MY TOWN: MORPETH

THIS HISTORIC VILLAGE ON THE HUNTER RIVER IS AN IDEAL BASE TO SHOP, DINE AND EXPLORE THE LOCAL VINEYARDS.

Visitors to this charming town in NSW will delight in its cafe scene, boutique stores and historical sites.

WITH COBBLED PATHS, heritage buildings and a sublime dining and shopping precinct, it’s little wonder Morpeth is a favoured destination for visitors and new residents alike. Located on the Hunter River, east of Maitland (NSW’S fastest-growing regional city), the town has a population of almost 1500 and is just two hours from Sydney.

Home to the Wonnarua people, Morpeth developed as a frontier outpost and one of the state’s most significant ports from 1821, until the onset of rail. Today, it’s one of the Hunter region’s most visited places, with up to 500,000 people each year exploring or staying in the assortment of cottages, boutique hotels or historic homesteads.

Local resident Kerrie Purcell, 68, has lived in Morpeth for 18 years and owns The Villa Country House Retreat, luxury accommodation within a converted stable in the grounds of Kiora Villa House, built in 1879.

“I’ve loved every second of living in Morpeth. It’s just divine; it’s the community spirit and it’s like a sleepy English village with lovely restaurants, coffee shops and a very vibrant main street,” Kerrie says. She recommends a stroll down the lanes or the Morpeth Heritage Walk, which takes in many significant sites such as the Historic Arnott Bakehouse and the Morpeth Courthouse.

Owner of boutique clothing store Fleurs of Morpeth,

Catherine Leslie, 60, has lived in the town for 32 years and operated out of the terrace store for as long. Originally from East Maitland, Catherine moved to the village when her sons were young. “I love that we look out onto farmland and I love the community. In the mornings, I have a coffee with the locals and people are out walking dogs, having a chat … then I open doors at 10am. We have a beautiful restaurant, Boydell’s, and we go there on Saturday for afternoon drinks and then dinner,” says Catherine.

Morpeth’s proximity to the Central Coast, Newcastle and Sydney is part of the appeal. “I like that it’s very community minded and so convenient to Sydney or Nelson Bay. We have a very good business group and work hard on promoting,” Catherine adds. >

Visit: itmustbemorpeth.com.au or mymaitland.com.au/ explore/morpeth

GETTING THERE Morpeth is 173km north of Sydney via the M1, and 35km north-west of Newcastle. Maitland is serviced by NSW Trainlink.

FLYING IN? Newcastle Airport has connections to seven Australian destinations, as well as Auckland, NZ. newcastleairport.com.au

Bubbling creeks, open skies and lush countryside await visitors to Morpeth in NSW.

Kerrie Purcell OWNER, THE VILLA COUNTRY HOUSE RETREAT. “I’ve loved every second of living in Morpeth.”

MEDIAN HOUSE PRICE $592,500 MEDIAN RENTAL PRICE $410/pw BY THE NUMBERS Morpeth ranges from three-bedroom weatherboard properties requiring renovation at the mid-to-late $400k mark, through to luxury high-end riverfront apartments for $1.3 million–$1.5 million. MARKET WATCH “People relocate to Morpeth for its village atmosphere, cafe lifestyle and overall uniqueness. The town is conveniently located near the East Maitland shopping precinct and is only a short drive to the expressway, providing access to Newcastle and Sydney. We’re experiencing a ‘high demand, low supply’ market, which is pushing prices up on average six per cent annually,” says Chris Henry, managing director of River Realty.

Stunning scenery at Tocal Homestead. FACING PAGE Boydell’s Cellar Door and Restaurant offers delicious meals and top-quality local wines.