Sentinel Breaks Ground on Newcastle Logistics Hub

Work has begun on the $130-million first stage of the Newcastle Port Logistics Hub on a former BHP site.

The Sentinel Property Group project is rising on a 10.1ha site at 71 Industrial Drive at Mayfield, about 6.5km north-west of the Newcastle CBD.

The land was subdivided into several lots—one has been sold to a major NSW-based developer who is negotiating with fast food and fuel station operators.

The Mayfield industrial development comprises warehouse/workshops with gross lettable areas from 2000sq m to 10,000sq m and offering a minimum 10m high clearance as well as office space.

Sites include at-grade container hardstand suitable for B-doubles and heavy-duty forklifts.

The property is next to the Sentinel-owned Newcastle Industrial Park at 51 Industrial Drive, which comprises 115,797sq m of gross lettable area incorporating office and high-clearance warehouses.

Sentinel chief executive Warren Ebert said the site was well-located.

“Newcastle Port Logistics Hub is Newcastle’s newest industrial development located in direct proximity to the Port of Newcastle, International Airport, CBD and major arterial roads,” Ebert said.

“Industrial Drive has been identified as a corridor for Renewable Energy Infrastructure with Newcastle being Australia’s largest regional economy with over $61-billion gross regional product.

“Sentinel is excited about the potential in Newcastle with the city having undergone major renewal with infrastructure projects such as the light rail, the new CBD University of Newcastle campus and also the Hunter region’s proximity to Sydney’s major attractions.”

The site is next to the Newcastle Industrial Park at 51 Industrial Drive, which has several buildings with 115,797sq m of gross lettable area with office and warehouse space.

▲ Aerial view of Sentinel’s other site at Mayfield, 51 Industrial Drive.

The hub is well located for future port infrastructure development.

“Sentinel’s Newcastle Port Logistics Hub presents large vacant lots adjacent to the Port of Newcastle’s future deep water berthing and container handling facilities, and it is a natural distribution hub for national and international companies due to its location and access to key infrastructure,” Ebert said.

“The Port of Newcastle is to become Australia’s leading deepwater port with the development of the Newcastle Deepwater Container Terminal (NDCT), with berths and a quay line capable of supporting multiple Post-Panamax vessels and the much larger Ultra Large Container Vessels now operating around the world.”

It is predicted that the NDCT project will generate $2.5 billion for Australia’s economy.

The industrial subdivision project is expected to be completed by early 2026.

As well as substantial industrial properties at Mayfield, Sentinel’s portfolio in the Hunter region includes a homemaker centre at Heatherbrae and an office building in Argyle Street in the Newcastle CBD.