Geologically, Muswellbrook is situated in the northern parts of theSydney basin, bordering theNew England region.[4]
The area is predominantly known for coal mining and horse breeding, but has also developed a reputation for gourmet food and wine production. As of the 2021 census Muswellbrook has a population of 12,272.[5] Located to the south of the Muswellbrook township are two coal fuelled power stations,Liddell andBayswater. They were commissioned in 1973 and mid 1980s respectively and employ approximately 500 people from the area.
Before European settlement of the region theWonnarua andGamilaroi peoples occupied the land.[6] The first European to explore the area was Chief Constable John Howe in 1819, with the first white settlement occurring in the 1820s. The township of Muswellbrook wasgazetted on 23 October 1833.[7] To the south, "Forbestown" was established by the sons of Francis Forbes in 1842; the name was changed in 1848 to "South Muswellbrook" to prevent confusion with the town ofForbes.[8]
"Mussel Creek" (now called "Muscle Creek") was first named by a party of surveyors who foundmussels in the small stream while camping along its banks in the early 19th century. The present spelling of Muswellbrook has a disputed etymology. Historians largely subscribe to one of two theories:
that the name derives from theMuswell Hill area of London (England), due to the influence of SirFrancis Forbes whose wife, Amelia, was born and schooled in that town; or
that the name is a gradual corruption of the original gazetted name "Musclebrook", eventually adopted as the official spelling due to common use.[17]
Muswellbrook railway station is served by local (Newcastle to Scone) and long-distance rail (Sydney to Armidale and Moree) services.[22] Interstate coaches and local bus services also call at the station.
Muswellbrook lies at the junction of theMain Northern railway line and theMerriwa line, part of a cross country rail line toGulgong.[23] As such, it formed an important junction, as well as serving the numerous coal mining sidings found within a short distance from the main station building.[24]
TheSteely Dan song "Black Friday" from the 1975 albumKaty Lied contains the lyrics:
"When Black Friday comes,
I'll fly down to Muswellbrook,gonna strike all the big red wordsfrom my little black book.
Gonna do just what I please,gonna wear no socks and shoes,with nothing to do but feed
all the kangaroos."
SongwriterDonald Fagen explained the lyrics in an interview withPaul Cashmere of Undercover Music; "I think we had a map and put our finger down at the place that we thought would be the furthest away from New York or wherever we were at the time".[25]
Donald Horne spent his early childhood in Muswellbrook and the first volume of his autobiography,The Education of Young Donald, features an extensive description of life in the town in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Muswellbrook is also mentioned in Thomas Keneally's bookThe Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith.
Muswellbrook also features prominently in theRobert G Barrett novel, "The Tesla Legacy".
DuringWorld War II, Muswellbrook was the location ofRAAF No.5 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot (IAFD), completed in 1942 and closed on 29 August 1944. Usually consisting of 4 tanks, 31 fuel depots were built across Australia for the storage and supply of aircraft fuel for theRAAF and theUS Army Air Forces at a total cost of £900,000 (A$1,800,000).[37]
Shayne Hayne (born 1967), a rugby league football referee, grew up and spent most of his life in Muswellbrook[43]
Donald HorneAO (1921–2005), an author and journalist, was raised in Muswellbrook. Much of one of Horne's memoirs,The education of young Donald, published in 1967, was based on his educative years in Muswellbook[44]
^"Horne, Donald Richard".Muswellbrook Shire Hall of Fame. Muswellbrook Visitors Centre. 2005. Archived fromthe original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved14 June 2013.
^"Athlete Spotlight".Australian Institute of Sport. Australian Sports Commission. 2 August 2010. Archived fromthe original on 6 December 2011. Retrieved16 March 2012.
Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence.
