Edgeworth
EDGEWORTH
Edgeworth had its real beginning in the
early 1890's, Young Wallsend Colliery began
producing in that year.
Originally known as Cocked Hat Creek (1870's and early 1880's). By 1885 it was referred
to as Young Wallsend, a name it retained until December 1960 when it adopted its present
name. This is in honour of the geologist William Tannatt Edgeworth David who, arriving
in NSW in 1882, pioneered geological surveying of the coal seams in the Hunter Valley.
Edgeworth had its real beginning in the early 1890's, Young Wallsend Colliery began
producing in that year. Until the post war years the town consisted of a line of scattered
homes along 2 miles of dusty road. In earlier times large tracts of land were subdivided
and bought up by eager buyers, homes were built, but prosperity and confidence faded
when the mine worked only intermittently and finally closed. Street names such as
Fletcher (the Miner's Union leader), Croudace and Turnbull (mine managers) expressed
a strong connection with the coal industry. Residents of Argenton, a small town near
the south-western shores of Lake Macquarie between Sydney and Newcastle, are probably
unaware that they owe its settlement to one of Australia’s most vicious prison superintendents,
Lieutenant-Colonel James Morisset.
This brutal man - who went on to command Norfolk Island prisoners after being in charge
of convicts at Newcastle between 1818 and 1823 - took a break where nearby Morisset
now stands when trekking from Newcastle to Sydney - the first man on record to make
this overland journey. After his ‘discovery’ Morisset became an important logging and
sawmilling centre. Despite the presence of this man in the history of the area, the 24
kilometre long, 3.6 kilometre wide (at its widest point) Lake Macquarie which dominates
it has long been a favourite holiday spot for Sydneysiders and Novacastrians alike and has
guaranteed the continuing prosperity of Argenton and its neighbouring suburbs.
Edgeworth might be on the western fringes of the second largest city in NSW, but, along
with most Newcastle suburbs or nearby towns, it is not far in terms of time or distance
from the action. Edgeworth is only 20 minutes from the surf, from the northern reaches
of Lake Macquarie and from the mountain forest parks. Entry to the Newcastle-Sydney
Freeway is only a dozen kilometres to the west and the drive to the Hunter Valley vineyards
is just long enough to prepare the pallet for a tasting sensation and a leisurely lunch.
An hour to the north, the aquamarine waters and blindingly white sand beaches of Port
Stephens beckon. In short, Edgeworth is an appealing option as a base for a holiday in
one of the state’s most diverse tourist regions. Originally named Cocked Hast Creek for
reasons long lost in the mists of time before adopting Young Wallsend, the town was
officially named Edgeworth in 1960 in honour of Antarctic explorer and prominent geologist
William Tannat Edgeworth David who surveyed many of the Hunter Valley coal seams