Cessnock, town, New South Wales, south-eastern Australia. It is in the district of Cessnock in the lower Hunter Valley, south of the main New England highway to Newcastle. Cessnock is surrounded by some of Australia's finest vineyards. The local soil is derived from ancient volcanic activity that, coupled with a warm climate, has made the Hunter Valley one of Australia's most productive and best-quality viticulture centres. Hunter Valley wineries include international companies such as Lindemans and the Rothbury Estate, as well as many smaller enterprises. Cessnock acts as a market town for the wine industry, as well as for the fruit and dairy farms found in the surrounding area. Tourism is a growth industry, and Cessnock also has a significant industrial sector, although the industry for which it was once best known, coal mining, has now almost ceased. The area was first settled by Europeans in 1823, who eventually displaced the local Darkinjang Aborigines, who declined in numbers through persecution and smallpox. Coal was first mined in the 1890s and became the area's staple industry for the next half-century. Cessnock has now merged with the neighbouring town of Kearsley to form the city of Greater Cessnock. Population (1991) 50,625.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Cessnock Information info
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