[citation needed] Set at the foothills of the northern KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg Mountains, Newcastle is located in the northwest corner of the province along the Ncandu River.

It was initially named Post Halt Number 2 on military maps during the 1840s, as postal coaches stopped here to obtain fresh horses on the journey between Durban (then Port Natal in Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek)[5] and Johannesburg.

On 14 October 1899, during the Anglo-Boer War, Newcastle was invaded by Boer forces, and the entire district was incorporated into the Transvaal Republic.

However, after relief of Ladysmith under the command of General Redver Buller, the British forces reclaimed the name Newcastle.

In 1876, Fort Amiel was constructed to ward off the Zulus during the war, and in 1873 Newcastle became a separate electoral division.

[6] To commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee (60th anniversary), the construction of a sandstone town hall commenced in 1897, and was completed two years later.

The town was used as a depot by the British during both the First and Second Boer War, and also functioned as a major transport junction and stopover for wagons and post chaises during the late 19th century.

Today, Newcastle is the main commercial and industrial centre in northern KwaZulu-Natal, and is the province's third-largest city.

Newcastle's summer temperatures have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in the recent past due to the 2015 El Niño weather phenomenon, with the region experiencing drought conditions after 28 years.

Due to its past, Newcastle has a large number of British, Afrikaner, and Indian people, with several places of worship and spiritual organizations based in the city's suburbs.

The abolishing of Apartheid has seen the establishment of the Buddhist Light Association's Mediation Centre and Chinese School on Victoria Road.

The city serves the surrounding towns of Utrecht, Vryheid, Dannhauser, Glencoe and Dundee, as well as the farmers, South Africa at large, and the export market with a range of products and goods.

The company announced an investment of €40 million in 2012 towards the construction of an innovative CO2 plant (Cansolv chemical process) at its site.

Arcelor Mittal Newcastle produces over 1.5 million tons of long steel products annually and in 2015 undertook a major reline on the N5 Blast Furnace valued at R1.8 billion.

[citation needed] Arcelor Mittal has a number of tall structures exceeding 50 metres (160 feet) in height.

Historic places of interest in Newcastle on this route include: The N11 is the principal road running through the city, connecting south to Ladysmith and north to Ermelo in the Mpumalanga Province.

The annual Vodacom Winter Festival[15] aka 'Newcastle Show' provides a platform for South African bands and singers, and attracts visitors from the entire region.

The Darul Uloom on St Thomas Street, an institute of higher Islamic studies, is a landmark in Newcastle's diverse community with a modern mosque on the premises.

Newcastle remains a venue for major sports competitions and conferences because of the facilities the city has to offer.

A variety of rugby, cricket, soccer, squash, tennis, swimming, and other sport facilities has contributed to its ability to host both national and international events.

The most notable stadia are the Newcastle Swimming Pool, Arbor Park Grounds, Paradise A & B, and the Madadeni Sports Stadium.

Newcastle is home to Stella Football Club and has produced players to represent the province and country.

dam and is known as a fishing destination for both hobby and competition anglers, with carp, barbel, and scaly the most commonly caught.

Amcor dam has various recreation facilities, including playgrounds, swimming pools, and braai (barbeque) areas, and is popular on public holidays and weekends.

Newcastle schools are home to several buildings that have been declared National Monuments, the most famous being The Pavilion at St. Dominic's Academy which was designed by Brother Nivard Streicher and built in 1912.

Both the Newcastle Brass Band and the Northern KwaZulu-Natal Youth Choir are based in Ferrum High School.

It caters for full-time and part-time studies for students, as well as corporate training and consulting services for businesses and government departments.

Newcastle has been internationally connected since the Industrial Era, and is today home to many international industries, the most well-known [clarification needed] being steel giant Arcelor Mittal, chrome chemical companies Bayer & Lanxess, synthetic rubber manufacturer Karbochem, and heavy engineering firm DCD Venco.

[citation needed] Furthermore, since the late 1980s, Newcastle has built a strong relationship with mainland China and also Taiwan, following the influx of Chinese nationals in the mid-1980s.