Greta, New South Wales
{{Short description|Town in New South Wales, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = town
| name = Greta
| city = Cessnock
| state = nsw
| image = Old-Greta-Courthouse-ANZAC-Day-2004.jpg
| caption = Greta's historic court house
| coordinates = {{coord|32|41|14|S|151|23|4|E|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pop = 2830
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2016}}
| pop_footnotes = {{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC11032|name=Greta (NSW) (State Suburb)|accessdate=25 September 2012|quick=on}}ABS QuickStats only provides population data for the town of Greta, not the entire suburb.
| density = 486.9
| density_footnotes = This is the average density of the actual town, based on figures provided by the ABS.
| postcode = 2334
| elevation = 70
| elevation_footnotes = Average elevation of the suburb as shown on 1:100000 map 9132 Cessnock.
| area = 5.1
| area_footnotes = {{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC11032|name=Greta (NSW) (State Suburb)|accessdate=25 September 2012}}This is the area of the town, not the entire suburb.
| timezone = AEST
| utc = +10
| timezone-dst = AEDT
| utc-dst = +11
| dist1 = 183
| dir1 = N
| location1 = Sydney
| dist2 = 53
| dir2 = WNW
| location2 = Newcastle
| dist3 = 21
| dir3 = N
| location3 = Cessnock
| dist4 = 20
| dir4 = W
| location4 = Maitland
| dist5 = 27
| dir5 = ESE
| location5 = Singleton
| lga = City of Cessnock{{cite web|url=http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_regions.asp?mi=0&ml=8®iontype=2&slacode=1720®ion=HT|title=Suburb Search – Local Council Boundaries – Hunter (HT) – Cessnock City Council|publisher=New South Wales Division of Local Government|access-date=25 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522013548/http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_regions.asp?mi=0&ml=8®iontype=2&slacode=1720®ion=HT|archive-date=22 May 2009|url-status=dead}}
| lga2 = City of Maitland{{cite web|url=http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_Regions.asp?regiontype=2&slacode=5050®ion=HT |title=Suburb Search – Local Council Boundaries – Hunter (HT) – Maitland City Council |publisher=New South Wales Division of Local Government |access-date=25 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030105705/http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_Regions.asp?regiontype=2&slacode=5050®ion=HT |archive-date=30 October 2013 }}
| region = Hunter
| county = Northumberland{{NSW GNR|id=MnqwlMrXMa|title=Greta (suburb)|access-date=25 September 2012}}
| stategov = Cessnock{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/cessnock|title=Cessnock|publisher=New South Wales Electoral Commission |access-date=23 November 2019}}
| fedgov = Hunter{{Cite web|url=http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Hunter&filterby=Electorate |title=Hunter |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission |date=26 July 2012 |access-date=25 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005012555/http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Hunter&filterby=Electorate |archive-date=5 October 2013 }}
| near-n = Leconfield
| near-ne = Luskintyre
| near-e = Oswald, Harpers Hill
| near-se = Allandale
| near-s = Allandale, Rothbury
| near-sw = Rothbury
| near-w = North Rothbury
| near-nw = Branxton, East Branxton
}}
Greta is a small town in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia.{{DoL suburb image|name=Greta|access-date=25 September 2012}}
History
The traditional owners and custodians of the Maitland area are the Wonnarua people.{{Cite web|title=Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Peoples|url=https://www.maitland.nsw.gov.au/our-services/community/community-services/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples|access-date=8 September 2020|website=Maitland City Council|date=19 October 2017 }} The Greta area was first colonised by Europeans around Anvil Creek in the 1830s.{{Cite web |title=Greta, NSW |url=https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/greta-nsw |access-date=2020-10-07 |website=Aussie Towns |language=en-US}}
When the town was surveyed in 1842 it was given the name Greta, possibly after a small river in Cumberland, England. Coal mining was established in the area in 1862 with the development of a railway station.
In 1864, kerosene shale was discovered. By the 1870s, Greta had four hotels, four churches, a school and schools of arts. Geologist Edgeworth David discovered the Greta Coal Seam in 1886. By 1907, ten collieries were in operation.
At the 2016 census, the town had a population of 2,830.{{cite web |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2016/SSC11778 |title=Greta (NSW) 2016 Census |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=12 June 2023}} Greta's population increased to 3,349 at the 2021 census.{{cite web |url=https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/SAL11784 |title=Greta (NSW) 2021 Census |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=12 June 2023}}
In June 2023, a roundabout on Wine Country Drive in Greta was the site of a bus crash that killed 10 people.{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Millie |last2=Stephens |first2=Romy |last3=Wakatama |first3=Giselle |date=12 June 2023 |title=Ten people die in Hunter Valley bus crash, 25 others taken to hospital |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-12/people-die-in-hunter-valley-bus-crash-nsw/102468124 |publisher=ABC News |location=Australia |access-date=12 June 2023}}
Greta Army Camp
{{main|Greta Army Camp}}
The Greta Army Camp, located on the town's outskirts, was opened in 1939 as a training ground for World War II soldier training, and in 1949 was transferred to the Department of Immigration who transformed it into one of Australia's largest migrant reception and training centres between June 1949 and January 1960 as part of the post-war immigration to Australia. Over 100,000 new migrants seeking a new life in Australia passed through Greta Camp throughout its 11-years in operation.{{cite web|url=http://culturalawards2010.lgsa.org.au/projects/95-new-lives-new-australians---snapshots-of-greta-migrant-camp-1949--1960|title=New Lives, New Australians – Snapshots of Greta Migrant Camp, 1949 – 1960|author=Newcastle City Council|author-link=Newcastle City Council|publisher=Local Government & Shires Associations of NSW|access-date=25 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426000000/http://culturalawards2010.lgsa.org.au/projects/95-new-lives-new-australians---snapshots-of-greta-migrant-camp-1949--1960|archive-date=26 April 2012|url-status=dead}}
Transport
Greta is located on the New England Highway, approximately {{convert|183|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of Sydney. Access to Sydney will be possible via the Hunter Expressway. NSW TrainLink's Hunter Line passes through Greta railway station, which opened in 1869.{{cite web|url=http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:main_north|title=Main North Line|publisher=NSWrail.net|access-date=25 September 2012}}
Hunter Valley Buses operates three bus routes through the village of Greta:
- 179: Stockland Greenhills to North Rothbury via East Maitland, Maitland, Rutherford, Lochinvar, Branxton{{Cite web |title={{!}} transportnsw.info |url=https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/hunter-buses-network/179/46179 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=transportnsw.info}}
- 180: Stockland Greenhills to Singleton Heights via East Maitland, Maitland, Rutherford, Lochinvar, Branxton and Singleton{{Cite web |title={{!}} transportnsw.info |url=https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/hunter-buses-network/180/46180 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=transportnsw.info}}
- 180X: Maitland station to Singleton station via Lochinvar and Branxton{{Cite web |title={{!}} transportnsw.info |url=https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/hunter-buses-network/180x/46180-X |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=transportnsw.info}}
Heritage listings
Images of Greta
File:Greta-Cenotaph.jpg|Greta war memorial cenotaph
File:Army Camp Shelter anzac 2004.jpg|Greta rest area shelter
File:Welcome to Greta Sign.jpg|The welcoming sign to Greta's Hunter River catchment area
File:Childrens Litter PRevention Sign.jpg| A child's litter prevention sign. These signs were commissioned by Greta Tidy Towns to help children understand the importance of maintaining a tidy town
Notes
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References
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External links
{{commons category}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.australianexplorer.com/greta.htm|title=Greta|publisher=Australian Explorer|access-date=25 September 2012}}
{{suburbs of City of Cessnock}}
{{suburbs of City of Maitland}}
{{authority control}}