Hunter Valley Historic Sites and Museums can be found in nearly every corner of this popular New South Wales tourist destination. Several Hunter Valley Historic Sites and Museums are situated on the Legendary Pacific Coast Culture and Heritage Trail between Brisbane and Sydney.
Much of the Hunter Valley’s history is located within its largest city, Newcastle, the largest coal exporter on Earth as well as Australia’s oldest seaport. Newcastle’s historic Fort Scratchley, most famous for defending the city from a WWII Japanese submarine, now contains a military museum.
The East Maitland Heritage Walk takes visitors past 27 of this picturesque community’s historic sites.
However, no East Maitland attraction is more notorious than the Maitland Gaol, which housed many of the country’s most violent criminals for over 150 years. Today, the Maitland Gaol is open to the public, and the bravest of visitors can arrange to spend the night in the facility.
The Maitland suburb of Morpeth boasts its own heritage walk down Swan and High streets. Morpeth’s historic court house turned museum, the Morpeth Railway Station, the Morpeth Post and Telegraph Office, and the Morpeth Trading Post are just a few of the distinctive landmarks along the Morpeth Heritage Walk.
The Morpeth Trading Post, first constructed in 1838, remains New South Wales’ oldest industrial structure still used on a daily basis. Today, the trading post contains several unique shops and is the departure point for a scenic horse carriage tour.
