: "All I want for Xmas is my friends and family to be well and for me to get my back sorted out".

Virginia, from New York, asked whether Facebook Santa Claus really existed.

To which we can only say: "Yes Virginia, there is a Facebook Santa Claus."

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