Durham County was one of the original Nineteen Counties of New South Wales and is now one of the state’s 141 cadastral divisions. The Hunter River bounds it on the south and west, the Williams River on the north and east. It takes in Aberdeen and Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley, and is named after John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham (1792–1840).
Key Facts
| State | New South Wales |
|---|---|
| Region | Hunter Valley |
| Named after | John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham (1792–1840) |
| Principal towns | Muswellbrook, Aberdeen, Dungog, Gresford, Seaham |
| Local government areas today | Muswellbrook Shire, Dungog Shire, Singleton Council, Upper Hunter Shire, Port Stephens Council |
Parishes in Durham County
- Allyn
- Althorpe
- Auckland
- Avenal
- Balmoral
- Barford
- Belltrees
- Boonabilla
- Bronte
- Brougham
- Butterwick
- Carrow
- Chalmers
- Colonna
- Darlington
- Doon
- Dungog
- Dyrring
- Fingal
- Foy
- Glendon
- Goorangoola
- Gotha
- Gresford
- Herschell
- Holywell
- Houghton
- Howick
- Lewinsbrook
- Liddell
- Liebeg
- Mamaran
- Marwood
- Middlehope
- Mirannie
- Moonan
- Mount Royal
- Oldcastle
- Omadale
- Prospero
- Ravensworth
- Rosamond
- Rouchel
- Rowan
- Russell
- Savoy
- Seaham
- Sedgefield
- Shenstone
- St Aubins
- St Julian
- Stanhope
- Tangory
- Tillegra
- Tudor
- Tyraman
- Uffington
- Underbank
- Vane
- Vaux
- Wallarobba
- Wolfingham
- Wynn
Towns and Localities Today
Muswellbrook and Aberdeen, on the Hunter River, are the largest towns inside Durham County and both sit within Muswellbrook Shire. Dungog and Gresford, further east on the Williams and Allyn rivers, anchor Dungog Shire. Seaham, near the county’s southern edge, and Ravensworth and Liddell, mining localities west of Singleton, are the other named settlements still in regular use.
Geography
The Hunter River forms Durham County’s southern and western boundary, and the Williams River its northern and eastern boundary. Before 1834 the county was much larger, stretching from the Liverpool Range in the west to the Pacific coast at Port Stephens, before the Gloucester and Brisbane counties were split off from it.
History
Durham was one of the original Nineteen Counties proclaimed by Governor Darling in the 1820s to define the limits of settlement in colonial New South Wales, and remains one of the state’s 141 cadastral divisions. It is named for John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, a British colonial administrator. Coal mining developed early around Ravensworth and Liddell, feeding the Hunter Valley’s long-running coal industry.
FAQ
Is Durham County still used?
Cadastral counties like Durham remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function today.
What local government areas cover Durham County?
Its parishes are split across Muswellbrook Shire, Dungog Shire, Singleton Council, Upper Hunter Shire and Port Stephens Council.
What are the main towns in Durham County?
Muswellbrook and Aberdeen on the Hunter River, and Dungog and Gresford on the Williams and Allyn rivers, are the county’s principal towns.