This is a list of mayors and lord mayors of Newcastle and its predecessors, a local government area of New South Wales, Australia.
First incorporated on 7 June 1859 as the "Municipality of Newcastle", the council became known as "The Borough of Newcastle" on 23 December 1867 following the enactment of The Municipalities Act of 1867, and on 1 April 1938 the "City of Greater Newcastle" was proclaimed. In recognition of Newcastle's role as NSW's second oldest and largest city, the council applied to have the title "Lord Mayor", which was granted in October 1947 by King George VI and applied in October 1948. This made Newcastle the first Australian city that was not a capital to receive such an honour. On 1 April 1949 the official title of the council became the "City of Newcastle".
Ross Kerridge, who was elected to the lord mayoralty in 2024, resigned in February 2026 due to ill-health. At the subsequent by-election in April 2026, Independent Gavin Morris was elected to the position.
The official title of Lord Mayors while holding office is: The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Newcastle.
Mayors (1859–1948) Years Mayors 1859–1862 James Hannell 1863–1864 R. D. Bishop 1865 J. Ward 1866 Simon Kemp 1867 W. BrooksFirst Mayor of Newcastle Borough Council. 1868–1869 James Hannell 1870 W. A. Spark 1871 James Hannell 1872–1873 Atkinson Tighe 1874–1875 E. A. White 1876 Francis Shaw 1876 David Ludlow 1877–1879 George Wallace 1880 Samuel Chapman 1881 Joseph Creer 1882 Thomas Brooks 1883 William Laing 1884 Stewart Keightley 1885 C. W. Morgan 1886 John Thorn 1887 George William Webb 1888–1889 Henry Buchanan 1890 Colin Christie 1891 William Thomas Gibb 1892 James Rogers 1893 Augustus Frederick Moore 1894 Alfred Asher 1895 William Sharp 1896 Thomas Smith 1897 David Miller 1898 William Kidd 1899 Alfred Timbury 1900 David Miller 1901 W. J. Ellis 1902–1903 William Cann 1904 John Gilbert 1905 Michael Moroney 1906–1907 Arthur James 1908 Andrew Cook 1909–1910 John Christian Reid 1911–1913 Hugh McLachlan Shedden 1914 John Christian Reid 1915 Robert George Kilgour 1916–1917 Michael Moroney 1918–1919 Robert George Kilgour 1920 Robert Gibson 1921 Robert George Kilgour 1922–1923 Henry Cornish 1924 Robert George Kilgour 1925 Morris Light 1926 Henry Cornish 1927–1928 Robert Gibson 1929 Harry Lambert Wheeler 1930 Thomas Blackall 1931–1932 Charles Parker 1933 William McGregor Shedden 1934 Robert George Kilgour 1935 Richard Christie 1936–1937 H. Fenton 1938 Arthur GriffithsFirst Mayor of Greater Newcastle Council. 1939 George Jenner 1940 James Wiggins 1941–1942 Walter Young 1943 Ernest Dunkley (Ind) 1944 – December 1946 Roy Norris December 1946 – October 1948 Harry Quinlan
Lord mayors (1948–present) Image Lord Mayor Party Term Notes Harry Quinlan Independent October 1948 –December 1950 Frank Purdue Citizens Group December 1950 –December 1951 Tom Armstrong Independent December 1951 –December 1952 Frank Purdue Citizens Group December 1952 –December 1955 Douglas McDougall Citizens Group December 1955 –December 1956 Charles Jones Labor December 1956 –December 1957 Douglas McDougall Citizens Group December 1957 –December 1958 Ernest Dunkle Independent December 1958 –December 1959 Frank Purdue Citizens Group December 1959 –December 1965 Douglas McDougall Citizens Group December 1965 –September 1973 Gordon Anderson Independent September 1973 –September 1974 Joy Cummings Labor September 1974 –September 1976 Gordon Anderson Independent September 1976 –September 1977 Joy Cummings Labor September 1977 –16 April 1984 Don Geddes Citizens Group 16 April 1984 –2 October 1984 Acting lord mayor Colin Saunders N/A 2 October 1984 –1986 Administrator John McNaughton Labor 1986 –September 1995 Greg Heys Labor September 1995 –September 1999 John Tate Independent 11 September 1999 – 8 September 2012 Jeff McCloy Independent 8 September 2012 –17 August 2014 Brad Luke Liberal 17 August 2014 –15 November 2014 Acting lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes Labor 15 November 2014 –14 September 2024 Ross Kerridge Independent Kerridge stood for election as an independent after losing Labor preselection and styled his ticket as "Our Newcastle". Resigned due to ill-health 9 February 2026.
Following the 2024 New South Wales local elections "Our Newcastle" was established an incorporated association in January of 2025 of which Kerridge was a founding member. It is not registered as a local government party with the New South Wales Electoral Commission. 14 September 2024 –9 February 2026 Elected under the campaign banner 'Our Newcastle' after losing Labor Party preselection. Charlotte McCabe Greens 27 October 2025 –18 April 2026 Acting lord mayor due to Dr Ross Kerridge's extended medical leave and subsequent resignation after returning from leave Gavin Morris Independent 18 April 2026 –Incumbent Elected at a by-election in 2026.
Electoral results 2026 by-election
2024
2021
2017
2014 by-election
2012
References
External links The City of Newcastle (Council website)