Northumberland County was one of New South Wales’ original Nineteen Counties and is now one of the state’s 141 cadastral divisions. It covers the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle in the Hunter region, north of Broken Bay.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle |
| Established | One of the original Nineteen Counties |
| Named after | Northumberland, England, by Lieutenant Charles Menzies, commandant at Newcastle, about 1804 |
| Principal towns | Newcastle, Maitland, Cessnock, Gosford, Wyong |
| Local government today | City of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie City, Central Coast Council, City of Cessnock, City of Maitland, Singleton Council, City of Hawkesbury |
Parishes in Northumberland County
- Allandale
- Alnwick
- Auburn
- Awaba
- Bala
- Belford
- Blaxland
- Branxton
- Broke
- Burragurra
- Burton
- Cessnock
- Congewai
- Coolamin
- Coorumbung
- Corrabare
- Cosgrove
- Cowan
- Dalton
- Dora
- Eglington
- Ellalong
- Finchley
- Gosford
- Gosforth
- Harrowby
- Hay
- Heddon
- Hexham
- Kahibah
- Kincumber
- Lockyer
- Maitland
- Mandolong
- Mangrove
- Milbrodale
- Millfield
- Morisset
- Moruben
- Mulbring
- Munmorah
- Narara
- Newcastle
- Olney
- Ourimbah
- Ovingham
- Patonga
- Pokolbin
- Popran
- Quorrobolong
- Rothbury
- Rugby
- Spencer
- St Albans
- Stanford
- Stockrington
- Stowe
- Teralba
- Tuggerah
- Vere
- Wallambine
- Wallarah
- Warkworth
- Werong
- Whittingham
- Wollombi
- Wyong
- Yango
Towns and Localities Today
Newcastle, New South Wales’ second-largest city, anchors the county’s north. Maitland and Cessnock cover the Hunter Valley wine country, while Gosford and Wyong serve the Central Coast to the south.
| Town | LGA |
|---|---|
| Newcastle | City of Newcastle |
| Maitland | City of Maitland |
| Gosford | Central Coast Council |
Geography
Northumberland County was bounded to the south by the Hawkesbury River, to the south-west by the Macdonald River, and to the north by the Hunter River. It takes in Lake Macquarie, Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake, and the coastline from Broken Bay to Newcastle.
Economy & Local Life
Coal mining built Newcastle’s economy and still operates in the Cessnock and Singleton districts, alongside the Port of Newcastle, one of the world’s largest coal-export ports. The Hunter Valley wine region, centred on Pokolbin, adds tourism and viticulture to the county’s mix.
History
Northumberland County was named after the English county of Northumberland by Lieutenant Charles Menzies, commandant at Newcastle, around 1804. It was proclaimed as one of the colony’s original Nineteen Counties, and became the most densely settled outside Cumberland (Sydney) as Newcastle grew into a coal and port city.
FAQ
Where is Northumberland County?
It lies on the Central Coast and Lower Hunter of New South Wales, covering Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and Cessnock.
What is Northumberland County named after?
Northumberland in England, named by Lieutenant Charles Menzies, commandant at Newcastle, about 1804.
Is Northumberland County still used?
Cadastral counties like Northumberland remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function today.