For the first time in nearly a hundred years a time gun will be fired today at Fort Scratchley.
A field cannon will be fired at the same time the ball atop Customs House will drop to mark 1pm.
This system was used in ports around the world in the 19th century, which allowed sea captains to adjust their navigation instruments.
Local historians believe the timed firing of the gun at Fort Scratchley stopped around 1915.
After today the replica field gun at the Fort will fire at 1pm on weekends, as well as the first Monday of the month, but it's hoped sponsorship from local industry will eventually enable it to be fired daily.
Newcastle is lucky enough to be the only city in Australia that has both a time gun and a time ball.
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