Greta, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Greta Cessnock, New South Wales
Greta's historic court house
Greta Location in New South Wales
Population	2,830 (2016 census)
• Density	486.9/km2 (1,261/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2334
Elevation	70 m (230 ft)
Area	5.1 km2 (2.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Location	183 km (114 mi) N of Sydney 53 km (33 mi) WNW of Newcastle 21 km (13 mi) N of Cessnock 20 km (12 mi) W of Maitland 27 km (17 mi) ESE of Singleton
LGA(s)	City of Cessnock City of Maitland
Region	Hunter
County	Northumberland
Parish	Branxton
State electorate(s)	Cessnock
Federal Division(s)	Hunter
Localities around Greta: Branxton, East Branxton Leconfield Luskintyre North Rothbury Greta Oswald, Harpers Hill Rothbury Allandale, Rothbury Allandale

Greta is a small town in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is known for its history, especially its role in coal mining and as a place for new migrants.

History of Greta

The land around Greta has long been home to the Wonnarua people. They are the traditional owners and caretakers of this area. European settlers first arrived near Anvil Creek in the 1830s.

The town of Greta was officially planned in 1842. It might have been named after a river in England. Coal mining began here in 1862, helped by the new railway station. In 1864, a special type of rock called kerosene shale was found. By the 1870s, Greta was growing. It had hotels, churches, a school, and places for learning.

A scientist named Edgeworth David found the important Greta Coal Seam in 1886. By 1907, ten coal mines were working in the area. In 2016, Greta had about 2,830 people. This number grew to 3,349 by 2021.

In June 2023, there was a serious bus crash on Wine Country Drive. Ten people sadly died in this accident.

Greta Army Camp

The Greta Army Camp is just outside the town. It opened in 1939 to train soldiers for World War II. After the war, in 1949, it became a big center for new migrants coming to Australia.

This camp was one of Australia's largest migrant reception and training centers. It operated from June 1949 to January 1960. During these 11 years, over 100,000 new migrants passed through Greta Camp. They were all looking for a new life in Australia.

Getting Around Greta

Greta is located on the New England Highway. This highway is about 183 kilometers (114 miles) north of Sydney. You can also reach Sydney using the Hunter Expressway.

The NSW TrainLink's Hunter Line goes through Greta railway station. This station first opened in 1869.

Hunter Valley Buses also runs three bus routes through Greta:

• Route 179: Travels from Stockland Greenhills to North Rothbury. It passes through East Maitland, Maitland, Rutherford, Lochinvar, and Branxton.
• Route 180: Goes from Stockland Greenhills to Singleton Heights. It stops in East Maitland, Maitland, Rutherford, Lochinvar, Branxton, and Singleton.
• Route 180X: Connects Maitland station to Singleton station. It travels via Lochinvar and Branxton.

Special Places in Greta

Greta has a special heritage listing for its Greta railway station. This means it is an important historical site.

Images for kids

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  Greta war memorial cenotaph

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  Greta rest area shelter

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  The welcoming sign to Greta's Hunter River catchment area

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  A child's litter prevention sign. These signs were commissioned by Greta Tidy Towns to help children understand the importance of maintaining a tidy town