UPPER HUNTER LGA

Area: 8,050 sq km

Population: 13,594 (ABS 2007 ERP)

Location: 152 km north-west of Newcastle

 

  • The Upper Hunter LGA includes the major centre of Scone with smaller, yet growing, townships of Merriwa, Murrurundi and Aberdeen.

  • Predominantly a rural area, key industries in the Shire include agriculture, manufacturing and the equine industry, though agriculture remains the main economic driver of the economy.

  • Broad acre agriculture to the west around Merriwa and Cassilis meets intensive river flat farming and lucerne production along the Hunter River.

  • A major expansion of the Scone Industrial Precinct will provide a further 35 hectares of land for commercial and industrial businesses.

  • The equine industry includes some of the largest thoroughbred studs, equestrian, polo and stock horse events.

  • Scone is headquarters to the Australian Stock Horse Society, an equine research centre and a TAFE campus specialising in rural and equine studies.

  • The magnificent Barrington Tops and Goulburn River National Parks provide tourist destinations with the Goulburn, Pages and Hunter rivers enabling intensive agriculture to thrive on the alluvial flats.
  • The reliable water supply and relatively cheap land also provide significant opportunities for business relocation and establishment within the LGA. Council and private residential land development provide affordable housing in all the population centres within the LGA.

Scone Airport

The 1400 m fully sealed Scone Memorial Airport connects the Upper Hunter to the rest of Australia and the Scone Airpark development provides an ideal opportunity for air based businesses to establish in this thriving rural economy.

 

 

For more statistical information about Upper Hunter LGA click here.

 

 

For more information go to:

www.upperhunter.nsw.gov.au

 

This site is managed by...

Regional Development Australia (RDA) is a joint Commonwealth-State initiative to support regional development. Funded by the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and State Government to be key facilitators of change and development in their regions.

RDA-Hunter will be the first point of contact for Hunter communities across all levels of government to promote regional initiatives and partnerships. RDA-Hunter coordinates the local response to opportunities for employment, regional development and community capacity-building.