Beaumont Street Blues – Article in the Newcastle Herald

The Newcastle Herald had another article this week about Beaumont Street – it was a well written and fair piece and so I wrote the journalist to thank her – and I suggested that instead of putting a letter in I would be willing to write a column for the paper.  She sent it to her boss and they published it today…unedited….and as their main opinion piece in the centre.  Already several people have been in touch….cast your bread on the waters….Here is the text.

Beaumont Street Has the Blues – But it can sing again…

I love Beaumont Street.   When I first saw it on a cold and wet day, I was immediately sold on coming to Newcastle.  As a Scotsman, having lived in the comfort bubble of North Sydney for four years – Newcastle felt more like home.  More real.  More honest.  More fun.  Newtown has nothing on Newey!

Since moving here two years ago to become the minister of Scots Kirk in Hamilton – I have grown to love the place more and more.     Escecially Beaumont Street.  I won’t offer free advertising for any of them but suffice it to say that I have found great bookshops, restaurants, cafes, coffee and beer!    But, as The Herald has pointed out several times, all is not well in Hamilton.   I know that personally.  In the past six months I have been assaulted twice and abused several more times.  It’s not pleasant sitting in a café, reading a paper, minding your own business and having a random stranger come up and swear at you as though you were their worst enemy.   It’s downright dangerous when a man, whose brain has been addled by ICE and alcohol, stops swearing at the women going by and instead takes a punch at you as you cycle past on your way to work.

I suppose that the dog dirt, needles, empty beer cans and the endless litter is to some degree to be expected.  I came from Dundee, a city in Scotland, which like Newey has all the joys of being in a beautiful location, with fine people and a great history; but also, all the pains of being a post-industrial city where many people have lost all sense of a living hope.     What has really surprised me here is the level of violence – whether the mindless violence of those who have lost their minds; or the grotesque misogyny of those who think that they have a right to punch ‘their’ woman’.   As a minister I love to have my door open in the church to all and sundry…. but that is impossible today.  Some people even feel free to threaten violence and vandalism on social media.  Sadly Scots Kirk, like many premises has had to install more CCTV and alarms.

Don’t get me wrong.   Just as Beaumont Street is not heaven, neither is it hell.  I still love it.  I am still thankful that I get to walk down it every day.   It is a privilege and joy to be here.   But the sad thing is that unless something is done, for many people that will no longer be the case.  I really feel for the shopkeepers, the tradespeople, the artists and the workers, and the vast majority of those who live here.   Like them I depend on people being able to come into the area safely.   Like them I long for the community to thrive not decline.   So, what can be done?

I don’t know.  I have lots of ideas but no guarantee that any of them will work.  One thing I do know is that politicians’ fine words, or people complaining, won’t change a thing.  Action is needed to make Hamilton in general and Beaumont Street in particular a family friendly place where all are welcome.   There must be a Net Zero policy for violence, abuse and disrespect of people and their property.    Yes – there are people who need help, rather than condemnation, but they will not be helped by tolerating irrational and violent behaviour.   We can look at the causes of such behaviour later – right now we need to deal with the consequences.    If we don’t then it won’t be long before we are left with a street that has a few run-down shops, a rainbow crossing…and precious little else.

You will forgive me for citing the Bible.  But I am reminded of the words of Jeremiah 29:7 “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper”.     We want a Hamilton that is peaceful and prosperous.   How can we get it?    Why not aim to make Hamilton a cultural centre where music, eating, drinking, the arts, crafts and above all – people, are welcome.  Let Beaumont Street sing the Blues…. but also  jazz, reggae, classics, folk and rock and spiritual songs!  We need a revival of Beaumont Street.   For that some of us will pray!

David Robertson

Minister Scots Kirk Church

Hamilton.

25^th Nov 2025

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