Fast facts
- Historic river port crowded with character
- On a tree-lined stretch of the Hunter River, upstream from Newcastle
- 168 km north of Sydney, population 1,100
Why go there
Morpeth’s days as a river port were effectively over by about 1890, but the town’s comparative isolation meant that its historic shopfronts, wharves and even the hitching posts along the main street have survived intact.
Today, Morpeth is National Trust-classified and no longer a backwater but a wide-awake town crammed with cafes, craft shops and an annual events calendar. This is a living museum of Australia’s past, a history lesson that’s easy to digest.
History
Founded in the 1820s, the town developed as a river port in the following decade and became an important inland trading post for the Hunter River Steam Navigation Company. Crops flourished on the plains alongside the river, and for many years this region was an important food supplier for the young colony. However, late in the 1800s the silting of the river and the completion of the rail link between Newcastle and Sydney saw its importance as a trading port decline, and Morpeth fell quietly asleep.
Things to do
- Take a long, slow stroll along Swan Street, running alongside the river, where most of the town’s historic attractions are located. The town is a time-capsuled tourist attraction, where every building is of historic significance.
- Browse the gift shops - there's a quirky collection of antique shops, galleries, lolly shops, a tea house, ginger beer factory and bakery.
Don’t miss
- Morpeth Wine Cellars for local wine and cheese tastings.
- Morpeth Heritage Walk
- A picnic lunch on the banks of the Hunter River near historic Morpeth Bridge.
