| Muswellbrook New South Wales | |
|---|---|
 Hope City Church | |
  Muswellbrook | |
| Coordinates | 32°15′56″S 150°53′19″E / 32.26556°S 150.88861°E |
| Population | 16,000 (2021)[1] |
| Established | 1833 |
| Postcode(s) | 2333 |
| Elevation | 220 m (722 ft) |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Muswellbrook Shire |
| State electorate(s) | Upper Hunter |
| Federal division(s) | Hunter |
Muswellbrook (/ˈmʌsəlbrʊk/ MUSS-əl-bruuk[2]) is a town in the Upper Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia,[3] about 243 km (151 mi) north of Sydney and 127 km (79 mi) north-west of Newcastle.
Geologically, Muswellbrook is situated in the northern parts of the Sydney basin, bordering the New England region.[4]
The area is predominantly known for coal mining and horse breeding, but has also developed a reputation for gourmet food and wine production. As of the 2021 census Muswellbrook has a population of 12,272.[5] Located to the south of the Muswellbrook township are two coal fuelled power stations, Liddell and Bayswater. They were commissioned in 1973 and mid 1980s respectively and employ approximately 500 people from the area.
Before European settlement of the region the Wonnarua and Gamilaroi peoples occupied the land.[6] The first European to explore the area was Chief Constable John Howe in 1819, with the first white settlement occurring in the 1820s. The township of Muswellbrook was gazetted on 23 October 1833.[7] To the south, "Forbestown" was established by the sons of Francis Forbes in 1842; the name was changed in 1848 to "South Muswellbrook" to prevent confusion with the town of Forbes.[8]
Muswellbrook has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
"Mussel Creek" (now called "Muscle Creek") was first named by a party of surveyors who found mussels in the small stream while camping along its banks in the early 19th century. The present spelling of Muswellbrook has a disputed etymology. Historians largely subscribe to one of two theories:
According to the 2021 census of Population, there were 12,272 people in Muswellbrook.[18]
The New England Highway currently passes through the town. A route was selected for a bypass in 2006 but the Australian Government suspended the project in August 2008.[19] Denman Road provides a connection to the Golden Highway.
The Muswellbrook railway station, is serviced by local (Newcastle to Scone) and long-distance rail (Sydney to Armidale and Moree) services.[20] Interstate coaches and local bus services also call at the station.
Muswellbrook lies at the junction of the Main Northern railway line and the Merriwa line, part of a cross country rail line to Gulgong.[21] As such, it formed an important junction, as well as serving the numerous coal mining sidings found within a short distance from the main station building.[22]
The Steely Dan song "Black Friday" from the 1975 album Katy Lied contains the lyrics:
"When Black Friday comes,
I'll fly down to Muswellbrook, gonna strike all the big red words from my little black book.
Gonna do just what I please, gonna wear no socks and shoes, with nothing to do but feed
all the kangaroos."
Songwriter Donald Fagen explained the lyrics in an interview with Paul Cashmere of Undercover Music; "I think we had a map and put our finger down at the place that we thought would be the furthest away from New York or wherever we were at the time".[23]
Donald Horne spent his early childhood in Muswellbrook and the first volume of his autobiography, The Education of Young Donald, features an extensive description of life in the town in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Muswellbrook is also mentioned in Thomas Keneally's book The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith.
Muswellbrook also features prominently in the Robert G Barrett novel, "The Tesla Legacy".
During World War II, Muswellbrook was the location of RAAF No.5 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot (IAFD), completed in 1942 and closed on 29 August 1944. Usually consisting of 4 tanks, 31 fuel depots were built across Australia for the storage and supply of aircraft fuel for the RAAF and the US Army Air Forces at a total cost of £900,000 (A$1,800,000).[35]
