Abernethy, New South Wales

Abernethy is a small town in the City of Cessnock, in the Hunter Region in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Abernethy is located 8 kilometres south-east of the town of Cessnock, NSW and is adjacent to Werakata National Park and the Aberdare State Forest. The town was founded near a coal mine and some of the historic buildings remain (including the Abernethy Hotel which now operates as a guest house). In 2016 348 lived there with the median age being 32 and 74.8% being born in Australia.[16]

Abernethy
City of CessnockNew South Wales
Remains of old Aberdare South Colliery
Abernethy is located in New South Wales
Abernethy
Abernethy
Coordinates32°52′12″S 151°24′00″E / 32.87000°S 151.40000°E / -32.87000; 151.40000[1]
Population317 (SAL 2021)[2]
Established1913[3]
Gazetted14 July 1915 (village)[4]
5 September 1975 (village)[5]
23 October 2015 (locality)[6]
Postcode(s)2325[7]
Elevation90 m (295 ft)[8]
Area8.4025 km2 (3.2 sq mi)[9]
Time zoneAEST[10] (UTC+10)
 • Summer (DST)AEDT[11] (UTC+11)
Location
LGA(s)Cessnock[12]
RegionHunter
CountyNorthumberland[12]
ParishCessnock[12]
State electorate(s)Cessnock[13]
Federal division(s)Hunter[14]
Mean max temp[15] Mean min temp[15] Annual rainfall[15]
24.2 °C
76 °F
10.5 °C
51 °F
743.3 mm
29.3 in
Suburbs around Abernethy:
Kitchener Kearsley Elrington
Kitchener Abernethy Elrington
Quorrobolong Quorrobolong Quorrobolong

Mining history

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The town's origins lie in the establishment of the Aberdare South Colliery which was operated by Caledonian Collieries Limited.[17] The town was laid out in 1906 and the mine commenced operation in 1913. The mine closed in 1927.[18]

Some structures of the old Colliery are still present on the site including the winder house, the chimney stack and dam.

Population

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In 2016 the population is 348 and the median age is 32.[19] 74.8% were born in Australia and 2.1% were born in England.[16] 26.0% were Anglican, 22.5% mot stated, 20.8% no religion, 13.9% Catholic and 7.2% Presbyterian and Reformed.[16] 79.65 only spoke English at home.[19]

Bushfire in 2002

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On 19 October 2002, a large bushfire in Abernethy claimed the life of Sydney businessman Ronald Gillett, destroyed six homes and damaged many more.

A 2004 inquest found that the fire was deliberately lit "by persons unknown". A subsequent inquest reached a similar conclusion in 2008.[20] In February 2010, Police announced a $100,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the arsonist.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Abernethy (NSW80833)". Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government.
  2. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Abernethy (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  
  3. ^ "Cessnock Shire Council". The Maitland Daily Mercury. No. 13, 203. New South Wales, Australia. 10 July 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 4 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Village of Abernethy". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 127. New South Wales, Australia. 14 July 1915. p. 4156. Retrieved 4 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Geographical Names Act, 1966". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 114. New South Wales, Australia. 5 September 1975. p. 3623. Retrieved 29 December 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Geographical Names Act, 1966" (PDF). Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 91. New South Wales, Australia. 23 October 2015. p. 3403. Retrieved 3 January 2018 – via NSW Legislation.
  7. ^ "Abernethy Postcode, NSW - Australia Post". Australia Post. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Map of Aberdare in New South Wales". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  9. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (13 September 2016). Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 3 - Non ABS Structures, July 2016, 'State Suburbs ASGS Edition 2016 in .csv Format', data cube: Excel Spreadsheet, cat. no. 1270.0.55.003 (Report). Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  10. ^ Standard Time Act 1987 (NSW) s 3
  11. ^ Standard Time Act 1987 (NSW) s 4
  12. ^ a b c "Abernethy (locality)". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 January 2018.  
  13. ^ "Cessnock". NSW Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Localities". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 3 January 2018.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ a b c "Cessnock Airport AWS". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  16. ^ a b c "2016 Census QuickStats: Abernethy". quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  17. ^ "The South Maitland Railway Collieries". Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  18. ^ "NSW Department of Planning - Major Projects - Austar Coal Mining Project [Socio Economic Assessment]" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  19. ^ a b "2016 Census QuickStats: Abernethy". quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  20. ^ Ryan, Stephen (21 October 2008), "Coroner criticises first inquest into fatal bushfire", Newcastle Herald, retrieved 3 March 2011
  21. ^ "NSW Police- $100,000 reward for information about Abernethy bushfire". February 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  • "They called it Siberia : the story of the South Maitland 'coal rush', Aberdare South Colliery and Abernethy village" by Neville Robinson (NLA Catalogue Ref)
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