The historic Newcastle Courthouse will soon be home to a new university with the NSW Government's approval of Nihon University.
Liberal Member of the NSW Upper House for the Hunter Taylor Martin said the $41 million Japanese university campus will boost the city's educational capacity and facilitate innovation and cultural exchange.
"The new campus will strengthen Greater Newcastle's position as a major university city," Mr Martin said.
"The university will form part of the Metropolitan education and innovation cluster identified in the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan.
"The new campus will boost the city's educational capacity attracting hundreds of overseas students.
"It will also strengthen the local Newcastle economy from the construction and operational phases that will flow on to nearby businesses."
The campus will include two new buildings up to four storeys either side of the existing courthouse – one for education and one for student and staff accommodation.
The new buildings will be connected at the ground level to the existing courthouse via new glass atriums and the existing side walls will be retained.
There will be a ground-level car park, a new café, public domain works and site landscaping, as well as rooftop terraces.
Nihon University has chosen the Church Street, Newcastle location as its first overseas campus as a commemorative activity to celebrate the Japanese university's 130th anniversary.
Mr Martin said the conditions of consent will ensure changes to the heritage building will be sensitively designed to complement and protect the heritage and character of the former courthouse.
