Singleton - town in New South Wales, Australia

Singleton is a city of 24,577 (2021) in the Hunter region of New South Wales. It is 77 km northwest of Newcastle.

Understand

Before European settlement, the Wonnarua Koori people lived in the Singleton region. The fledgling colony of NSW discovered the area around 1820 and it was originally named St Patricks Plains. Major industries include coal mining, power generation, dairy farming, and viticulture. See the Singleton Information Centre (dead link: January 2023).

Get in

By car

Singleton is a 45-minute drive from Newcastle on the New England Highway and Hunter Expressway. Singleton is almost exactly 200 km north of Sydney by road via the Pacific Motorway, Hunter Expressway and New England Highway. Brisbane is about under 900 km to the north via the New England Highway.

The Putty Road, a picturesque route through Wollemi National Park, connects Singleton to Sydney's western suburbs.

A little further off the beaten track is the Wollombi Road which follows sections of the original Great North Road into the region, now also known as the Convict Trail (dead link: February 2023), this links to Sydney and the Central Coast via areas such as Peats Ridge, St Albans and Wiseman's Ferry. Parts of the route have a compressed gravel surface, passable (with care) by a normal 2WD vehicle.

A new bypass has been proposed (dead link: February 2023) that will loop around Singleton. The two-lane freeway will have various exits that enter various different parts of Singleton. Construction is set to begin in 2023 and open in 2026.

By train

NSW Trainlink provides both Intercity and Regional services that stop at Singleton on the Hunter line. When catching trains from Newcastle, be sure to board a Hunter line train bound for Scone (those headed for Dungog divert at Maitland and will not pass through Singleton). These trains run at regular intervals throughout the day, but are infrequent, so check the timetables.

See

• Singleton sundial. Reputed as the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of the world's largest.
• Infantry Museum, +61 2 6570 3202. W-Su 9AM-4PM. The collection includes an extensive range of small arms.
• Singleton Historical Society & Museum, Burdekin Park (Burke St & Elizabeth St), -32.56343°, 151.17528°, +61 02 6571 1895. 10:00-13:00 Tuesday and 12:00-16:00 Weekends/Holidays. This museum is based in the old Council Chambers (formerly lock-up cells) built in 1874. A wide variety of interesting artefacts are on display including Singleton's first ambulance cart, a convict bell embedded in a tree trunk, handicrafts, gramophones and furniture. The Rural Museum (only open during shows and special occasions) at Singleton Showground has a huge range of heavy rural farm machinery dating back to the 20th century. 5AUD 2021-02-21

Do

• Heritage Walk, 39 George St, +61 2 6571 5888. A brochure is available from the Visitor Information Centre (or 1800 449 888).
• Each year, Singleton plays host to the Festival of Wine and Roses.
• See the Singleton Art Prize, held over several days in early July each year.
• Majestic Cinemas, 21 Ryan Ave, +61 2 6571 5252.

Eat

• Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant, 218 John St, +61 2 6572 2959. A must for serious curry lovers. Specialties of this restaurant include the naan bread and the daal. The spiciness of many dishes can be altered to cater for specific tastes (on a scale from "mild" to the intense "H4"!).
• Henri's Brasserie, 85 John St, +61 2 6571 3566. 2018-04-07

Drink

• Imperial Hotel, 183 John St (corner of John St and Elizabeth St), +61 2 6572 1920. This brick rendered hotel dates from 1881. This pub is popular with the locals, and it has a restaurant and parking. Known by locals as "The Impy".

Sleep

• Country Motor Inn, Corner George St & Hunter Str, +61 2 65722388. 3-star motel in the middle of Singleton, right on the highway. Budget room: $68 single, $78 double. Standard room: $89 single, $99 double
• Quality Inn Charbonnier Hallmark, 44 Maitland Rd, +61 2 65722333. 4-star accommodation. Rooms for 2 from $145/night

Cope

• Singleton's local newspaper is the Singleton Argus.

Stay safe

Avoid the flying foxes, which may harbour the harmful lyssavirus.

Go next

• The village of Broke is a short drive from Singleton, and is located within one of the Hunter Valley's main grape-growing areas.
• Visit Lake St Clair (also known as Glennies Creek Dam), a 1540 ha dam completed in 1983. There are various recreational facilities, including camping sites, picnic-barbecue areas and a boat ramp.