THE state government faces a tough balancing act of mixing new developments with Newcastle's interwar architecture as it tries to revitalise the city centre.
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The National Trust of Australia Hunter Regional Committee chair Keith Parsons said there had been a lot of misinformation spreading throughout the city regarding historical buildings following the state government's announcement to revitalise Newcastle.
He cited the cutting of the heavy rail line and its stations as a good example.
In December the state government released a management plan for Wickham to Newcastle corridor, which included recommendations to downgrade the three stations' heritage status.
While Newcastle Railway Station (built 1878) is listed as an item of state significance on the NSW State Heritage Register, Civic and Wickham stations (both built in 1936) are not.
Many feared the move would see the end of the two stations.
A Transport for NSW spokesman confirmed Wickham, Civic and Newcastle stations have been removed from the RailCorp specific s170 Heritage and Conservation Register.
The spokesperson said this was because they were "no longer operating railway stations".
He said the state government would work closely with the council and the community on detailed plans for the urban renewal of the Newcastle city centre, which included the stations' future uses.
"It makes perfect sense that RailCorp would take the stations off their register," Mr Parsons said.
"And you would expect the Hunter Development Corporation to add the stations to their own list, being the new owner.
"But often these agencies can be very tardy, and can take years to get around to it."
In the past three years the city has lost some of its historical buildings.
The "new" Fred Ash Building was felled in 2012 to make way for the new law courts; and in 2014 King Street's TPI House (built in 1923) and the Civic Arcade (1937) in Hunter Street were demolished for the University of Newcastle expansion.
Earlier this month the state government revoked interim heritage orders placed on the medical centre, pattern store and master mechanics office on the old BHP site at Mayfield.
Lifting the heritage order allows the buildings to be demolished and the site to be completely remediated, paving the way for redevelopment.
Mr Parsons said he was worried the city could lose more historic buildings in the short term.
He said there was still a cloud hanging over the Wickham School of Arts that was built in 1882 and sits directly opposite Wickham rail station.
The school has links with the great Australian writer and poet Henry Lawson.
Last year the state-owned Hunter Development Corporation flagged its demolition as a potential option.