Hunter Region

For other uses, see Hunter.

"Hunter Valley" redirects here. For the wine region within the valley, see Hunter Valley wine.

Region in New South Wales, Australia

Hunter Region
New South Wales

View across the Hunter Valley

The mouth of the Hunter River at Newcastle

Hunter Region

The Hunter Region

Coordinates| 32°33′36″S 151°10′15″E﻿ / ﻿32.56000°S 151.17083°E﻿ / -32.56000; 151.17083
Population| 682,465 (2021)[1][note 1]
• Density| 30.07222/km2 (77.88670/sq mi)
Area| 22,694.2 km2 (8,762.3 sq mi)
Time zone| AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)| AEDT (UTC+11)
Location| 162 km (101 mi) N of Sydney
LGA(s)|

*     * Greater Newcastle LGAs
* City of Newcastle
* City of Lake Macquarie
* City of Maitland
* City of Cessnock
* Port Stephens Council

*     * Other Hunter LGAs
* Singleton Council
* Dungog Shire
* Muswellbrook Shire
* Upper Hunter Shire
* Mid-Coast Council

State electorate(s)|

* Cessnock
* Charlestown
* Lake Macquarie
* Maitland
* Newcastle
* Port Stephens
* Swansea
* Upper Hunter
* Wallsend

Federal division(s)|

* Hunter
* Lyne
* Newcastle
* Paterson
* Shortland

| Localities around Hunter Region:

North West Slopes | New England | Mid North Coast
Central West | Hunter Region | Tasman Sea
Greater Sydney | Central Coast | Tasman Sea

The Hunter Region, also commonly known as the Hunter Valley, Newcastle Region, or simply Hunter, spans the region in northern New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately 162 km (101 mi) to 310 km (193 mi) north of Sydney. It contains the Hunter River and its tributaries with highland areas to the north and south.[2] Situated at the northern end of the Sydney Basin bioregion, the Hunter Valley is one of the largest river valleys on the NSW coast, and is most commonly known for its wineries and coal industry.

Most of the population of the Hunter Region lives within 25 km (16 mi) of the coast, with 55% of the entire population living in the cities of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. There are numerous other towns and villages scattered across the region in the eleven local government areas (LGAs) that make up the region. At the 2021 census the combined population of the region was 682,465, and is expected to reach over 1,000,000 people by 2031.[3] Under Australia's wine appellation system, the Hunter Valley wine zone Australian Geographical Indication (GI) covers the entire catchment of the Hunter River and its tributaries. Within that, the Hunter region is almost as large, and includes most of the wine-producing areas, excluding the metropolitan area of Newcastle and nearby coastal areas, some national parks, and any land that was in the Mudgee Shire (at the western heights of the catchment).

The Hunter wine region is one of Australia's best known wine regions, playing a pivotal role in the history of Australian wine as one of the first wine regions planted in the early 19th century. The success of the Hunter Valley wine industry has been dominated by its proximity to Sydney with its settlement and plantings in the 19th century fuelled by the trade network that linked the Hunter Valley to Sydney. The steady demand of consumers from Sydney continues to drive much of the Hunter Valley wine industry, including a factor in the economy by the tourism industry.[4] While the Hunter Valley has been supplanted by the massive Riverina wine region as the largest producer of New South Wales wine, it still accounts for around 3% of Australia's total wine production and is one of the country's most recognisable regions.[5]

## History

[edit]

For over 30,000 years Aboriginal Australians inhabited the land that is now known as the Hunter Valley wine region. Along with the Worimi to the north and the Awabakal to the south, the Wonnarua people developed a trading route connecting the Coquun (Hunter) Valley to the harbour now known as Sydney harbour.[6]

Lieutenant John Shortland was the first European to survey the Hunter River in 1797.

The wine-making history of Hunter Valley begins with the European settlement of the Sydney and the New South Wales region of Australia in the late 18th century as a penal colony of the British Empire. The Hunter River itself was discovered, by accident, in 1797 by British Lieutenant John Shortland as he searched for escaped convicts. The region soon became a valuable source for timber and coal that fuelled the steamship trade coming out of Sydney.[6]

Land prospector John Howe cut a path through the Australian wilderness from Sydney up to the overland area in what is now known as the (Lower) Hunter Valley proper in 1820. Today, the modern Putty Road between the cities of Windsor and Singleton follows Howe's exact path and is a major thoroughfare for wine tourists coming into the Hunter Valley from Sydney.[6] As previous plantings in the coastal areas around Sydney succumbed to the humidity and wetness, and plantings to the west were limited by spring frost damage, northern reaches leading to the Hunter became, almost by default, the wine region of the new colony.[7]

The expansive growth of the Hunter Valley wine industry in the mid to late 19th century arose from its monopoly position in the lucrative Sydney market. The provincial government of New South Wales had enacted regulations that placed prohibitive duties on wines from other areas such as Victoria and South Australia. Following World War I, many returning Australian veterans were given land grants in the Hunter Valley. This temporarily produced an up-tick in plantings but the global Great Depression as well as a series of devastating hail storms between 1929 and 1930 caused many growers to abandon their vineyards.[8]

## Geography

[edit]

### Geology

[edit]

The Sydney Basin showing the Great Dividing Range, the Hunter Valley and the Barrington Tops to the north of the Hunter

The Hunter Region is considered a transitional area between the Paleozoic rock foundation of the New England Fold Belt located to the south and the Early Permian and Middle Triassic period rock formations of the Sydney Basin to the south. Between these two geological areas is the Hunter-Mooki Thrust fault.[9] At one time this fault was very geologically active and gave rise to the Brokenback range that feature prominently in the Hunter region. Strips of basalt found throughout the region also bear witness to the volcanic activity that has occurred in the history of this fault.[4]

The Permian rocks in the central and southeastern expanse of the Lower Hunter Valley were formed when the area was underneath a shallow marine estuary. The remnants of this period has left an extensive network of coal seams that fuelled the early population boom of the Hunter Valley in the 19th century as well a high degree of salinity in the water table of much of the area. The further north and west, towards the Brokenback Range and the Upper Hunter, the more Triassic sandstone that can be found leading eventually to the carboniferous rocks that form the northern boundary of the Hunter with the New England Fold Belt and the foothills of the Barrington Tops.[9]

Overall, the Hunter Valley has more soils (mostly hard, acidic patches of poorly draining heavy clay) that are unsuitable for viticulture than they have areas that are ideal for growing grapes. The soils of the Lower Hunter vary widely from sandy alluvial flats (often planted to Semillon), to deep friable loam (often planted with Shiraz) and friable red duplex soils. In the Upper Hunter, the rivers and creeks of the region contribute to the areas black, silty loam soils that are often overlaid on top of alkaline clay loam. Among the hills of the Brokenback range are strips of volcanic basalt that are prized by growers for their tendencies to restrict vigor and concentrate mineral flavours in the grapes.[4] The Warkworth Sands Woodland of the Hunter Valley are situated on these soils.[10]

### Rivers

[edit]

The main river in the region is the Hunter River, after which the region is named. Other rivers in the region include the Allyn, Avon, Barrington, Bow, Bowman, Chichester, Gloucester, Goulburn, Isis, Karuah, Krui, Mammy Johnsons, Merriwa, Munmurra, Pages, Paterson, Wangat and Williams rivers.

Despite being the area's namesake, the Hunter River itself is not the dominant feature of the region—falling behind the Brokenback Range for that distinction. The greater river system of the Hunter, which includes the Goulburn and important tributaries such as Giants Creek, do provide needed irrigation for areas such as the Upper Hunter than can be prone to drought condition. The origins of the river begin the Liverpool Range of the volcanic Barrington Tops and flows south and then east down to the Pacific Ocean at the seaport city of Newcastle.[9]

### Water supply

[edit]

Fresh water supply for the region is provided from a number of sources, which are managed by the Hunter Water and State Water Corporations.[11] State Water Corporation's dams supply water for irrigation, industrial use at coal mines and the region's coal-fired power stations, and town water to upper Hunter Region towns. Hunter Water Corporation's dams supply the large urban population of more than 500,000 living near the coast and centred on the cities of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

State Water Corporation's Glenbawn, the largest dam in the region, Chichester and Lostock are dams on the Hunter, Chichester and Paterson rivers respectively. Hunter Water Corporation's Grahamstown Dam, the largest dam supplying the urban areas of the lower Hunter Region, is supplied with water diverted from the Williams River just north of the Seaham Weir, through a large pump station at Balickera. The dam itself has only a small natural catchment and relies mainly on the pumped water from the Williams River.[11] A proposal to build Tillegra Dam on the Williams River existed since the 1950s, but was scrapped in 2010.[11][12] In addition to the dams, fresh water for the lower Hunter Region is supplied from the Tomago Sandbeds, via a series of bores.

### Towns and cities

[edit]

The Hunter Region includes four cities. In order of population these are Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Maitland and Cessnock. Other major centres of the Hunter Region are Dungog, Gloucester, Kurri Kurri, Muswellbrook, Raymond Terrace, Scone and Singleton.

## Climate

[edit]

Parts of the Upper Hunter Valley can be very dry and experience drought conditions during the growing season.

The climate of Hunter Valley is humid subtropical, similar to the Greater Western Sydney region, with distinctive maritime influences from the Pacific Ocean.[13] With its northerly latitude and close oceanic influences, the Hunter Valley is one of Australia's hottest and wettest wine regions. Flanked by mountains to the west and north the Hunter Valley acts as a funnel, pulling cool ocean breezes into the area.[4] With those cooling breezes also comes heavy rainfall and periodic cyclonic storms in the summer and autumn months.

In the summer, the average daily temperature regularly exceeds 21.1 °C (70.0 °F) while during the winter the temperature averages around 14 °C (57.2 °F).[14] Temperatures during January average between 22.7–23.3 °C (72.9–73.9 °F), with the temperature becoming progressively hotter the further inland you move away from the cooling influence of the sea. During the spring the Hunter Valley receives an average of 7.3–7.5 hours of sunshine a day.[7]

Mid-latitude westerly winds bring high pressure weather front that alternate with cold fronts on the winter. This leads to generally drier conditions in the winter months of July and August. In the summer, southeasterly winds bring weather fronts harbouring extensive amounts of moisture.[9] Between October and April more than two thirds of the region's annual rainfall will fall with January and February being the wettest months.[7] Between the months of October–April, the 3pm average for relative humidity in the Lower Hunter is 49%, while it is 43% in the Upper Hunter.[6]

Climate data for Newcastle (coast)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °C (°F)  | 42.5
(108.5)  | 40.9
(105.6)  | 39.0
(102.2)  | 36.8
(98.2)  | 28.5
(83.3)  | 26.1
(79.0)  | 26.3
(79.3)  | 29.9
(85.8)  | 34.4
(93.9)  | 36.7
(98.1)  | 41.0
(105.8)  | 42.0
(107.6)  | 42.5
(108.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 25.6
(78.1)  | 25.4
(77.7)  | 24.7
(76.5)  | 22.8
(73.0)  | 20.0
(68.0)  | 17.5
(63.5)  | 16.7
(62.1)  | 18.1
(64.6)  | 20.2
(68.4)  | 22.2
(72.0)  | 23.6
(74.5)  | 24.9
(76.8)  | 21.8
(71.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 19.2
(66.6)  | 19.4
(66.9)  | 18.3
(64.9)  | 15.3
(59.5)  | 12.0
(53.6)  | 9.7
(49.5)  | 8.5
(47.3)  | 9.3
(48.7)  | 11.5
(52.7)  | 14.1
(57.4)  | 16.2
(61.2)  | 18.0
(64.4)  | 14.3
(57.7)
Record low °C (°F)  | 12.0
(53.6)  | 10.3
(50.5)  | 11.1
(52.0)  | 7.4
(45.3)  | 4.7
(40.5)  | 3.0
(37.4)  | 1.8
(35.2)  | 3.3
(37.9)  | 5.0
(41.0)  | 6.5
(43.7)  | 7.2
(45.0)  | 11.0
(51.8)  | 1.8
(35.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 90.0
(3.54)  | 107.4
(4.23)  | 119.6
(4.71)  | 116.9
(4.60)  | 115.6
(4.55)  | 117.5
(4.63)  | 93.2
(3.67)  | 73.2
(2.88)  | 72.1
(2.84)  | 72.5
(2.85)  | 71.0
(2.80)  | 80.9
(3.19)  | 1,129.9
(44.48)
Average precipitation days  | 11.1  | 11.2  | 12.4  | 12.3  | 12.6  | 12.3  | 11.2  | 10.5  | 10.0  | 10.9  | 10.8  | 10.6  | 135.9
Average afternoon relative humidity (%)  | 72  | 74  | 72  | 66  | 64  | 63  | 59  | 56  | 59  | 64  | 68  | 71  | 66
Source: Bureau of Meteorology[15]

Climate data for Scone Airport (Upper Hunter Valley region)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °C (°F)  | 43.5
(110.3)  | 43.5
(110.3)  | 41.0
(105.8)  | 36.0
(96.8)  | 28.7
(83.7)  | 24.4
(75.9)  | 24.5
(76.1)  | 29.8
(85.6)  | 34.1
(93.4)  | 39.0
(102.2)  | 43.4
(110.1)  | 42.4
(108.3)  | 43.5
(110.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 31.1
(88.0)  | 29.8
(85.6)  | 27.9
(82.2)  | 24.5
(76.1)  | 20.1
(68.2)  | 17.0
(62.6)  | 16.3
(61.3)  | 18.3
(64.9)  | 21.5
(70.7)  | 24.9
(76.8)  | 27.7
(81.9)  | 30.2
(86.4)  | 24.1
(75.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 16.9
(62.4)  | 16.9
(62.4)  | 14.6
(58.3)  | 11.3
(52.3)  | 8.1
(46.6)  | 6.0
(42.8)  | 4.7
(40.5)  | 5.5
(41.9)  | 7.9
(46.2)  | 10.8
(51.4)  | 13.3
(55.9)  | 15.7
(60.3)  | 11.0
(51.8)
Record low °C (°F)  | 8.2
(46.8)  | 8.6
(47.5)  | 4.7
(40.5)  | 1.3
(34.3)  | −1.0
(30.2)  | −2.0
(28.4)  | −2.7
(27.1)  | −3.0
(26.6)  | −1.3
(29.7)  | 0.5
(32.9)  | 5.0
(41.0)  | 6.4
(43.5)  | −3.0
(26.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 82.3
(3.24)  | 77.3
(3.04)  | 52.2
(2.06)  | 38.9
(1.53)  | 46.5
(1.83)  | 45.5
(1.79)  | 36.5
(1.44)  | 38.1
(1.50)  | 38.5
(1.52)  | 57.8
(2.28)  | 62.0
(2.44)  | 67.9
(2.67)  | 643.1
(25.32)
Average precipitation days  | 8.3  | 7.8  | 7.1  | 6.7  | 7.4  | 9.4  | 8.1  | 7.6  | 7.0  | 8.8  | 8.6  | 8.6  | 95.4
Source: [16]

## Industries

[edit]

The main industries in the Hunter Region are coal mining, manufacturing, agriculture, viticulture and wine making, tourism, horse breeding, electricity production, dairy farming and beef cattle farming, and associated service industries. The Hunter Region is one of Australia's most famous wine-growing regions, known for both its red and white wine varieties.

### Coal mining

[edit]

Ravensworth open-cut coal mining operations run by Glencore Aerial view of Hunter Valley coal operations, including several mines and power plants

The most important economic activity in the valley is coal mining (through businesses such as Rio Tinto and BHP), mostly for export. The Port of Newcastle is the world's largest export facility for coal, most of which is brought to the port by rail. Coal ships are often seen off the coast of Newcastle.

### Electricity generation

[edit]

Electricity generation at the Eraring, Bayswater, Liddell, Munmorah, Redbank and Vales Point coal-fired power stations is a major industry of the region.

### Horse breeding

[edit]

The Hunter Valley is Australia's main region for the breeding and rearing of Thoroughbred horses and most of the country's best racehorses.[17][18] The Upper Hunter area around Scone is one of the largest horse breeding areas in the world.

### Tourism

[edit]

Commonly known as "Wine Country",[19] the Hunter Valley is a major tourist destination in New South Wales and is the 6th most visited place in Australia attracting more than 2.5 million people annually. There are regular events held in the Hunter for visitors, including the Hunter Valley Steam Trains running the first three Sundays of each month and regular scenic cruises on the Hunter River and Lake Macquarie.[20][21]

### Wine production

[edit]

Main article: Hunter Valley wine

A Hunter Valley vineyard

The Hunter Valley Wine Zone Australian Geographical Indication was registered on 1 May 1996 and is approximately the entire Hunter River catchment. It contains only one named wine region, Hunter.[22] The Hunter Wine Region Australian Geographical Indication was declared on 18 March 1997. It is not as large as the Hunter Valley zone, but includes most of the significant vineyards. It does not extend east of the Pacific Highway.

Some of the oldest vines in the Hunter Valley were planted in 1924 around the village of Fordwich. Pokolbin, located in the "Lower Hunter Valley", is the centre of the Hunter Valley wine country, which claims to be Australia's oldest wine region.[23] It is located between the towns of Cessnock and Branxton, about 50 km (31 mi) west of Newcastle. The wine country is primarily located within the Cessnock and Singleton LGAs. Its proximity to Sydney has been an influence on the area's investments in wine production and its emergence as a tourist destination. The Broke Fordwich area is located along the Hunter River tributary of the Wollombi Brook near the suburb of Pokolbin and was founded in 1830 by Major Thomas Mitchell who named the region after his fellow Napoleonic War veteran Sir Charles Broke-Vere.

Much of the rolling countryside around Pokolbin is under vine and has a large number of vineyards, restaurants, shops, golf courses and country guesthouses. Other parts of the valley including the Wollombi Valley and Broke Fordwich subregion are also well known for wine, along with the Upper Hunter Valley. The main town in the Upper Hunter Valley subregion is Muswellbrook.

## Administration

[edit]

### Political representation

[edit]

For the purposes of Australian federal elections for the House of Representatives, the Hunter Region is contained within the divisions of Hunter,[24] Lyne,[25] Newcastle,[26] Paterson,[27] and Shortland.[28]

For the purposes of New South Wales elections for the Legislative Assembly, the Hunter Region is contained within the electoral districts of Cessnock,[29] Charlestown,[30] Lake Macquarie,[31] Maitland,[32] Myall Lakes,[33] Newcastle,[34] Port Stephens,[35] Swansea,[36] Upper Hunter,[37] Wallsend,[38] and Wyong.[39]

### Demography and area

[edit]

The following local government areas are contained within the region:

Population by local government area  Hunter rank  | Local government area  | Estimate resident population 30 June 2020[1] | 1 year growth rate  | Population density (people/km2)

|
|
|
|

1  | City of Lake Macquarie | 207,775  | 0.9  | 320.3
2  | City of Newcastle | 167,363  | 1.1  | 896.2
3  | City of Maitland | 87,395  | 2.6  | 223.2
4  | Port Stephens Council | 74,506  | 1.4  | 86.8
5  | City of Cessnock | 61,256  | 2.1  | 31.2
6  | Singleton Council | 23,380  | −0.3  | 4.8
7  | Muswellbrook Shire | 16,355  | −0.1  | 4.8
8  | Upper Hunter Shire | 14,167  | −0.1  | 1.7
9  | Dungog Shire | 9,664  | 2.6  | 4.3
Hunter  | 661,861  | 1.3  | 29.2

### Environmental protection

[edit]

The Hunter Region contains the Goulburn River National Park, Myall Lakes National Park, Barrington Tops National Park, Werakata National Park, Watagans National Park, Mount Royal National Park, Polkolbin State Forest, Putty State Forest, Chichester State Forest, Running Creek Nature Reserve, The Glen Nature Reserve, Black Bulga State Conservation Area, Myall River State Forest, and Karuah Nature Reserve.

Within the Hunter, many endangered ecological communities (EECs) have been declared under the TSC Act. These communities are found on both public and private land, and prior to development of land, the landowner is required to undertake an environmental assessment to ascertain whether it will impact endangered species or endangered communities. Examples of endangered ecological communities found within the Hunter Region are:

1. Grey Box–Grey Gum Wet Sclerophyll Forest[40]
2. Hunter Floodplain Red Gum Woodland[41]
3. Hunter Lowland Redgum Forest[42]
4. Hunter Valley Vine Thicket[43]
5. Hunter Valley Weeping Myall Woodland[44]
6. Lower Hunter Valley Dry Rainforest[45]
7. Warkworth Sands Woodland. This EEC occurs on aeolian sands, south east of Singleton (but may occur elsewhere in the Bioregion.)[46]

## Statehood movement

[edit]

There is an active movement campaigning for the Hunter Region to secede from New South Wales to form its own state. The sale of the Port of Newcastle and the refusal of the NSW state government to build a container terminal in Newcastle has been cited as the motivation behind the campaign.[47] The movement's demands include a Royal commission into the feasibility of Hunter Valley Statehood as soon as possible, and a referendum on Hunter Valley statehood by 2030.[48]

Chapter VI of the Constitution of Australia allows new states to be formed, but only with the consent of the Parliament of the state in question.

## See also

[edit]

* New South Wales portal

* Regions of New South Wales
* New South Wales wine
* List of endangered ecological communities in NSW

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Population figure is the combined population of all LGAs in the region.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Regional population, 2019–20 financial year". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 30 March 2021. Archived from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
2. ^ "Department of Local Government – Regions". NSW Department of Local Government. Archived from the original on 9 August 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
3. ^ "Hunter, Central Coast population to top million mark within decades". ABC News. 9 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
4. ^ a b c d Johnson, Hugh, and Jancis Robinson. The World Atlas of Wine. London: Mitchell Beazley, 2005. Print.
5. ^ Clarke, Oz, and Margaret Rand. Oz Clarke's Encyclopedia of Grapes. New York: Harcourt, 2001. Print.
6. ^ a b c d "Hunter Valley Wine Country." Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism Archived 1 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine 8 May 2010
7. ^ a b c Halliday, James. "Regional Spotlight – Hunter Valley. Archived 29 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine" Wine Pros. 29 October 2001. Web. 25 May 2010.
8. ^ "Hunter Valley – Australian Wine Regions Archived 21 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine" Wine Diva Australia." Wine Diva. 1 June 2010
9. ^ a b c d "Hunter Valley Research Foundation Archived 18 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine" Web. 1 June 2010.
10. ^ NSW Scientific Committee (28 February 2011). "Warkworth Sands woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion – endangered ecological community listing: final determination | NSW Environment, Energy and Science". www.environment.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
11. ^ a b c "Tillegra Dam Proposal" (PDF). Hunter Water Corporation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
12. ^ Jones, Jacqui (29 November 2010). "'Retrofitting' an alternative to Tillegra". The Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 20 August 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
13. ^ MacNeil, Karen. The Wine Bible. New York: Workman Pub., 2001. Print.
14. ^ Australian climate variability & change – Average maps bom.gov.au Archived 7 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine
15. ^ "Newcastle Nobbys Signal Station AWS". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. April 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
16. ^ "Climate statistics for Scone SCS". Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
17. ^ Barrie, Douglas M., The Australian Bloodhorse, Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1956
18. ^ Thomas, Ray, Expanding coal mining in Hunter Valley threatens breeding industry and autumn racing revamp, The Daily Telegraph, 15 August 2013
19. ^ Magro, Rebecca. "The Weekender: Hunter Valley, New South Wales – Hunter and Bligh". Hunter and Bligh. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
20. ^ "Hunter Valley". VisitNSW.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
21. ^ "Travel to The Hunter" (PDF). Destination NSW. June 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
22. ^ "Hunter". Wine Australia. 2015. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
23. ^ "Hunter Valley". Visit NSW. 16 May 2017. Archived from the original on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
24. ^ "Profile of the electoral division of Hunter (NSW)". Current federal electoral divisions. Australian Electoral Commission. 26 September 2013. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
25. ^ "Lyne". Australian Electoral Commission. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
26. ^ "Newcastle". Australian Electoral Commission. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
27. ^ "Paterson". Australian Electoral Commission. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
28. ^ "Shortland". Australian Electoral Commission. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
29. ^ "Cessnock". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
30. ^ "Charlestown". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
31. ^ "Lake Macquarie". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
32. ^ "Maitland". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
33. ^ "Myall Lakes". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
34. ^ "Newcastle". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
35. ^ "Port Stephens". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
36. ^ "Swansea". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
37. ^ "Upper Hunter". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
38. ^ "Wallsend". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
39. ^ "Wyong". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
40. ^ NSW Scientific Committee (2011). "Grey Box – Grey Gum Wet Sclerophyll Forest in the NSW North Coast Bioregion – Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act". NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
41. ^ NSW Scientific Committee (2011). "Hunter Floodplain Red Gum Woodland in the NSW North Coast and Sydney Basin Bioregions – Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act". NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
42. ^ NSW Scientific Committee (2011). "Hunter Lowland Redgum Forest in the Sydney Basin and NSW North Coast Bioregions – Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act". NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
43. ^ NSW Scientific Committee (2011). "Hunter Valley Vine Thicket in the NSW North Coast and Sydney Basin Bioregions – Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act". NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
44. ^ NSW Scientific Committee (2011). "Hunter Valley Weeping Myall Woodland of the Sydney Basin bioregion – Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act". NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
45. ^ NSW Scientific Committee (2011). "Lower Hunter Valley Dry Rainforest in the Sydney Basin and NSW North Coast Bioregions – Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act". NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
46. ^ NSW Scientific Committee. (2011) "Warkworth Sands Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion – Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act". NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
47. ^ Thompson, Rod (29 September 2021). "Group calls for Hunter Valley statehood after Sydney snubbings". Newcastle Weekly. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
48. ^ "Who We Are". Hunter Valley Statehood Movement. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.

## External links

[edit]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Hunter.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hunter Region.

* Hunter Region Botanical Gardens

* v
* t
* e

Significant places and items of interest in the Hunter Region of New South Wales

Commerce and industry

| Industry|

* Cardiff Locomotive Workshops
* Forgacs Shipyard
* Hunter Valley Coal Chain
* Hunter Valley wine
* Kia Ora Stud
* Kooragang Island
* Newcastle Steelworks
* Newcastle Port Corporation
* Tomago aluminium smelter

|

Shopping|

* Charlestown Square
* Hunter Street
* Newcastle & Suburban Co-operative Society
* Stockland Glendale
* Stockland Green Hills
* Westfield Kotara

Other|

* Newcastle Government House

Education

| Primary|

* Avondale
* Hunter School of the Performing Arts
* Hunter Valley Grammar
* Kahibah Public
* Newcastle Grammar

|

Secondary|

* All Saints College, Maitland
* Avondale
* Callaghan College
* Jesmond Senior
* Wallsend
* Waratah Technology
* Cessnock High
* Glendale Technology High
* Hunter River High
* Hunter School of the Performing Arts
* Hunter Valley Grammar
* Irrawang High
* Kotara High
* Lambton High
* Maitland Grossmann High
* Maitland High
* Merewether High
* Mount View High
* Newcastle Grammar
* Newcastle High
* Rutherford Technology High
* St Joseph's, Lochinvar
* Tomaree High
* Toronto High

Tertiary|

* Avondale College
* University of Newcastle

Entertainment, sport, and culture

* Black Rock Motor Resort
* Broadmeadow Basketball Stadium
* Circuit Italia
* Dungog Film Festival
* Hunter Valley Steamfest
* Newcastle 500
* Newcastle Art Gallery
* Newcastle Civic Theatre
* Newcastle Entertainment Centre
* Newcastle International Sports Centre
* Newcastle Libraries
* Newcastle Museum
* Newcastle Number 1 Sports Ground
* Newcastle Show
* Newcastle Showground
* Newcastle Street Circuit
* Surfest

Geography

| General|

* Broughton Island
* Burning Mountain
* Cape Hawke
* Glenrock Lagoon
* Lake Chichester
* Lake Macquarie
* Myall Lakes
* Mount Royal Range
* Mount Sugarloaf
* Port Stephens
* Stockton Beach
* Tops to Myall Heritage Trail

|

National parks
and nature reserves|

* Barrington Tops
* Black Bulga State Conservation Area
* Booti Booti
* Ghin-Doo-Ee
* Mount Royal
* Myall Lakes
* Tomaree
* Towarri
* Wallingat
* Watagans
* Werakata

* The Glen

Rivers|

* Allyn
* Avon
* Barrington
* Bow
* Bylong
* Chichester
* Gloucester
* Goulburn
* Hunter
* Karuah
* Manning
* Myall
* Pages
* Paterson
* Wangat
* Williams
* Worondi Rivulet

Historical

| Air transport|

* Broadmeadow Aerodrome

|

Defence|

* Fort Scratchley
* Greta Army Camp

Education|

* Newcastle Boys' High School

General|

* Greater Newcastle Act 1937
* History of Newcastle, New South Wales
* Hunter Valley cannabis infestation
* Lake Macquarie Petrified Forest
* Maitland Gaol
* Newcastle Museum
* Nobbys Head
* Royal Newcastle Hospital
* Tahlee historic property

Industry|

* Cockle Creek Power Station
* Cockle Creek Smelter
* Rothbury riot
* South Maitland coalfields
* South Waratah Colliery
* State Dockyard
* Teralba Colliery
* Walka Water Works
* Walsh Island Dockyard & Engineering Works
* Wangi Power Station

Maritime|

* Bluebell Collision
* Cawarra shipwreck
* Maianbar shipwreck
* MV Sygna shipwreck
* Nobbys Head Light
* Point Stephens Light

Natural disasters|

* 1989 Newcastle earthquake

Rail|

| General|

* Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot
* Fernleigh Track
* Hunter Valley Railway Trust
* Hunter Valley Steamfest
* Murulla rail accident
* Richmond Vale Railway Museum
* Wallsend Railway Goods Shed

|

Railway lines|

* Belmont
* Morpeth
* Richmond Vale Railway
* South Maitland Railway
* Toronto
* Wallsend

Railway stations|

* Allandale
* Antiene
* Belford
* Belmont
* Blackalls Park
* Cessnock
* Civic
* Dingadee
* Farley
* Grasstree
* Jewells
* Minimbah
* Mortuary
* Newcastle
* Ravensworth
* Toronto
* Whittingham
* Wickham
* Wingen

Trams|

* Trams in Newcastle
* West Wallsend Steam Tram Line

Wine making|

* Lindeman's

World War II|

* No. 2 Fighter Sector RAAF
* No. 208 Radar Station RAAF
* HMAS Assault
* Belmont Anti-Tank Ditch
* Lake Macquarie anti-submarine boom
* Newcastle Covering Force
* RAAF Base Rathmines
* Shelling of Newcastle

Infrastructure

| Transport|

| Road|

* Beaumont Street
* Bucketts Way
* Golden Highway
* Hunter Expressway
* New England Highway
* Newcastle Inner City Bypass
* Newcastle Link Road
* Pacific Highway
* Putty Road
* Sydney-Newcastle Freeway
* Thunderbolts Way

|

Road bridges|

* Beckers
* Clarence Town
* Cooreei
* Dunmore
* Fitzgerald Bridge
* Glennies Creek
* Hexham
* Hinton
* Monkerai
* Morpeth
* Stockton
* Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest
* Vacy

Railway lines|

* Main North
* Newcastle

Railway stations|

* Aberdeen
* Adamstown
* Awaba
* Beresfield
* Booragul
* Branxton
* Broadmeadow
* Cardiff
* Cockle Creek
* Dora Creek
* Dungog
* East Maitland
* Fassifern
* Greta
* Hamilton
* Hexham
* High Street
* Hilldale
* Kotara
* Lochinvar
* Maitland
* Martins Creek
* Metford
* Mindaribba
* Morisset
* Muswellbrook
* Newcastle Interchange
* Paterson
* Sandgate
* Scone
* Singleton
* Tarro
* Telarah
* Teralba
* Thornton
* Victoria Street
* Wallarobba
* Warabrook
* Waratah
* Wirragulla
* Wyee

Bus|

* Bus routes
* Busways
* Hunter Valley Buses
* Newcastle Transport
* Port Stephens Coaches
* Rover Coaches
* Sid Fogg's

Air|

* Cessnock Airport
* Maitland Airport
* Newcastle Airport
* Scone Airport

Ferry|

* Stockton ferry service

Light rail|

* Newcastle Light Rail

Utilities|

| Electricity generation|

* Bayswater Power Station
* Eraring Power Station
* Lake Liddell
* Liddell Power Station
* Redbank Power Station
* Teralba Colliery
* Vales Point Power Station

|

Water supply|

* Chichester Dam
* Glenbawn Dam
* Grahamstown Dam
* Lostock Dam
* Tillegra Dam proposal

Media

* ABC Newcastle
* Hit 106.9
* Maitland Mercury
* Newy 87.8 FM
* Nine Northern NSW
* New FM
* Port Stephens Examiner
* The Herald
* Triple M
* 2HD
* 2NUR

Other

| Defence|

* No. 26 Squadron RAAF
* RAAF Base Williamtown

|

General|

* Cessnock Correctional Centre
* Christ Church Cathedral

Health and medical research|

* Hunter Medical Research Institute
* John Hunter Hospital

* v
* t
* e

Regions of New South Wales, Australia

Regions outside Sydney|

* Central Coast
* Central Tablelands
* Central West
* Far West
* Greater Blue Mountains Area
* Hunter
* Illawarra
* Mid North Coast
* Monaro
* New England
* North West Slopes
* Northern Rivers
* Northern Tablelands
* Orana
* Riverina
* South Coast
* South West Slopes
* Southern Highlands
* Southern Tablelands

Regions of Sydney|

* Canterbury-Bankstown
* Central Business District
* Eastern Suburbs
* Forest District
* Greater Western Sydney
* Hills District
* Inner West
* Macarthur
* Northern Beaches
* Northern Suburbs
* North Shore
* Southern Sydney
* South-western Sydney
* St George
* Western Sydney

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