Cessnock, New South Wales

The Wonnarua people are the traditional owners of the Cessnock area. Many were killed or died as a result of European diseases after colonisation. Others were forced onto neighbouring tribal territory and killed. The city of Cessnock features many Indigenous place names including Congewai, Kurri Kurri, Laguna, Nulkaba and Wollombi.{{Cite web|last=Morris|first=Lesley|title=Kurri Kurri - Kurri Kurri Region - Hunter Region|url=https://kurrikurri.com/regional-info/|access-date=2021-06-04|website=Kurri Kurri District Business Chamber|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Local history|url=https://www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/Council/About-council/Local-history|access-date=2021-06-04|website=www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au|language=en-AU}}

Lying between Australia's earliest European settlements – Sydney, the Hawkesbury River and Newcastle, pastoralists commenced settlement of the land in the 1820s. Cessnock was named by Scottish settler John Campbell, after his grandfather's baronial Cessnock Castle in Galston, East Ayrshire, to reflect the aristocratic heritage and ambitions for this estate. The township of Cessnock developed from 1850, as a service centre at the junction of the Great North Road from Sydney to the Hunter Valley, with branches to Maitland and Singleton.

The establishment of the South Maitland coalfields generated extensive land settlement between 1903 and 1923. The current pattern of urban development, transport routes and industrial landscape was laid at this time. The surveying of the Greta coal seam by Professor Edgeworth David around 1888{{Cite web|title=125th Anniversary of Greta Coal Seam Discovery {{!}} Monument Australia|url=https://www.monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/technology/industry/display/95630-125th-anniversary-of-greta-coal-seam-discovery|access-date=2021-06-04|website=www.monumentaustralia.org.au}} became the impetus for considerable social and economic change in the area with the development of the coal mining industry.{{Cite web|last=Jacomb|first=Raymond|date=March 2016|title=Cessnock, NSW|url=https://www.adfas.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Cessnock.pdf|journal=|publisher=ADFAS}}

File:St Joseph's Catholic Church in Cessnock.jpg

According to the 2021 census, there were 63,632 people in the Cessnock LGA.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 10.2% of the population.
• 87.9% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 1.9%, New Zealand 1.0% and Philippines 0.5%.
• 90.1% of people spoke only English at home.
• The most common responses for religion were No Religion 41.1%, Anglican 19.2% and Catholic 17.7%.{{Cite web |title=2021 Cessnock, Census All persons QuickStats {{!}} Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/LGA11720 |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=www.abs.gov.au}}

File:Royal Oak Hotel in Cessnock (1).jpg

The decline of mining on the South Maitland Coalfields has been paralleled by growth in the wine industry and better access to other employment centres.

The Hunter Valley wine-growing area near Cessnock is Australia's oldest wine region and one of the most famous, with around {{Convert|1800|ha|acre|0}} under vine. The vineyards of Pokolbin, Mount View and Allandale, with their rich volcanic soils tended by entrepreneurial vignerons, are also the focus of a thriving and growing tourism industry. The extension and eventual completion of the F3 Freeway, created a property and tourism boom during the 1990s.

Cessnock has begun to develop other tourist ventures beyond the wine industry such as championship golf courses, hot air ballooning,{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LCtWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dOQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4931,7152727&dq=cessnock+balloon+flight&hl=en|title=The Sydney Morning Herald - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=12 April 2018}} sky-diving, and guest house accommodation.

The city council has actively pursued a policy of urban renewal in the city centre since 2001. The local council was one of the first to introduce a recycling program for waste disposal in the state. {{citation needed|date=September 2012}}

Most employment comes from the local port city of Newcastle, the nearby major centres of Maitland and Singleton and in service industries in the local council area, which comprises many small towns, such as Kurri Kurri, Weston, Neath, Abernethy, Kearsley and Pokolbin.

The town is located in the rich alluvial and volcanic soils of the Hunter Valley. Rich coal seams underlie much of the area. {{citation needed|date=September 2012}} The Brokenback Range (part of the Great Dividing Range) rises to the west of the city. The Hunter River flows down the Hunter Valley approximately {{Convert|20|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} to the north. Cessnock lies within the Hunter Valley Important Bird Area.BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Hunter Valley. Downloaded from {{cite web |url=http://www.birdlife.org |title=BirdLife International - conserving the world's birds |access-date=2012-11-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710124603/http://www.birdlife.org/ |archive-date=10 July 2007 |df=dmy }} on 11 July 2011.

Cessnock has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters, similar to Penrith, a suburb in Greater Western Sydney to the south. Summers may be dry due to their inland location, but humid days are not uncommon. Winters are usually dry with cold nights, which may be frosty.

{{Weather box

|location = Cessnock Airport (32º47'S, 151º20'E, {{convert|67|m|feet|0|disp=or}} AMSL) (1994-2020 normals, extremes 1968-2024)

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|collapsed = Yes

|Jan record high C = 45.1

|Feb record high C = 46.8

|Mar record high C = 39.3

|Apr record high C = 35.2

|May record high C = 29.2

|Jun record high C = 25.6

|Jul record high C = 25.3

|Aug record high C = 30.0

|Sep record high C = 35.7

|Oct record high C = 38.6

|Nov record high C = 44.5

|Dec record high C = 43.6

|Jan high C = 30.6

|Feb high C = 29.6

|Mar high C = 27.4

|Apr high C = 24.3

|May high C = 20.9

|Jun high C = 17.9

|Jul high C = 17.6

|Aug high C = 19.5

|Sep high C = 22.8

|Oct high C = 25.4

|Nov high C = 27.3

|Dec high C = 29.1

|Jan mean C = 24.0

|Feb mean C = 23.4

|Mar mean C = 21.2

|Apr mean C = 17.6

|May mean C = 14.2

|Jun mean C = 11.9

|Jul mean C = 10.9

|Aug mean C = 12.0

|Sep mean C = 15.1

|Oct mean C = 17.7

|Nov mean C = 20.3

|Dec mean C = 22.3

|Jan low C = 17.3

|Feb low C = 17.1

|Mar low C = 15.0

|Apr low C = 10.8

|May low C = 7.5

|Jun low C = 5.9

|Jul low C = 4.2

|Aug low C = 4.4

|Sep low C = 7.3

|Oct low C = 10.0

|Nov low C = 13.3

|Dec low C = 15.4

|Jan record low C = 6.1

|Feb record low C = 6.1

|Mar record low C = 4.4

|Apr record low C = −1.2

|May record low C = −3.5

|Jun record low C = −4.3

|Jul record low C = −6.7

|Aug record low C = −4.9

|Sep record low C = −2.8

|Oct record low C = −0.6

|Nov record low C = 2.8

|Dec record low C = 2.8

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 71.1

|Feb rain mm = 99.0

|Mar rain mm = 76.8

|Apr rain mm = 56.1

|May rain mm = 40.0

|Jun rain mm = 61.2

|Jul rain mm = 32.4

|Aug rain mm = 31.4

|Sep rain mm = 43.7

|Oct rain mm = 53.1

|Nov rain mm = 71.5

|Dec rain mm = 75.1

|year rain mm = 709.9

|unit rain days = 1.0 mm

|Jan rain days = 6.5

|Feb rain days = 7.7

|Mar rain days = 7.4

|Apr rain days = 5.8

|May rain days = 4.9

|Jun rain days = 6.0

|Jul rain days = 4.3

|Aug rain days = 3.8

|Sep rain days = 5.4

|Oct rain days = 6.0

|Nov rain days = 7.2

|Dec rain days = 7.3

|year rain days = 72.3

|Jan humidity = 46

|Feb humidity = 53

|Mar humidity = 53

|Apr humidity = 52

|May humidity = 53

|Jun humidity = 55

|Jul humidity = 50

|Aug humidity = 41

|Sep humidity = 42

|Oct humidity = 44

|Nov humidity = 47

|Dec humidity = 46

|Jan dew point C = 14.6

|Feb dew point C = 16.3

|Mar dew point C = 14.7

|Apr dew point C = 11.6

|May dew point C = 8.9

|Jun dew point C = 7.2

|Jul dew point C = 5.3

|Aug dew point C = 4.1

|Sep dew point C = 6.4

|Oct dew point C = 8.6

|Nov dew point C = 11.6

|Dec dew point C = 13.3

|source 1 = Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1968-2024){{cite web

|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=061260&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal

|title = Cessnock Airport Climate Statistics

|publisher = Bureau of Meteorology

|access-date = June 23, 2024

}}{{cite web

|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_061260_All.shtml

|title = Cessnock Airport Climate Statistics

|publisher = Bureau of Meteorology

|access-date = June 23, 2024

}}

}}

{{Historical populations

|type= Australia

|1933|14385

|1947|13029

|1954|14417

|1961|13833

|1966|15332

|1971|16160

|1976|16256

|1981|16916

|1986|17506

|1991|17932

|1996|17540

|2001|17791

|2006|18316

|2011|20013

|2016|21725

|2021|23211

|source=Australian Bureau of Statistics data.{{cite web |title=Statistics by Catalogue Number |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ViewContent?readform&view=ProductsbyCatalogue&Action=Expand&Num=2.2 |access-date=8 January 2024}}{{cite web |title=Search Census data |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/search-by-area |access-date=4 July 2024}}

}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

;Primary schools

• St Philip's Christian College
• Cessnock Public School
• Nulkaba Public School
• Cessnock East Public School
• Bellbird Public School
• Cessnock West Public School
• Kearsley Public School
• St Patricks Primary School

{{col-break}}

;High schools

• Cessnock High School
• Mount View High School
• St Phillips Christian College

{{col-break}}

;Tertiary facilities

• Hunter Institute of TAFE {{endash}} Cessnock Campus

{{col-end}}

Cessnock is serviced by a number of regional newspapers, radio stations and television stations.

• The Cessnock Advertiser;{{cite news |url=http://www.cessnockadvertiser.com.au/ |title=Home page |work=Cessnock Advertiser }} an adjunct to the Mercury and is published every Wednesday.{{cite web |url=http://www.fairfaxregionalmedia.com.au/detail.asp?state=NSW®ion=5&paper_id=16 |title=Fairfax Regional Media |publisher=Fairfax Media |access-date=15 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019164116/http://www.fairfaxregionalmedia.com.au/detail.asp?state=NSW®ion=5&paper_id=16 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |url-status=dead }} With a circulation of approximately 17,000{{when|date=December 2013}}
• Maitland Mercury
• Newcastle Herald

Radio stations include:

• 2HD (commercial)
• ABC Newcastle
• 2HRN (off band commercial)
• Sky Sports Radio (as part of statewide network)

• KOFM 102.9 FM (commercial)
• Hit106.9 Newcastle 106.9 FM (commercial)
• New FM 105.3 FM (commercial)
• 2NUR 103.7 FM (community)
• 2CHR (Central Hunter Radio) 96.5 FM –{{cite web|url=http://www.2chr.org|title=2CHR Central Hunter Community Radio|work=2chr.org|access-date=12 November 2012}} (community)
• Rhema FM Newcastle 99.7FM (Christian)

Cessnock was featured in national tech news{{Cite web|url=https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/08/cessnock-life-is-a-simulator-not-afraid-to-offend/|title = Cessnock Life is a Simulator Not Afraid to Offend|date = 21 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720173333/https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/08/cessnock-life-is-a-simulator-not-afraid-to-offend/|archive-date=2024-07-20}} in 2020 with the release of a video game called Cessnock.Life, which is a fictional simulation game based in Cessnock.

The PACC is a Local Government owned theatre that holds concerts, plays and community events. Originally opened in 2008 and known as the Cessnock Performing Arts Centre it frequently has acts shows such as comedians, tribute bands and musicals, as well as other events such as drama lessons.{{Cite web |title=What's on |url=https://www.mypacc.com.au/Whats-on |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=www.mypacc.com.au |language=en-AU}}

File:Cessnock rodeo.JPG

The city has many sporting facilities. The city competes in several regional sporting competitions, particularly the Cessnock Goannas competing in Newcastle-based rugby league competition. Some very successful sporting players can trace their roots to the local district, including Australian Rugby League representative players and brothers Andrew and Matthew Johns. World-renowned golfer and TV commentator Jack Newton is also from Cessnock. His annual Sub-Juniors Golf Tournament has unearthed some talented young golfers and is held on the local championship courses of Pokolbin. Cessnock was the base camp for the Japan national football team during the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

For a century Cessnock was served by the South Maitland Railway network, originally constructed for the coal industry, but which at one time had considerable passenger services terminating at Cessnock railway station, including a direct train to Sydney known as the Cessnock Flyer.

The Sydney–Newcastle Freeway's Cessnock exit at Freemans Waterhole provides one of the main road connections from Sydney to Cessnock via The Gap, a pass through the Watagan Mountains range just north of Mount Heaton.

Until the Hunter Expressway opened in 2014, linking the New England Highway at Branxton and the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway at West Wallsend, through traffic passed through Cessnock.

The local airport is placed just to the north of the city, at the entrance to the Vineyard District. It has a small public passenger terminal and also serves as the base for aviation training organisations such as Avondale College's school of Aviation and Hunter Valley Aviation. The airport is not served by RPT flights. Access by air to the region is by Newcastle Airport at Williamtown, {{Convert|53|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} away.

The local bus service is run by Rover Coaches which provide services to Maitland, Newcastle and Morisset and school bus services.

• Douglas N. Daft, businessman; CEO of Coca-Cola (2000–2004), and Corporate Director of Wal-Mart
• Joel Edwards, rugby league player
• Andrew Johns, rugby league player
• Matthew Johns, rugby league player
• Gavin King, journalist; newspaper columnist
• Bruce Litchfield, architect
• Kenneth Neate, opera singer
• Jack Newton, professional golfer
• Bill Peden, rugby league player
• Frank Rickwood, President of BP Alaska, Chairman of Oil Search
• Don Schofield, Rugby League Player
• Simon Whitlock, Professional Darts Player
• Rod McCormack, Multi Time National Guitar and Banjo Champion, Australian Musician of the Year,
• Jeff McCormack, Multi Golden Guitar winner, Australian Musician of the Year{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

File:CessnockCourtHouse0001.jpg]]

Greater Cessnock contains a number of buildings and sites that are on the Register of the National Estate.The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company, 1981

• Court House, Branxton
• Police Station and Residence, Branxton
• Former Court House, Greta
• Kurri Kurri Hotel, Lang and Hampden Streets, Kurri Kurri
• Richmond Main Colliery, Mulbring Rd, Pelaw Main
• Laguna House, Laguna
• Post Office, Wollombi
• Endeavour Museum (former Court House), Wollombi
• Public School, Wollombi
• St Michael's Catholic Church, Wollombi
• St John the Evangelist Anglican Church, Wollombi
• Stanford Main No.2 Colliery Pit Head Building, Brick Cottages
• Aboriginal Rock Carvings Site, popularly known as Baiame Cave, Milbrodale Area

In 2021, Cessnock had an amphetamine use/possession rate of 137.1 per 100,000, which is significantly higher than the NSW state average of '90.0 per 100,000.{{Cite web |title=Crime Maps {{!}} BOCSAR |url=http://crimetool.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/bocsar/ |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=crimetool.bocsar.nsw.gov.au}}

The suburb of Cessnock had an assault incidents crime rate of 1264.6 per 100,000 people in 2019, which is significantly higher than the NSW state average of 822.3 during the same period.{{Cite web|title=Crime Maps {{!}} BOCSAR|url=http://crimetool.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/bocsar/|access-date=2021-01-27|website=crimetool.bocsar.nsw.gov.au}}

{{Portal|New South Wales}}

• Cessnock Correctional Centre
• City of Cessnock
• Electoral District of Cessnock

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Cessnock, New South Wales}}

{{Wikivoyage|Cessnock}}

{{Wikivoyage|Tourist Drive 33}}

• {{wikivoyage inline|Cessnock}}
• [http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/hunter/hunter-valley/cessnock Visitor's Guide to Cessnock – Visit NSW]

{{Suburbs of City of Cessnock}}

{{Cities of Australia}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in New South Wales

Category:Suburbs of City of Cessnock

Category:Towns in the Hunter Region

Category:Mining towns in New South Wales