Cr Nelmes received more than 42 per cent of the first preference votes, and was well ahead of independent candidate and Liberal party member Brad Luke with 23 per cent.

Greens councillor Therese Doyle secured close to 14 per cent of the primary vote while independent Aaron Buman managed 11 per cent. 

At age 38, Cr Nelmes becomes the youngest person to become the lord mayor of Newcastle and the second female after Joy Cummings, who served twice in the 1970s.

Cr Nelmes promised to bring ‘‘open and transparent’’ governance to Newcastle council.

She promised to support the expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery, reintroduce full-season lifeguards at Newcastle beaches, seek grants for Wallsend flood mitigation works and reintroduce funding for war memorial services. 

She also wants to contribute $30,000 ayear for three years to Renew Newcastle and work to retain Newcastle’s heavy rail line. Thousands of voters will head back to the poll booths in February to elect a new councillor in Ward 3, with Cr Nelmes vacating her ward seat. 

This ward includes the suburbs of New Lambton, Kotara, Jesmond, and Waratah.