Civic Court (no, not the courthouse)

Civic Court at 484-486 Hunter Street.

Civic Court at 486 Hunter Street in December 2009

Civic Court is one of hundreds of nondescript commercial low-rise buildings in Hunter Street. 

A little digging finds no reference, though no doubt memorable small businesses had shopfronts beneath the plain façade, which looks post-war construction. Spero's History of Newcastle lists Citicorp as possibly the first tenant. 

The letters were intact in 2004 but have either been pinched for better use, or fallen randomly to the awning with a loud clatter, alarming some passerby, or in the wee hours scattering a meeting of rats celebrating a daughter’s wedding to the local king rat. The boarded front acquired a masterpiece sometime in 2016 to honour the beloved David Bowie.

So with no further comment, other than date stamps, here’s the brief artish story of Civic Court.

This little guy caught my attention in October 2004

Civic Court lettering up top was still complete in February of 2005

Above ~ December 2009

Above and below ~ Civic Court in March 2016 and the Bowie memorial appears. While the letters are purloined from the facade. We could track them down by correctly guessing what word or business the letters I, V, U, R, T might represent.

Closeups below of decorations that accompany Bowie's tribute.

Google street view. Whileever AI has trouble with faces, we human photographers will have to keep snapping away.

And below, during what, no doubt it hopes is, the final makeover...