Cessnock

Hunter, Manning & Central Coast

Cessnock is the gateway to the Hunter Valley, the oldest wine growing region in Australia.

A Grouping

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Location

Cessnock is 52 km (60 min drive) west of Newcastle and 154 km (2 hr drive) north of Sydney.

Cessnock is known for its gourmet food, luxury or boutique accommodation, beautiful natural scenery, and its 1920s and 1930s architecture. It is the starting point of most winery tours in the Hunter Valley.

How to get there

The closest airport to Cessnock is Newcastle Airport, 54 km from Cessnock. It is serviced by Jetstar, Virgin Australia, QantasLink, FlyPelican and Regional Express. Destination from the airport include Canberra, Ballina/Byron Bay, Dubbo, Taree, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, and Auckland (NZ).

There is also a North West XPT Train service which travels from Armidale to Sydney and back daily and stops at Singleton, 45 km from Cessnock.

Population

Cessnock is home to more than 21,000 people, the median age of residents is 38 years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 8% of the population.

Cessnock is in the Hunter, New England, & Central Coast Primary Health Network, this fact sheet provides an overview of population health for the primary health network area.

Healthcare facilities

Cessnock Hospital is a 63 bed, medium sized hospital, with a 24 hour emergency department. Services provided include general medicine, general surgery, orthopaedics, urology, gynaecology, transitional aged care, minor paediatric services, palliative care, community health, residential transitional aged care & enablement unit, postnatal care, 24-hour emergency department and allied health services. Visiting specialist services include women’s health, paediatrics, antenatal, neurology, cardiology, gynaecology, respiratory clinic, general medicine, osteoporosis clinic, geriatrics, drug and alcohol clinic, mental health, liver clinic.

John Hunter Hospital is 42 km (40 min drive) from Cessnock and is the major tertiary referral, teaching hospital and referral centre for the Hunter New England Local Health District. It provides primary and tertiary trauma services, a retrieval service for critically ill, maternity and gynaecology services, medical and interventional services, surgical services and critical care.

There is an Ambulance Service of NSW station in Cessnock.

Accredited GP practices

Cessnock Community Healthcare
Cumberland Street Clinic
Maitland Road Surgery

Industry

The major industry sectors employing residents of Cessnock are: coal mining, aged care residential services, accommodation, cafes and restaurants, and hospitals (except psychiatric hospitals).

Education

In Cessnock and surrounds, there are a numerous primary and secondary schools, both public and private.

Childcare

For young families, the Cessnock region offers a wide range of options suitable for children from 6 weeks to school age, for occasional care, long day care, family day care and pre-school.

Shopping

As a regional centre, Cessnock features several shopping precincts featuring most of the well-known national chains including, Coles, IGA, Target, Woolworths, Big W, and OPSM. There is also everything from stylish boutiques, homewares, health and nutrition, bakeries, to cafes and a wide range of dining opportunities. There are also weekly produce and street markets in and around Cessnock.

Places of worship

In Cessnock there are places of worship for a range of Christian denominations including Anglican, Baptist, Congregational, Presbyterian, Catholic and Uniting. There is also a Hare Krishna Temple. The nearest mosque is in Newcastle (60 min drive from Cessnock).

Points of interest

In Cessnock you can explore the Cessnock Regional Art Gallery, Marthaville Arts and Cultural Centre, Hunter Valley Zoo, Hunter Valley Gardens and Werakata National Park. There are vineyards, food, wine and art festivals, the Cessnock Events calendar and Cessnock what's on lists events happening throughout the year.

Sporting activities

Cessnock has many sporting facilities and clubs including cricket, tennis, netball, hockey, football, skating and BMX. A listing of the recreational and community facilities can be found at Cessnock City Council.

Community groups and activities

A listing of community groups and activities in Cessnock is available from Cessnock City Council. There are also a range of service clubs in Cessnock including the Rotary Club and Lions Club.