Police Investigate Suspicious Unit Fire At Bar Beach

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has caused extensive damage to a unit at Bar Beach overnight.

Eight fire trucks were called to a multi-unit complex on Light Street at 7.20pm on Thursday 9 April 2026 to find a top floor unit on fire.

Newcastle Fire Command says the occupants of the unit were accounted for and all residents of the complex were safely evacuated.

It took crews about an hour to douse the flames.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious.

Forensic officers and fire investigators are looking into the cause of the fire.

 

Third Man Arrested As Part Of Investigation Into Bar Beach Murder

 BY IAN CROUCH

A third man has been charged for his alleged role in the fatal shooting of a man at Bar Beach earlier this year.

It's alleged a group of people were fighting in the Bar Beach car park on the night of April 23 when a white SUV drove up before a gun was fired towards 18-year-old  Ekampreet Singh Sahni.

Police carried out a search of a home on Tirriki Street Charlestown on Wednedsay, allegedly finding $7,900 in cash, 28 grams of cocaine and an electronic device.

An 18-year-old man was arrested at the property.

He's been charged with two counts of possessing an unauthorised firearm, failing to disclose a driver's identity and possession of an illegal gun.

He's been refused bail to face court today (Thursday 21 August 2025).

Two other men remain before the courts.

 

Alleged shooting victim Ekampreet Singh Sahni

 
 

Young Man Dies After Being Shot Following Fight At Bar Beach

 BY IAN CROUCH

Homicide detectives are combing for clues after a man died after being shot following a fight at Bar Beach overnight.

Emergency services were called to the car park on Memorial Dive at about 11.40pm on Wednesday to find a man with a gunshot wound.

Paramedics treated him, but he died at the scene.

Police have been told a group of people were fighting in the car park when a white SUV drove up and a man armed with a firearm got out, fired, and left in the vehicle.

The victim is yet to be identified but is believed to be aged 18.

Strike Force Bolwarra comprising detectives from Newcastle and the Homicide Squad are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. 

 

Man Facing Newcastle Court Over Alleged Incident In Sydney

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court today in Newcastle charged over an alleged incident in Sydney last month.

It's alleged the 25-year-old lunged at another man with a knife during an altercation at Cranbrook on Saturday 2 March.

He was arrested at Bar Beach yesterday and refused bail charged with use of an offensive weapon with intent to commit serious indictable offence, use of knife in a public place - cause person to fear for safety, and affray.

The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station following his arrest at Bar Beach

Woman Pulled From The Water At Bar Beach

 BY IAN CROUCH

A woman has been taken to the Calvary Mater Hospital for what's believed to be a mental health assessment after being pulled from the water at Bar Beach.

NSW Ambulance says they were called the beach at about 8.30am on Saturday following a request from police.

It's understood a member of the public saw the woman in her 60's jump fully clothed from rocks into the water at Susan Gilmore Beach.

An ambulance spokesperson says the woman was not distressed and was floating on her back when lifeguards reached her and brought her safely to shore.

If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

BREAKING! Girl Plucked From Cliff At Bar Beach

 BY IAN CROUCH

A teenage girl has been taken to hospital after being rescued from a cliff at Bar Beach.

A member of the public alerted authorities when they heard the 15-year-old calling for help just after 12.30am on Wednesday.

Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to an area near the Anzac Walk.

It's understood the girl climbed down several metres but couldn't get back up.

She was retrieved by firefighters unharmed.

Although she suffered no apparent injuries, the girl was taken to hospital for observation.

Man charged over Bar Beach break-ins

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A man has been charged over two alleged attempted break and enter incidents at Bar Beach on Thursday night. 

About 9pm on Thursday 13 July, police were called to Memorial Drive, where they were told that a man allegedly attempted to gain entry to the premises before fleeing.

It is also believed that the man gained access to a parked vehicle before allegedly stealing keys and various cards. 

A short time later, officers attempted to stop a man at a property on the same road. 

The man allegedly ran from police, but was arrested after a short struggle. 

The Queanbeyan man, aged 20, was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged over the attempted break and enters, larceny, and possession housebreaking implements and a knife in a public place. 

He appeared before Newcastle Local Court on Friday, where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Thursday 27 July 2023. 

BREAKING! Critical Incident Investigation Launched Over Death Of Man At Bar Beach

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police have launched a critical incident investigation following the death of a man at Bar Beach on Tuesday night.

Officers were called to the beach just after 7.45pm to reports of a concern for welfare.

On arrival, they attempted to speak to a 78-year-old man before he fell from a cliff.

A critical incident team from the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District will now investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.

If you or some you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

UPDATE! Man Arrested After 8 Hour Siege At Bar Beach

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man has been taken into custody after an eight hour siege at Bar Beach.

Police say officers went to speak to the man at a Housing Commission unit complex in Light Street at about 6.00pm on Thursday about an alleged break and enter in Hunter Street earlier this year.

However, the 48-year-old man allegedly barricaded himself inside the unit and refused to surrender while make threats to police.

Officers from the Tactical Response Group and specialist negotiators were brought in.

Police say a 55-year-old man who's a friend of the person of interest was also inside the unit. They called on him to leave the premises of his own volition, but he refused

Police forced entry to the unit at about 2 o'clock on Friday morning and arrested the wanted man without incident.

He's been refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today.

Police say no charges are pending against the 55-year-old man. 

Meanwhile, firefighters were called to the same Light Street units just before 4.30am on Friday where a washing machine was on fire in a shared laundry.

Crews quickly extinguished the fire before handing the scene over to police.

They are examining possible links to the earlier incident.

Newcastle Council Assesses Coastal Damage From Huge Seas

 BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle Council says many of the city's southern beaches have been severely impacted by the huge seas over the long weekend.

Bar Beach in particular has been significantly stripped of sand leaving a large drop-off between the sea wall and the promenade, while beach access ways at Merewether, Bar Beach and Dixon Park have been closed for safety reasons.

Council says Stockton Beach has been overtopped by waves in some sections and several beach access ways are closed as a result.

But there's been no reports of private property damage in the area.

Newcastle beaches have been left stripped of sand by huge seas Picture the herald.com.au

Police Car Involved In Crash At Bar Beach

 BY IAN CROUCH

An investigation is under way following a crash involving a Police car at Bar Beach overnight.

At about 11.30pm, a Senior Constable from the Crash Investigation Unit was heading home for the day in a fully marked Police car when a Grey Mazda 3 collided with the vehicle at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Parkway Avenue.

The Police officer in his 40's and the 18-year-old man driving the Mazda were taken to hospital in a stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.

The 18-year-old is undergoing mandatory testing and is expected to be issued with an infringement notice. 

Police Asking for Help to Find Wheelchair Stolen from Owner at Bar Beach

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Police are asking for public assistance to find a wheel chair which was stolen from it's owner in Bar Beach car park on Monday night. 

Around 11.50pm the "Mogo" brand chair was stolen.

It is blue in colour with a black seat and white wheel spokes.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Newcastle Police Station or Crime Stoppers.

Update! Car Plunges Over Cliff At Bar Beach

BY IAN CROUCH

The woman behind the wheel of a car which plunged 20 metres off a cliff at Bar Beach injuring a mother and her baby is expected to face a bedside bail hearing today.

The 46-year-old remains under police guard in the John Hunter where it's expected she will be charged with dangerous driving occasioning actual bodily harm.

A 40-year-old woman who was on the beach with her infant child has been treated for a broken leg.

Chief Inspector Gerard Lawson says everyone involved is lucky to be alive.

"I've seen people not survive a fall of that. After 11 years in the Crash Unit I'm very surprised that we've got these minor injuries involved in this incident," he said.

EARLIER:

Two women and a child have been injured after a car drove off a cliff and crashed onto a beach in Newcastle on Thursday. 

About 10.25am, emergency services were called to the top car park off Memorial Drive, at Bar Beach in Newcastle, following reports that a car had gone off a cliff.

Police have been told the white Volkswagen Golf, driven by a 32-year-old woman, drove off the cliff from the top car park and landed on the sand.

A 40-year-old woman and her infant child, who were on the beach, were struck by the car.

The father of the child was reportedly in the water at the time and witnessed the incident.

The woman sustained possible leg fractures and was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment. The child suffered minor scratches.

The driver of the Volkswagen was treated at the scene for minor injuries before being taken to the same hospital where she will also undergo mandatory testing.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District attended and have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police are investigating reports there was a male passenger in the Volkswagen.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has dashcam footage, is urged to come forward.

The car park has been cleared and members of the public are being advised to avoid the area.

A retrieval operation is underway to remove the vehicle from the beach.

                                         

                                                                             Image Credit: Twitter

Surf Lifesavers Issue Warning After Teenage Boy Drowned Off Bar Beach

BY IAN CROUCH

Surf Lifesavers are urging people to think carefully before they enter the water after a teenage boy drowned off Bar Beach.

The 16-year-old was jumping from rocks into the water from the headland between Susan Gilmore and Bar Beach at about 3.30pm on Sunday when he failed to re-surface.

He was pulled from the water by the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter but couldn't be revived.

Surf Lifesaving Chief Executive, Steven Pearce says activities like these can turn deadly if people aren't careful.

"The warning is always to swim at patrolled locations between the red and yellow flags, but on this particular occasion what we're asking people is to take time to plan and just think about your actions and as much as it's fantastic fun doing some of these activities,  they can end in tragic circumstances," he said.

Emergency Services attended but the teenager was unable to be revived. Image: Jarrod Melmeth

Laundry Fire At Bar Beach Units Being Treated As Suspicious

BY IAN CROUCH

A fire which caused severe damage to a common laundry of a Bar Beach unit block this morning is being treated as suspicious.

Firefighters from Cooks Hill and Merewether were called to Nickson Street just after 3 o'clock this morning to find the laundry area well alight.

They took about 45 minutes to extinguish and mop up the blaze.

They'd earlier been called to extinguish a rubbish fire at the same unit complex, and there are reports of a man seen acting suspiciously in the area at the time.