If you’re looking for things to do in Muswellbrook, you have come to the right place. Explore Muswellbrook’s history, Lake Liddell Recreation Camp Area, and Mount Royal National Park. Find out more about this area and its attractions in the next paragraphs. This Upper Hunter region town is located 243 kilometers north of Sydney and 127 kilometers west of Newcastle. It has plenty to offer the whole family.
History of Muswellbrook
Located in the Upper Hunter region, the town of Muswellbrook has a rich history. In its early years, the town was a small farming community. But today, the town has grown into one of the largest in the Upper Hunter. The town is home to many fine historical buildings, including the Muswellbrook Shire Local & Family History Society, which is dedicated to collecting and sharing information. The society meets on the third Tuesday of every month in the Muswellbrook Library Community Room. Visitors are welcome to attend the meetings.
In 1953, the district was proud to unveil the Soldiers’ Memorial. The memorial was unveiled on Anzac Day and is one of the finest in the Commonwealth. It took PS1500 to build and was funded by public subscription. It features a monument to the district’s most notable soldiers, including Lieut.-Colonel Don Cameron. The commemoration will be a lasting reminder of Muswellbrook’s proud heritage and storied past.
Lake Liddell Recreation Camp Area
The Lake Liddell Recreation Camp Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales is a perfect spot for a relaxing camping trip. Located just 15km east of Muswellbrook on Hebden Rd, it has 50 powered sites and grassy no powered sites. The campground features a variety of birdlife and is home to the only inland breeding colony of black swans. In addition to the birds, there is plenty of water recreation here, including boating, sailing, and swimming. Bringing your dog along is welcome – just make sure to keep them on a leash!
There is no doubt that the beautiful Lake Liddell Recreation Camp Area is one of the most picturesque camping sites in the Muswellbrook area. The campground has toilets, hot showers, and powered sites. There are also picnic tables and fire pits for cooking and relaxing. One of the only negatives of the campground is the noise, but it’s well worth it to see the scenery. The park is located adjacent to a colliery, but the noise is minimal and the colliery is across the lake. There is also firewood for sale in the reception area.
Muswellbrook Regional Arts Center
The Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre is located along the New England Highway in the Upper Hunter region, about three hours from Sydney and two hours from Newcastle. The town of Muswellbrook has a diverse rural and industrial economy, and is also home to a thriving equine industry. The Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre was granted regional gallery status in 1976 and features the Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection, which dates back to the late 1950s.
The Muswellbrook Regional Art Prize was established in 1958. This competition offers a total prize pool of $70,000 to artists from throughout Australia. The prize is divided into three categories: contemporary, traditional and regional. The winners are selected by a panel of judges, which includes local, national and international artists. This annual prize is the richest painting award in regional Australia. The Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre holds an exhibition of finalists’ work and announces winners on 12 March.
The Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre’s ‘Two Artists Touring Muswellbrook’ exhibition presents the finalist artworks in its 2019 artist in residence program. Liz Anelli and Mario Minichiello work to create works inspired by the local landscape and settlements. Their collaborative exhibition aims to provide an opportunity for local artists to showcase their work and to increase the community’s appreciation of the arts in the region.
Mount Royal National Park
The town of Muswellbrook is nestled along the banks of the Hunter River. This charming country town is about three hours from Sydney and about 90 minutes from Newcastle Airport. It is a popular place to go boating, fishing, and camping. You can visit the nearby Lake Glenbawn and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. There is also a popular winery, the Mount Royal National Park, and the town is close to Newcastle.
For wine enthusiasts, there are several wineries in the area. One of the best is Two Rivers Vineyard, which is situated in the Upper Hunter Valley. They make classic varietals, including Merlot and Chardonnay. They also produce bath milk and other cosmetics. They even have a camel ride for wine enthusiasts. And for wine lovers, there is nothing quite like a wine tour. At the winery, you can sample some of the region’s finest.
There are plenty of historical sites to visit in the town. Muswellbrook’s main public park, Highbrook Park, has a giant lizard. There are also mazes, climbing ropes, and swings. You can also check out the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, which was originally a School of Arts. There are many important Australian contemporary artists on display. You can also enjoy a movie at the new Muswellbrook Cinema, which opened in 2010.
Pukara Estate
At the heart of the success of Pukara Estate in Muswellbrook is a simple philosophy: to create distinctive food products from their olive oils and vinegars. The team is passionate about their products and their passion is infectious, so you can guarantee they’ll have something to share with your family and friends. The products themselves are crafted from the estate’s olives and are the result of a long, hard-working process.
To see what makes this unique place unique, head over to the Pukara Estate in Muswellbrook, located in the Upper Hunter region. This unique boutique winery is also home to mouthwatering local produce and olive oil. While you’re there, don’t miss out on a visit to the Olive Grove, where you can sample their olive oil and taste the fruity delights of the grove. Located just outside of Muswellbrook, the Pukara Estate also features an olive oil tasting room.
In the second episode of the Luca’s Key Ingredient series, the chefs focused on Parmigiano Reggiano, making crispy Parmigiano bite sandwiches from the cheese. Also featured were dishes featuring veal ‘battuta’, anchovies, and pickled red onion. All of these dishes featured Pukara Estate products. While the quality of the dishes featured in the program are top-class, the price can be out of reach for some.
Hunter Belle Cheese
In the Upper Hunter region, you will find world-renowned wineries such as the Two Rivers and Small Forest. The wineries are also home to art galleries that feature acclaimed national works. Aside from wine tasting, the area also features a unique cheese known as Hunter Belle, which is made from milk from the local Swiss Brown cows. Another unique experience is a trip to the Pukara Estate, where you can sample olive oil and taste the different varieties of cheese.
If you want to explore the local culture and taste authentic Australian dishes, you should stop by Hunter Belle Cheese in Muswellbrook. This small cafe and cheese factory is also home to pies, fudge, gelato, scones, beer, and iced coffee. The food is priced reasonably, and the decor is exquisite. There are also gift shops and specialty food items available at Hunter Belle. The restaurant is popular with Facebook users, with a 4.7 star rating.
Lake Glenbawn Recreation Area
The Glenbawn Dam is an earth and rock fill dam with a concrete chute spillway and fuse plugs. It is located upstream of the city of Aberdeen on the Hunter River in New South Wales. The dam was constructed in the 1930s and opened to the public in 1991. It is home to a wide variety of recreational activities, including swimming, boating, fishing, and water skiing.
The Lake Glenbawn Recreation Area is home to a large dam, which supplies hydropower to the town of Muswellbrook and Scone. The lake is perfect for water sports, and is also popular for camping. Visitors can choose from fully equipped cabins or rent a holiday cabin. The Reflections Holiday and Caravan Park also has powered caravan sites and unpowered beach pads for their guests to use. The park also has picnic areas and a kiosk where you can purchase basic grocery items.
Visitors to the lake can also find accommodation options in Muswellbrook, including motels, camping areas, and caravan parks. Near the town, visitors can take a walk along the Heritage Walk, which features 40 points of interest. The town’s railway station, designed by Sir Gilbert Scott, and St Alban’s Church are all architectural landmarks. A regional arts centre, Muswellbrook Regional Art Centre, and the Muswellbrook Country Music Festival are also great attractions.
The Blue Heeler Cattle Dog Statue
The Big Blue Heeler is a sculpture that stands two metres tall in Muswellbrook, New South Wales. The town prides itself on being the birthplace of this infamous breed of cattle dog. The breed originated in Dartbrook, 12 kilometres north of Muswellbrook. These dogs are a crossbreed between the Northumberland Blue Merle and the dingo and thrive in the harsh environment they are accustomed to.
The Blue Heeler Cattle Dog Statue was dedicated to Tessa Dowsett in April 2000 by the Lions Club. The statue is two metres high and is a tribute to the iconic cattle dog. It was designed by Brett “Mon” Garling and honours the contributions of the Australian Cattle Dog to the history of the region. For more information, check out the establishment’s website.
10 interesting facts about Muswellbrook NSW
- Muswellbrook is a town in the Upper Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia.
- It is located about 200 kilometers northwest of Sydney and about 50 kilometers southwest of Newcastle.
- The town is known for its coal mining and horse breeding industries.
- The name Muswellbrook is derived from the local Aboriginal language, with “Muswell” meaning “big hill” and “brook” meaning “creek”.
- Muswellbrook is home to the Muswellbrook Race Club, which hosts regular horse racing events at its racecourse.
- The town has a population of around 10,000 people.
- Muswellbrook is home to several historical landmarks, including the Old Courthouse Museum, which was built in the 1850s, and the Old Post Office, which was built in 1878.
- The town is also home to the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, which hosts a variety of exhibitions and performances throughout the year.
- Muswellbrook has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and cool, dry winters.
- The town is located in the Hunter Valley wine region, and there are several wineries and vineyards in the surrounding area.