Police Release CCTV Footage Of Alleged Getaway Driver In Commonwealth Hotel Armed Robbery

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police have released CCTV footage of a man and a vehicle which they believe were involved in the violent armed robbery on the Commonwealth Hotel at Cooks Hill two years ago.

Last week, 37-year-old John Jarrett and 32-year-old Marley Tiopira were each gaoled for a maximum of 7 years after storming the pub in the early hours of February 28, 2024 armed with a machete and baseball bat respectively.

It's alleged a getaway driver assaulted a cleaner before all three men escaped with $125,000 in a white Mercedes A190 hatchback with damage on the rear left side passenger door.

The third man was wearing a hooded jumper, baseball cap, tracksuit pants and black shoes with a distinctive while mark or stain on the right shoe.

Police believe this man can assist with their inquiries

 

Councilor Condemns Proposed Cooks Hill High-Rise

BY LOUISE LIMBERS

Newcastle councillor Declan Clausen has voiced his strong disapproval of high-rise apartment blocks proposed for Cooks Hill. 

He, alongside many residents, have sent in submissions slamming the proposal, claiming they will cause parking issues, as well as overshadow the surrounding heritage infrastructure. 

Sydney company Vivacity applied to the NSW Housing Delivery Authority for development approval to build two apartment blocks, one 13 storeys and the other eight, creating 113 dwellings. 

Located in between Civic Park and the Newcastle Art Gallery, the proposed 45-metre tall build is more than triple the current permitted height limit of 14 metres. 

Cr Declan Clausen said he believes the build will significantly impact the area. 

"Putting a 45 metre residential tower in the middle of a residential conservation area where there are clear zoning rules," he said. 

"I think would be an enormous mistake." 

Set to cost more than $133 million dollars, the development will exceed the threshold of state significant development of  $30 million and 40 dwellings for a proposal in regional NSW. 

"We are a council that absolutely welcomes additional growth and new housing but it's got to be in the right locations," said Cr Clausen. 

He lodged a formal objection to the project on Tuesday. 

"I hope that they take seriously, the submissions that I've made, and the submissions that have been made by hundreds of Novocastrians, who just expect a fair outcome where the planning rules are respected for our city," he added. 

BREAKING! Four People Jump For Their Lives After Fire Engulfs Cooks Hill Unit

 BY IAN CROUCH

Four people have jumped from the third floor after fire engulfed a unit at Cooks Hill overnight.

Around 40 firefighters from six stations and the Hazmat Unit were called to the 3 storey unit block on Parkway Avenue just after 10.30pm on Tuesday November 16 to find a ground floor unit engulfed in flames and several people on the ground suffering various injuries.

They'd broken a window of a top floor unit to escape the intense heat and smoke which was coming through their front door.

Newcastle Fire Command says crews had the fire under control within half an hour and fully extinguished by around 12.30am on Wednesday, with the blaze confined to the one unit 

Four people were taken to the John Hunter Hospital with suspected fractures and orthopaedic injures.

A fifth person was rescued from a second storey unit by firefighters using a ladder and taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation.

12 people were evacuated from the unit block.

Police have set up a crime scene and forensic police will commence their investigation on Wednedsay morning.

 

BREAKING! Murder Investigation Launched After Death Of A Man At Cooks Hill

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man has died after an alleged assault in Cooks Hill this morning.

Emergency services were called to unit block on Darby Street just before 3.30am today (Wednesday 10 December 2025) following reports of an assault.

The 53-year-old man was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.

His death is being treated as suspicious.

Police have set up a crime scene and detectives have commenced an investigation with the assistance of the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad.

 

Environment Watchdog Investigates Bird Deaths At Cooks Hill

 BY IAN CROUCH

The deaths of several birds at Cooks Hill has prompted an investigation by the Environment Protection Authority.

The EPA received a report from Newcastle Council of dead birds in Railway Street between the intersections of Bull and Swan Streets.

They found 7 birds including Magpies, Magpie Larks and Common Mynas.

An autopsy is under way to determine how they died.

It follows the deaths of hundreds of Corellas in a suspected poisoning at Carrington in March.

 

BREAKING! Second Man Arrested Over Violent Armed Robbery On Commonwealth Hotel

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police investigating a violent armed robbery on the Commonwealth Hotel at Cooks Hill last month have made a second arrest.

A cleaner was allegedly bashed during the incident just before dawn on Wednesday February 28.

Earlier this month, Strike Force detectives arrested a 34-year-old man at Mayfield - he remains before the courts.

Further inquiries led police to an address at Cooks Hill at about 7.45pm on Wednesday, where a 28-year-old man was arrested.

He's been charged with robbery with an offensive weapon, reckless grievous bodily harm and conspiracy to commit robbery in company and is due to face court today.

Man Faces Court Over Commonwealth Hotel Armed Robbery

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man arrested over a violent armed robbery at a Cooks Hill hotel last week will remain behind bars.

The 34-year-old was arrested at Mayfield on Wednesday following a week-long investigation into the hold-up at the Commonwealth Hotel.

A worker was found injured on King Street following the incident early on the morning of Wednesday 28th February.

It's alleged the cleaner was bashed while trying to escape from the incident.

Police were told two men wielding a machete and a baseball bat forced entry to the hotel.

John Jerrett appeared in Newcastle Court on Thursday charged with robbery while armed with an offensive weapon and reckless grievous bodily harm in company.

He's been refused bail to face court again in May.

UPDATE! Worker Injured During Violent Armed Robbery At Cooks Hill Hotel

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police have been called to reports of an armed robbery at a Cooks Hill hotel.

Officers were called to the Commonwealth Hotel on the corner of Union and Bull Streets at about 4.45am on Wednesday.

Police have been told two men armed with a machete and a baseball bat forced entry to the hotel and confronted two employees.

One of the workers was bashed while attempting to flee and was found with serious injuries on King Street Street - officers performed CPR and he's been taken to the John Hunter Hospital. The other worker wasn't injured.

The armed men are described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in their 20's and wearing masks - they fled the hotel with cash.

King Street is partially closed at the intersection of Union Street and there are local diversions in place.

Police have set up a crime scene and are appealing for anyone with dash cam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police Appeal For Help To Find Missing Newcastle Woman

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Newcastle Police are asking for help to locate a missing person. 

57-year-old Perelle McIntosh was last seen at her home on Darby Street in Cooks Hill on the 3rd of July. 

She is known to frequent the Nobbys Beach area. 

Perelle is described as being of Caucasian in appearance, 160cm tall, with a medium build, brown eyes and blonde hair.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is being asked to contact Crime Stoppers in 1800 333 000.

Have You Seen Kye Norman?

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Police are asking Hunter residents to be on the lookout for a missing person.

31-year-old Kye Norman was last seen in Denman on Monday afternoon. 

He's described as being Caucasian in appearance, approximately 175-180cm tall, with a fair complexion, thin build, brown hair, and blue eyes.
  
It's believed he's driving a Black 2011 Holden Colorado Utility with registration DO03IE

Police believe Kye is in the Cooks Hill or surrounding areas.  

Anyone with information is asked to contact Muswellbrook Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

Hunter cold cases to feature on playing cards for prison inmates

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Roslyn Reay, who was stabbed to death in her Cooks Hill home in March 2005, is one of 52 faces to appear on a deck of playing cards being distributed to prison inmates.

It's part of an initiative hoping to prompt inmates who might have leads or information on a number of cold cases across New South Wales.

The 55-year-old's murder remains unsolved, but investigators believed they have a profile of the killer.

The cards are set to be handed out in correctional institutions across the state, with 52 other cold cases listed on the cards.

Melissa Hunt, found dead near Stockrington in 1994, and Cessnock teenager Alison Newstead, who was murdered in 1993, each appear on a card.

Revelle Balmain, who disappeared from Sydney and never arrived at Newcastle Station in 1994, also appears.

Darby Street Cooks Hill To Trial 30km/hr Zone

 BY IAN CROUCH

One of Newcastle's popular restaurant and cafe strips is about to undergo a trial of a 30km/hr zone.

Council has been awarded a $500,000 grant for the trail and streetscape activations on Darby Street - it's not clear yet when the trial will begin..

The grant comes from the latest round of the $20 million Streets and Shared Spaces program.

Maitland Council has also received $500,000 for its Maitlanes project to unlock public space in 7 CBD laneways, and Port Stephens has received almost the same amount for its William Street Urban Park project.

Darby Street to trial 30km/hr speed zone

Police Arrest 4th Person Over Fatal Shooting At Cooks Hill

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police have charged a 4th person over the alleged fatal shooting of a man at Cooks Hill earlier this year.

40-year-old Wes Prentice died from a gunshot wound to the chest at a Darby Street unit.

Two men and a woman were subsequently arrested and are now before the courts.

Yesterday, (Tuesday 14 December, 2021) a 35-year-old woman was arrested in Maude Street at Belmont.

She's been refused bail charged with being an accessory after the fact of murder and is due to face Belmont Court today via audio visual link.

BREAKING! Man Suffers Severe Burns In Cooks Hill Unit Fire

BY IAN CROUCH

A 41-year-old man has been flown to Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital with severe burns after a unit fire at Cooks Hill.

Fire & Rescue NSW says crews were called to the Darby Street apartment complex at 6.47am on Thursday where a fire had engulfed two second floor units.

Residents assisted the injured man to safety and an off-duty nurse treated him before Ambulance paramedics arrived. 

It's believed an explosion sparked the blaze but Police say the cause is not yet known and a crime scene has been set up as investigations continue

Darby Street is closed between Bull and Parry Streets, while Dawson Street is also closed.

Police are urging members of the public to avoid the area.

Pictured: The blaze as it occurred on Thursday morning.
Image: Marilyn Lean/Facebook

UPDATE! Police appealing for dashcam footage following fatal shooting at Cooks Hill

BY JARROD MELMETH

UPDATE 10AM:

Police are appealing for dashcam footage as they continue to investigate a fatal shooting at Cooks Hill on Thursday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to a Unit on Darby Street at about 12:45pm where a 40-year-old man had been fatally shot.

Police have been told two people - a man and a woman - were seen running from the scene shortly after 

Anyone who was in the vicinity of Darby Street, and nearby Parkway Avenue, Tooke and Brooks Streets who may have dashcam footage is being urged to contact Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers.

EARLIER

BY IAN CROUCH

A man has died after being shot at Cooks Hill on Thursday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to a unit block in Darby Street at about 12.45pm where they found a man inside a unit with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he died at the scene.

Police say the man is yet to be formally identified.

Newcastle Police Commander, Superintendent Wayne Humphrey told reporters there were a number of people inside the unit at the time who've taken off and they are being sought by Police for questioning.

He said witnesses have told them a male and a female were seen running from the unit block around the time of the shooting and the man had blood on his face.

Anyone who saw the pair near the intersection of Parkway Avenue is urged to contact Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers immediately on 1800 333 000.

Police at the scene in Cooks Hill.
Image: ABC Newcastle.

Alleged Culprits Still On The Run After Assaults at Cooks Hill and Muswellbrook

BY IAN CROUCH

The search continues for the alleged culprits involved in two assaults in Newcastle and Muswellbrook over the weekend.

Police say a 31-year-old man was slapped and knocked unconscious during an altercation at a licensed premise on Darby Street, Cooks Hill on Saturday night.

Police want to speak to two men of Caucasian appearance in their mid 20's to mid 30's with a muscular build, average height and neck tattoos.

One was wearing a white t-shirt, the other a green short-sleeved shirt.

Meanwhile, police are trying to piece together the circumstances leading up to the assault of a 28-year-old man in the front yard of a home on Tindale Street at Muswellbrook.

The incident happened around 7.30 on Saturday night.

The victim suffered a fractured skull and lacerations to his face and arms and was airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.

Anyone who witnessed either incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers.

Newcastle Police Seek Help To Find Carjackers

BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle Police are appealing for help to track down two people responsible for a carjacking at Cooks Hill.

The man and woman stole a 2017 Silver Toyota Corolla at about 6.30am last Sunday near the intersection of Darby and Tyrell Streets after the driver offered them a lift from Hamilton East.

The male is described as being about 40 to 50 years old with short dark curly hair and the woman is 30 to 40 with blonde medium length hair.

The rego number of the car is CQ 26 FH.

Man Arrested Over Cooks Hill Carjacking

BY IAN CROUCH

A couple have been the victims of a terrifying carjacking at Cooks Hill.

They were travelling down Darby Street in their Mercedes at about 7.00pm on Monday night when an object was thrown at the car.

The male driver pulled over and chased the alleged culprit, a 32-year-old man, who police say dropped handbags he'd earlier stolen during a break-in.

The victim stopped to pick up the property before returning to his car to find the offender had dragged his partner from the drivers seat and driven off.

He was later identified by police and arrested in the vicinity of Darby Street and is due to face court today.

The car was a recovered in nearby Bruce Street.

BREAKING! Residents Evacuated From Cooks Hill Unit Complex

BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has forced the evacuation of a Cooks Hill unit block.

Firefighters from Newcastle, Merewether, Carrington, Lambton and Mayfield West were called to the six unit complex on Parkway Avenue at about 1.20am on Thursday to find smoke issuing from an apartment on the 2nd floor of the three storey building.

However, Newcastle Fire Command says crews were unable to gain access to the unit because the male resident, who they says was intoxicated, refused to let them in.

Police were called and it's believed the man was arrested.

Crews were then able to extinguish a small fire, which was confined to the unit.

No-one was injured.

Parking Change Possible for Popular Eat Street

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

There are just 10 days left to have your say on proposed changes to parking on and around Darby Street, Cooks Hill.

City of Newcastle is looking at extending the hours of timed parking on weekdays and Sundays and removing unrestricted parking in some surrounding streets, as well as increasing 1-hour parking zones to 2 hours.

It's not yet known whether the changes would have a positive or negative effect on cafes and shops, with owners, employees and members of the public encouraged to make submissions on Council's website.

The Hunter Business Chamber says the idea hasn't come out of nowhere, with initial consultations pointing to a positive reception from Newcastle businesses.

"Part of the problem was we had different sides of the street on different time periods," Chamber CEO Bob Hawes explained, "that did require harmonisation and it was a question of whether to go to one hour or two, and obviously the Darby Street precinct has strong recognition for cafe culture and meals - sometimes one hour is a bit tight."

There are some concerns however that employees at those cafes and shops will be left with nowhere to park for the day.

Bob Hawes believes it would be a worthwhile sacrifice.

"What this is doing is pushing some of the unrestricted areas out a little bit further from the central core of the Darby Street precinct, so definitely for workers who are needing to park for a longer period of time, they're going to have to walk further - there's no doubt about that," he said, "but this is about striking a balance between the needs of residents, patrons to businesses and workers."

Submissions are open until November 12th.

Image: Pinterest.