The suburb takes its name from Thomas Adams, who purchased a land grant of 54 acres of Crown land.
Adamstown officially became a suburb in 1885 and the first council was elected in 1886 with the council chambers being completed in 1892.[2] In 1938 Adamstown merged into other local council areas to become the areas of Greater Newcastle.[2]
Adamstown railway station, NSW, 1908
The Adamstown railway station opened in 1887 with the Newcastle–Gosford section of the Main North line.[3] The now closed branch line to Belmont formerly left the main line just south of Adamstown Station. The town also includes the beginning of the Fernleigh Track, a multi-use rail trail near Belmont. The project is a joint venture between Newcastle City Council and Lake Macquarie City Council and extends from Adamstown to Belmont over an approximate distance of 15.5 km (10 mi).
St Pius X High School (Years 7–10), first established in 1957 and became co-educational in 1983, absorbing the campus of St Anne's College, a girls' school established in 1966. Students transfer in year 11 to St Francis Xavier's College, Hamilton. In 2007, the school had an enrolment of 1,010 and a staff of 97.
Adamstown Primary School and St Columba's Primary School are also located within the suburb's boundaries.
Adamstown has a range of community support organisations. These include St Columbas Catholic Church and the Returned Serviceman's League sub-branch that is part of the Adamstown Community Club.
