The Ridge, Newcastle The Ridge, Newcastle The Ridge is a heritage-listed residence and former hospital at 21 Hillcrest Road, Merewether, New South Wales, Australia. It was also known as Hillcrest Hospital. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. The Ridge was built in 1861 by Edward Christopher Merewether, who had arrived in Newcastle as the General Superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company, and his wife, whose family owned two land grants in the area now known as Merewether. It was later used as a hospital by the Salvation Army but fell into disuse by the
Newcastle City Hall (Australia) acre grant to the Australian Agricultural Company. Newcastle City Hall still stands on Lots 10, 11, and 12 of this portion, while Christie Place occupies Lots 13 and 14 with Wheeler Place occupying lot 9. The firm of Archibald Rodgers previously occupied the site. The firm was established in Carrington in 1854. In 1870 the name was changed to Rodgers Bros. and the business moved to King Street on which City Hall now stands. The land was swampy and required six feet of fill to prepare it for the new engineering works including a blacksmiths' shop, fitting and machine shop