CESSNOCK
MINE AND WINE TOWN
From its earliest beginnings in 1823 the Cessnock area has had its roots in the surrounding countryside. The early settlement area of Wollombi centred around timber at Cedar Creek; the Great North Road access to Maitland and the market gardens there; mixed farming around Sweetman's Creek; flour mills in Millfield and Wollombi and finally in 1828 the first vineyard established by the Wilkinsons at Oakdale in the growing Pokolbin area. Land granted to John Campbell in 1826 saw the settlement grow to areas east of Wollombi in the township of Cessnock, named after Cessnock Castle in Ayrshire Scotland.
By 1871 Cessnock however still had a population of only 61 growing to 165 by 1901. All this was soon to change with the discovery of coal and the opening of the coalfields prior to and immediately after World War I. Sir Edgworth David discovered the huge seam of coal, known as the "Greta" Seam, in the late 1880's but it was George Brown and his descendants who opened up the coalfields. By 1926 Cessnock area now included East Greta, Stanford Merthyr, Pelaw Main, Kurri Kurri, Weston, Abermain, Neath, Aberdare, Kearsley, Abernethy and Kitchener. By 1926 our population had reached 12 000 rising to 18 000 by end of World War II.
The next great change came in the 1960's when our underground coal mines became uneconomical and emphasis shifted to open-cut mining further up the valley. This created a great social change in the community; people now had to look further afield for employment and many found new jobs in BHP Newcastle, Alcan (Kurri), the open cut mines etc.
Cessnock survived and discovered new talents and interests. The vineyards grew from the traditional Draytons, Tullochs, Tyrells, Lindemans, McWilliams to the dozens of boutique wineries we have today. Along with the discovery of our Hunter Valley wines came tourism and all the upgraded facilities we enjoy today - modern resorts, restaurants, golf courses, balloon rides, sky diving, equestrian centres, Rusa Park (private zoo) etc.
Today our Greater Cessnock City has a population of 40 000 (approx) and covers the largest municipal area of New South Wales. We share our mountains, our streams, our vineyards, our non-polluted air, our friendliness with thousands of visitors per year. We still enjoy our rural roots with a touch of city sophistication but without the pace of a city. A good place to rest and enjoy the best wine and hospitality in our state.
This page contributed by P. M. Grosse
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