Fast facts
- Vibrant country town surrounded by vineyards and horse studs
- In the fertile Upper Hunter Valley, straddling the Hunter River
- 260 km north-west of Sydney, population 11,500
Why go there
Muswellbrook is a charming rural town surrounded by a clutch of wineries which offer cellar-door-tastings. There is a range of quality accommodation, including farm stays and country cottages both in and around the town.
History
The first European to visit the region was Chief Constable John Howe in 1819. Within five years, major parcels of land along the banks of the Hunter River had been allocated to early settlers.
When the railway reached Muswellbrook in 1869, the town experienced significant expansion, continuing to grow after the opening of the first coal mine in the area in the 1890s.
Larger properties were broken up into smaller farms following the end of World War 1 when dairy farming replaced wheat and wool as the area’s main rural industry.
Things to do
- Taste test produce from award-winning wineries and olive farms on the Upper Hunter Wine Trail.
- Take a stroll down memory lane on the Muswellbrook Heritage Walk, and see fine buildings dating back to the mid-1800s.
- Discover magnificent national parks, including Wollemi - home of the pre-historic Wollemi Pine - and World Heritage-listed Barrington Tops.
Events
- Muswellbrook Springtime Carnival held from August to November includes rodeos, parades, a racing carnival, market stalls and bush dances.
Don’t miss
- Fishing for Murray cod and giant perch at Lake Glenbawn.
- A special tour of a thoroughbred horse stud.
- Staring at the stars from the verandah of a country B&B.
- Muswellbrook Regional Art Gallery for its fine collection of works by regional artists.
- Pukara Estate's olive oil at Denman Road in Muswellbrook.
