Hunter Region
The Hunter Region, also commonly known as the Hunter Valley, Newcastle Region, or simply Hunter, spans the region in northern New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately to north of Sydney. It contains the Hunter River (New Sout ...
of
New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
.
History
The
traditional owners
Native title is the set of rights, recognised by Australian law, held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups or individuals to land that derive from their maintenance of their traditional laws and customs. These Aboriginal title rig ...
and custodians of the Maitland area are the Wonnarua people. The Greta area was first colonised by Europeans around Anvil Creek in the 1830s.
When the town was surveyed in 1842 it was given the name Greta, possibly after a small river in
Cumberland
Cumberland ( ) is an area of North West England which was historically a county. The county was bordered by Northumberland to the north-east, County Durham to the east, Westmorland to the south-east, Lancashire to the south, and the Scottish ...
, England. Coal mining was established in the area in 1862 with the development of a railway station.
In 1864,
kerosene shale
Torbanite, also known historically as boghead coal or kerosene shale, is a variety of fine-grained black oil shale. It usually occurs as Lens (geology), lenticular masses, often associated with deposits of Permian coals.
Torbanite is classified ...
was discovered. By the 1870s, Greta had four hotels, four churches, a school and schools of arts. Geologist
Edgeworth David
Sir Tannatt William Edgeworth David (28 January 1858 – 28 August 1934) was a Welsh Australian geologist, Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, Antarctic explorer, and military veteran. He was knighted for his role in World War 1.
A hou ...
discovered the Greta Coal Seam in 1886. By 1907, ten collieries were in operation.
At the 2016 census, the town had a population of 2,830. Greta's population increased to 3,349 at the 2021 census.
In June 2023, a
roundabout
A roundabout, a rotary and a traffic circle are types of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island, and priority is typically given to traffic already in the junct ...
on Wine Country Drive in Greta was the site of a bus crash that killed 10 people.
Greta Army Camp
The
Greta Army Camp
Greta Army Camp was an Australian Army camp built in 1939 near Greta, New South Wales, Australia. It was used for training soldiers of the Second Australian Imperial Force (2AIF) during World War II. After World War II, the camp was converted in ...
, located on the town's outskirts, was opened in 1939 as a training ground for
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
post-war immigration to Australia
Post-war immigration to Australia deals with migration to Australia in the decades immediately following World War II, and in particular refers to the predominantly European wave of immigration which occurred between 1945 and the end of the Whi ...
. Over 100,000 new migrants seeking a new life in Australia passed through Greta Camp throughout its 11-years in operation.
Transport
Greta is located on the New England Highway, approximately north of
Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
NSW TrainLink
NSW TrainLink is a regional train and coach operator in Australia, providing services throughout New South Wales and into Australian Capital Territory, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria (state), Victoria, Queensland and South Australia ...
Greta railway station
Greta railway station is a heritage-listed railway station located on the Main Northern line in New South Wales, Australia. It serves the town of Greta, opening on 24 March 1862.Hunter Valley Buses operates three bus routes through the village of Greta:
* 179: Stockland Greenhills to North Rothbury via East Maitland, Maitland, Rutherford, Lochinvar, Branxton
* 180: Stockland Greenhills to Singleton Heights via East Maitland, Maitland, Rutherford, Lochinvar, Branxton and Singleton
* 180X: Maitland station to Singleton station via Lochinvar and Branxton
