An ambitious vision to create a new world-class destination for live entertainment and events is steadily taking shape near Lake Macquarie, midway between Sydney and Newcastle.
Work is now well advanced on the structure and sails for a bespoke ampitheatre stage which will be the centrepiece of a new 30,000 person capacity outdoor concert venue being developed by the Cedar Mill Group at Morriset.
The venue is part of a $235 million plan to create Australia’s biggest privately owned and operated outdoor live music and entertainment precinct.
When it opens by the end of 2025, the venue will add a catchment of 1.2 million people who live within 45 minutes of Morriset to the national touring circuit.
Cedar Mill’s Ewen Craig says shows by artists such as Elton John, P!nk and Paul McCartney at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones stadium have highlighted the demand for live music tours in the region.
Public transport will feature strongly in getting fans to and from shows. There is an intercity rail line that links Sydney and Newcastle only 500 metres away. The venue is also just under two kilometres from the M1 motorway exit.
The full development concept for the 72 hectare site includes cafes, restaurants and an aquatic play park. The project has been designed to enhance the region’s tourism potential, creating over 2,300 jobs and injecting an estimated $450 million into the community.
Cedar Mill Group was established in 2020 by Winarch Capital, a Newcastle-based property development firm, to lead its ambitious growth plans into the tourism and events sector.
