Under Captain James Wallis, commandant from 1815 to 1818, the convicts' conditions improved, and a building boom began. Captain Wallis laid out the streets of the town, built the first church of the site of the present Christ Church Cathedral, erected the old gaol on the seashore, and began work on the breakwater which now joins Nobbys Head to the mainland. The quality of these first buildings was poor, and only the (much reinforced) breakwater survives. During this period, in 1816, the first school was built in Newcastle.
under captain james wallis commandant from 1815 to 1818 the convicts' conditions improved and a building boom began captain wallis laid out the streets of the town built the first church of the site of the present christ church cathedral erected the old gaol on the seashore and began work on the breakwater which now joins nobbys head to the mainland the quality of these first buildings was poor and only the (much reinforced) breakwater survives during this period in 1816 the first school was built in newcastle