Editing Hunter Region

{{Other uses|Hunter (disambiguation){{!}}Hunter}}
{{Redirect|Hunter Valley|the wine region within the valley|Hunter Valley wine}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                = region
| name                = Hunter Region
| state               = nsw
| image               = Hunter panorama-1b-web-l.jpg
| caption             = View across the Hunter Valley
| image2              = Newcastle - Bulk carrier passing Nobbys.jpg
| caption2            = The mouth of the [[Hunter River (New South Wales)|Hunter River]] at {{NSWcity|Newcastle}}
| coordinates         = {{Coord|32|33|36|S|151|10|15|E|display=inline,title}}
| relief              = yes
| pushpin_map_caption = The Hunter Region
| pop                 = 682,465
| pop_year            = 2021
| pop_footnotes       = <ref name="auto">{{Cite web |date=2021-03-30 |title=Regional population, 2019–20 financial year |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/latest-release |url-status=live |access-date=2021-12-18 |website=Australian Bureau of Statistics |language=en |archive-date=30 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330092152/https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/latest-release }}</ref>{{NoteTag|Population figure is the combined population of all LGAs in the region.}}
| density             =
| density_footnotes   =
| area                = 22694.2
| area_footnotes      =
| timezone            = [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]]
| utc                 = +10
| timezone-dst        = [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]]
| utc-dst             = +11
| dist1               = 162
| dir1                = N
| location1           = Sydney
| lga                 = {{plainlist|
* '''Greater Newcastle LGAs'''
* [[City of Newcastle]]
* [[City of Lake Macquarie]]
* [[City of Maitland]]
* [[City of Cessnock]]
* [[Port Stephens Council]]
}}
| lga2                = {{plainlist|
* '''Other Hunter LGAs'''
* [[Singleton Council]]
* [[Dungog Shire]]
* [[Muswellbrook Shire]]
* [[Upper Hunter Shire]]
* [[MidCoast Council|Mid-Coast Council]]
}}
| stategov            = {{bulleted list|
| [[Electoral district of Cessnock|Cessnock]]
| [[Electoral district of Charlestown|Charlestown]]
| [[Electoral district of Lake Macquarie|Lake Macquarie]]
| [[Electoral district of Maitland|Maitland]] 
| [[Electoral district of Newcastle|Newcastle]]
| [[Electoral district of Port Stephens|Port Stephens]]
| [[Electoral district of Swansea|Swansea]]
| [[Electoral district of Upper Hunter|Upper Hunter]]
| [[Electoral district of Wallsend|Wallsend]]
}}
| fedgov              = {{bulleted list|
| [[Division of Hunter|Hunter]]
| [[Division of Lyne|Lyne]]
| [[Division of Newcastle|Newcastle]]
| [[Division of Paterson|Paterson]]
| [[Division of Shortland|Shortland]]            
}}
| near-n              = [[New England (Australia)|New England]]
| near-ne             = [[Mid North Coast]]
| near-e              = ''[[Tasman Sea]]''
| near-se             = ''[[Tasman Sea]]''
| near-s              = [[Central Coast (New South Wales)|Central Coast]]
| near-sw             = [[Sydney|Greater Sydney]]
| near-w              = [[Central West (New South Wales)|Central West]]
| near-nw             = [[North West Slopes (New South Wales)|North West Slopes]]
}}

The '''Hunter Region''', also commonly known as the '''Hunter Valley''', '''Newcastle Region''', or simply '''Hunter''', spans the region in northern [[New South Wales]], Australia, extending from approximately {{convert|162|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} to {{convert|310|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of [[Sydney]]. It contains the [[Hunter River (New South Wales)|Hunter River]] and its tributaries with highland areas to the north and south.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_regions.asp |title=Department of Local Government – Regions |publisher=NSW Department of Local Government |access-date=5 August 2007 |archive-date=9 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809021152/http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_regions.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> Situated at the northern end of the [[Sydney Basin]] bioregion, the Hunter Valley is one of the largest river valleys on the NSW coast, and is most commonly known for its wineries and coal industry.

Most of the population of the Hunter Region lives within {{Convert|25|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} of the coast, with 55% of the entire population living in the cities of [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] and [[City of Lake Macquarie|Lake Macquarie]]. There are numerous other towns and villages scattered across the region in the eleven [[Local government in Australia|local government areas]] (LGAs) that make up the region. At the {{CensusAU|2021}} the combined population of the region was 682,465, and is expected to reach over 1,000,000 people by 2031.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-10/hunter2c-central-coast-population-to-top-million-mark-within-d/4947266 |title=Hunter, Central Coast population to top million mark within decades |newspaper=ABC News |date=9 September 2013 |access-date=3 May 2022 |archive-date=3 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503073618/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-10/hunter2c-central-coast-population-to-top-million-mark-within-d/4947266 |url-status=live }}</ref> Under Australia's wine [[appellation]] system, the Hunter Valley wine zone [[Australian Geographical Indication]] (GI) covers the entire catchment of the [[Hunter River (New South Wales)|Hunter River]] and its tributaries. Within that, the Hunter region is almost as large, and includes most of the wine-producing areas, excluding the metropolitan area of Newcastle and nearby coastal areas, some national parks, and any land that was in the Mudgee Shire (at the western heights of the catchment).

The [[Hunter wine region]] is one of [[Australia (wine)|Australia]]'s best known [[List of wine-producing regions#Australia|wine regions]], playing a pivotal role in the [[Australian wine#History|history of Australian wine]] as one of the first wine regions planted in the early 19th century. The success of the Hunter Valley wine industry has been dominated by its proximity to [[Sydney]] with its settlement and plantings in the 19th century fuelled by the trade network that linked the Hunter Valley to Sydney. The steady demand of consumers from Sydney continues to drive much of the Hunter Valley wine industry, including a factor in the economy by the tourism industry.<ref name="Wine Atlas">Johnson, Hugh, and Jancis Robinson. The World Atlas of Wine. London: Mitchell Beazley, 2005. Print.</ref> While the Hunter Valley has been supplanted by the massive [[Riverina#Wine|Riverina wine region]] as the largest producer of New South Wales wine, it still accounts for around 3% of Australia's total wine production and is one of the country's most recognisable regions.<ref name="Clarke and Rand, 2001">Clarke, Oz, and Margaret Rand. ''Oz Clarke's Encyclopedia of Grapes''. New York: Harcourt, 2001. Print.</ref>

== History ==
For over 30,000 years [[Aboriginal Australian]]s inhabited the land that is now known as the Hunter Valley wine region. Along with the [[Worimi people|Worimi]] to the north and the [[Awabakal people|Awabakal]] to the south, the [[Wonnarua]] people developed a trading route connecting the Coquun (Hunter) Valley to the harbour now known as [[Port Jackson|Sydney harbour]].<ref name="Hunter Valley Wine Country">"Hunter Valley Wine Country." ''[http://www.winecountry.com.au Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101033506/http://www.winecountry.com.au/ |date=1 January 2011 }}'' 8 May 2010</ref>
[[File:Captain John Shortland.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.71|Lieutenant [[John Shortland]] was the first European to survey the [[Hunter River (New South Wales)|Hunter River]] in 1797.]]
The wine-making history of Hunter Valley begins with the European settlement of the [[Sydney]] and the [[New South Wales]] region of Australia in the late 18th century as a penal colony of the British Empire. The Hunter River itself was discovered, by accident, in 1797 by British Lieutenant [[John Shortland]] as he searched for escaped convicts. The region soon became a valuable source for timber and coal that fuelled the steamship trade coming out of Sydney.<ref name="Hunter Valley Wine Country"/>

Land prospector John Howe cut a path through the Australian wilderness from Sydney up to the overland area in what is now known as the (Lower) Hunter Valley proper in 1820. Today, the modern [[Putty Road]] between the cities of [[Windsor, New South Wales|Windsor]] and [[Singleton, New South Wales|Singleton]] follows Howe's exact path and is a major thoroughfare for wine tourists coming into the Hunter Valley from Sydney.<ref name="Hunter Valley Wine Country"/> As previous plantings in the coastal areas around Sydney succumbed to the humidity and wetness, and plantings to the west were limited by spring frost damage, northern reaches leading to the Hunter became, almost by default, the wine region of the new colony.<ref name="Halliday, 2001">Halliday, James. "''[http://www.winepros.com.au/jsp/cda/region_in_focus/hunter_valley/articles/id4216.jsp Regional Spotlight – Hunter Valley.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229142450/http://www.winepros.com.au/jsp/cda/region_in_focus/hunter_valley/articles/id4216.jsp |date=29 February 2012 }}''" Wine Pros. 29 October 2001. Web. 25 May 2010.</ref>

The expansive growth of the Hunter Valley wine industry in the mid to late [[19th century]] arose from its monopoly position in the lucrative Sydney market. The provincial government of New South Wales had enacted regulations that placed prohibitive duties on wines from other areas such as Victoria and South Australia. Following [[World War I]], many returning Australian veterans were given land grants in the Hunter Valley. This temporarily produced an up-tick in plantings but the global [[Great Depression]] as well as a series of devastating hail storms between 1929 and 1930 caused many growers to abandon their vineyards.<ref name="Wine Diva">"''[http://www.winediva.com.au/regions/hunter-valley.asp Hunter Valley – Australian Wine Regions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221030250/http://www.winediva.com.au/regions/hunter-valley.asp |date=21 February 2011 }}"'' Wine Diva Australia." Wine Diva. 1 June 2010</ref>
{{clear left}}

== Geography ==

===Geology===
[[File:Karte Sydneybecken.png|thumb|upright|The Sydney Basin showing the Great Dividing Range, the Hunter Valley and the Barrington Tops to the north of the Hunter]]

The Hunter Region is considered a transitional area between the [[Paleozoic]] rock foundation of the [[New England Fold Belt]] located to the south and the [[Early Permian]] and [[Middle Triassic]] period rock formations of the [[Sydney Basin]] to the south. Between these two geological areas is the Hunter-[[Mooki River|Mooki]] Thrust fault.<ref name="Hunter Valley Research Foundation">''"[http://www.hvrf.com.au/pages/hrf/hunter_region_yearbook.php Hunter Valley Research Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018070454/http://www.hvrf.com.au/pages/hrf/hunter_region_yearbook.php |date=18 October 2009 }}"'' Web. 1 June 2010.</ref> At one time this fault was very geologically active and gave rise to the Brokenback range that feature prominently in the Hunter region. Strips of [[basalt]] found throughout the region also bear witness to the volcanic activity that has occurred in the history of this fault.<ref name="Wine Atlas"/>

The Permian rocks in the central and southeastern expanse of the Lower Hunter Valley were formed when the area was underneath a shallow marine [[estuary]]. The remnants of this period has left an extensive network of coal seams that fuelled the early population boom of the Hunter Valley in the 19th century as well a high degree of [[salinity]] in the water table of much of the area. The further north and west, towards the Brokenback Range and the Upper Hunter, the more [[Triassic]] sandstone that can be found leading eventually to the [[carboniferous]] rocks that form the northern boundary of the Hunter with the New England Fold Belt and the foothills of the [[Barrington Tops]].<ref name="Hunter Valley Research Foundation"/>

Overall, the Hunter Valley has more soils (mostly hard, acidic patches of poorly draining heavy clay) that are unsuitable for viticulture than they have areas that are ideal for growing grapes. The soils of the Lower Hunter vary widely from sandy [[alluvial]] flats (often planted to Semillon), to deep friable [[loam]] (often planted with Shiraz) and friable red [[duplex soils]]. In the Upper Hunter, the rivers and creeks of the region contribute to the areas black, silty loam soils that are often overlaid on top of [[alkaline]] clay loam. Among the hills of the Brokenback range are strips of volcanic basalt that are prized by growers for their tendencies to restrict vigor and concentrate mineral flavours in the grapes.<ref name="Wine Atlas"/> The [[Warkworth Sands Woodland of the Hunter Valley]] are situated on these soils.<ref name="listing">{{Cite web|title=Warkworth Sands woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion – endangered ecological community listing: final determination {{!}} NSW Environment, Energy and Science|url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/WarkworthSandsWoodlandSydneyEndComListing.htm|access-date=2021-05-17|website=www.environment.nsw.gov.au|date=2011-02-28|author=NSW Scientific Committee|archive-date=18 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018021604/https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/WarkworthSandsWoodlandSydneyEndComListing.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Rivers ===
The main river in the region is the Hunter River, after which the region is named. Other rivers in the region include the [[Allyn River|Allyn]], [[Avon River (Mid-Coast Council)|Avon]], [[Barrington River (New South Wales)|Barrington]], [[Bow River (New South Wales)|Bow]], [[Bowman River|Bowman]], [[Chichester River|Chichester]], [[Gloucester River|Gloucester]], [[Goulburn River (New South Wales)|Goulburn]], [[Isis River (New South Wales)|Isis]], [[Karuah River|Karuah]], [[Krui River|Krui]], [[Mammy Johnsons River|Mammy Johnsons]], [[Merriwa River|Merriwa]], [[Munmurra River|Munmurra]], [[Pages River|Pages]], [[Paterson River|Paterson]], [[Wangat River|Wangat]] and [[Williams River (New South Wales)|Williams]] rivers.

Despite being the area's namesake, the Hunter River itself is not the dominant feature of the region—falling behind the Brokenback Range for that distinction. The greater river system of the Hunter, which includes the Goulburn and important tributaries such as Giants Creek, do provide needed [[irrigation (wine)|irrigation]] for areas such as the Upper Hunter than can be prone to drought condition. The origins of the river begin the [[Liverpool Range]] of the volcanic [[Barrington Tops]] and flows south and then east down to the [[Pacific Ocean]] at the seaport city of [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]].<ref name="Hunter Valley Research Foundation"/>

=== Water supply ===
Fresh water supply for the region is provided from a number of sources, which are managed by the Hunter Water and State Water Corporations.<ref name=hwcleaflet>{{cite web |url=http://www.hunterwater.com.au/files/Tillegra_Dam_Proposal_-_General_Information_Leaflet.pdf |title=Tillegra Dam Proposal |publisher=Hunter Water Corporation |access-date=3 October 2010 |archive-date=18 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218144325/http://www.hunterwater.com.au/files/Tillegra_Dam_Proposal_-_General_Information_Leaflet.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> State Water Corporation's dams supply water for irrigation, industrial use at coal mines and the region's [[coal-fired power station]]s, and town water to upper Hunter Region towns. Hunter Water Corporation's dams supply the large urban population of more than 500,000 living near the coast and centred on the cities of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

State Water Corporation's [[Glenbawn Dam|Glenbawn]], the largest dam in the region, [[Chichester Dam|Chichester]] and [[Lostock Dam|Lostock]] are dams on the Hunter, Chichester and Paterson rivers respectively. Hunter Water Corporation's [[Grahamstown Dam]], the largest dam supplying the urban areas of the lower Hunter Region, is supplied with water diverted from the Williams River just north of the Seaham Weir, through a large pump station at Balickera. The dam itself has only a small natural catchment and relies mainly on the pumped water from the Williams River.<ref name=hwcleaflet/> A [[Tillegra Dam proposal|proposal to build Tillegra Dam]] on the Williams River existed since the 1950s, but was scrapped in 2010.<ref name=hwcleaflet/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/463914/retrofitting-an-alternative-to-tillegra/ |title='Retrofitting' an alternative to Tillegra |first=Jacqui |last=Jones |work=[[The Newcastle Herald]] |date=29 November 2010 |access-date=29 November 2010 |archive-date=20 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820195155/http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/retrofitting-an-alternative-to-tillegra/2010803.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition to the dams, fresh water for the lower Hunter Region is supplied from the [[Tomago, New South Wales|Tomago Sandbeds]], via a series of bores.

=== Towns and cities ===
The Hunter Region includes four cities. In order of population these are [[City of Lake Macquarie|Lake Macquarie]], [[City of Newcastle|Newcastle]], [[City of Maitland|Maitland]] and [[City of Cessnock|Cessnock]]. Other major centres of the Hunter Region are [[Dungog]], [[Gloucester, New South Wales|Gloucester]], [[Kurri Kurri]], [[Muswellbrook]], [[Raymond Terrace]], [[Scone, New South Wales|Scone]] and [[Singleton, New South Wales|Singleton]].

==Climate==
[[File:Drought conditions in the Upper Hunter near Singleton.jpg|thumb|Parts of the Upper Hunter Valley can be very dry and experience drought conditions during the growing season.]]

The climate of Hunter Valley is [[humid subtropical]], similar to the [[Greater Western Sydney]] region, with distinctive [[maritime (wine)|maritime]] influences from the [[Pacific Ocean]].<ref name="MacNeil">MacNeil, Karen. The Wine Bible. New York: Workman Pub., 2001. Print.</ref> With its northerly latitude and close oceanic influences, the Hunter Valley is one of Australia's hottest and wettest wine regions. Flanked by mountains to the west and north the Hunter Valley acts as a funnel, pulling cool [[sea breeze|ocean breezes]] into the area.<ref name="Wine Atlas"/> With those cooling breezes also comes heavy rainfall and periodic cyclonic storms in the summer and autumn months.

In the summer, the average daily temperature regularly exceeds {{Convert|21.1|°C|°F|1|abbr=on}} while during the winter the temperature averages around {{Convert|14|°C|°F|1|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/change/averagemaps.cgi?map=tmean&season=0608 Australian climate variability & change – Average maps] bom.gov.au {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407062955/http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/change/averagemaps.cgi?map=tmean&season=0608 |date=7 April 2022 }}</ref> Temperatures during January average between {{Convert|22.7|-|23.3|°C|°F|1|abbr=on}}, with the temperature becoming progressively hotter the further inland you move away from the cooling influence of the sea. During the spring the Hunter Valley receives an average of 7.3–7.5 hours of sunshine a day.<ref name="Halliday, 2001" />

Mid-latitude westerly winds bring high pressure weather front that alternate with cold fronts on the winter. This leads to generally drier conditions in the winter months of July and August. In the summer, southeasterly winds bring weather fronts harbouring extensive amounts of moisture.<ref name="Hunter Valley Research Foundation"/> Between October and April more than two thirds of the region's annual rainfall will fall with January and February being the wettest months.<ref name="Halliday, 2001"/> Between the months of October–April, the 3pm average for relative humidity in the Lower Hunter is 49%, while it is 43% in the Upper Hunter.<ref name="Hunter Valley Wine Country"/>
{{Weather box
|location = [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] (coast)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high C = 42.5
|Feb record high C = 40.9
|Mar record high C = 39.0
|Apr record high C = 36.8
|May record high C = 28.5
|Jun record high C = 26.1
|Jul record high C = 26.3
|Aug record high C = 29.9
|Sep record high C = 34.4
|Oct record high C = 36.7
|Nov record high C = 41.0
|Dec record high C = 42.0
|year record high C = 42.5
|Jan high C = 25.6
|Feb high C = 25.4
|Mar high C = 24.7
|Apr high C = 22.8
|May high C = 20.0
|Jun high C = 17.5
|Jul high C = 16.7
|Aug high C = 18.1
|Sep high C = 20.2
|Oct high C = 22.2
|Nov high C = 23.6
|Dec high C = 24.9
|year high C = 21.8
|Jan low C = 19.2
|Feb low C = 19.4
|Mar low C = 18.3
|Apr low C = 15.3
|May low C = 12.0
|Jun low C = 9.7
|Jul low C = 8.5
|Aug low C = 9.3
|Sep low C = 11.5
|Oct low C = 14.1
|Nov low C = 16.2
|Dec low C = 18.0
|year low C = 14.3
|Jan record low C = 12.0
|Feb record low C = 10.3
|Mar record low C = 11.1
|Apr record low C = 7.4
|May record low C = 4.7
|Jun record low C = 3.0
|Jul record low C = 1.8
|Aug record low C = 3.3
|Sep record low C = 5.0
|Oct record low C = 6.5
|Nov record low C = 7.2
|Dec record low C = 11.0
|year record low C = 1.8
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 90.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 107.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 119.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 116.9
|May precipitation mm = 115.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 117.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 93.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 73.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 72.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 72.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 71.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 80.9
|year precipitation mm = 1129.9
|Jan precipitation days = 11.1
|Feb precipitation days = 11.2
|Mar precipitation days = 12.4
|Apr precipitation days = 12.3
|May precipitation days = 12.6
|Jun precipitation days = 12.3
|Jul precipitation days = 11.2
|Aug precipitation days = 10.5
|Sep precipitation days = 10.0
|Oct precipitation days = 10.9
|Nov precipitation days = 10.8	
|Dec precipitation days = 10.6
|year precipitation days =135.9
|Jan afthumidity = 72
|Feb afthumidity = 74
|Mar afthumidity = 72
|Apr afthumidity = 66
|May afthumidity = 64
|Jun afthumidity = 63
|Jul afthumidity = 59
|Aug afthumidity = 56
|Sep afthumidity = 59
|Oct afthumidity = 64
|Nov afthumidity = 68
|Dec afthumidity = 71
|year humidity = 66	
|source 1 = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]<ref>{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_061055|site_name=Newcastle Nobbys Signal Station AWS|access-date=13 April 2013|date=April 2013}}</ref>
|date=April 2013}}
{{Weather box
|location = Scone Airport (Upper Hunter Valley region)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high C = 43.5
|Feb record high C = 43.5
|Mar record high C = 41.0
|Apr record high C = 36.0
|May record high C = 28.7	
|Jun record high C = 24.4	
|Jul record high C = 24.5	
|Aug record high C = 29.8	
|Sep record high C = 34.1	
|Oct record high C = 39.0
|Nov record high C = 43.4
|Dec record high C = 42.4	
|year record high C = 43.5
|Jan high C = 31.1
|Feb high C = 29.8
|Mar high C = 27.9
|Apr high C = 24.5
|May high C = 20.1
|Jun high C = 17.0
|Jul high C = 16.3
|Aug high C = 18.3
|Sep high C = 21.5
|Oct high C = 24.9
|Nov high C = 27.7	
|Dec high C = 30.2
|year high C = 24.1
|Jan low C = 16.9
|Feb low C = 16.9
|Mar low C = 14.6
|Apr low C = 11.3	
|May low C = 8.1	
|Jun low C = 6.0	
|Jul low C = 4.7
|Aug low C = 5.5	
|Sep low C = 7.9
|Oct low C = 10.8
|Nov low C = 13.3	
|Dec low C = 15.7
|year low C = 11.0	
|Jan record low C = 8.2	
|Feb record low C = 8.6	
|Mar record low C = 4.7
|Apr record low C = 1.3
|May record low C = -1.0	
|Jun record low C = -2.0		
|Jul record low C = -2.7		
|Aug record low C = -3.0	
|Sep record low C = -1.3	
|Oct record low C = 0.5 
|Nov record low C = 5.0
|Dec record low C = 6.4
|year record low C = -3.0	
|Jan precipitation mm = 82.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 77.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 52.2	
|Apr precipitation mm = 38.9	
|May precipitation mm = 46.5	
|Jun precipitation mm = 45.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 36.5	
|Aug precipitation mm = 38.1	
|Sep precipitation mm = 38.5	
|Oct precipitation mm = 57.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 62.0 
|Dec precipitation mm = 67.9	
|year precipitation mm = 643.1
|Jan precipitation days = 8.3
|Feb precipitation days = 7.8
|Mar precipitation days = 7.1
|Apr precipitation days = 6.7
|May precipitation days = 7.4
|Jun precipitation days = 9.4
|Jul precipitation days = 8.1
|Aug precipitation days = 7.6
|Sep precipitation days = 7.0
|Oct precipitation days = 8.8
|Nov precipitation days = 8.6	
|Dec precipitation days = 8.6
|year precipitation days = 95.4	
|source 1 = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_061089_All.shtml |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |title=Climate statistics for Scone SCS |access-date=4 December 2013 |archive-date=10 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610062151/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_061089_All.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
|date=December 2013
}}

== Industries ==
The main industries in the Hunter Region are [[coal mining in Australia|coal mining]], manufacturing, agriculture, [[viticulture]] and wine making, tourism, horse breeding, electricity production, dairy farming and beef cattle farming, and associated service industries. The Hunter Region is one of Australia's most famous wine-growing regions, known for both its red and white wine varieties.

=== Coal mining ===
[[File:Hunter Valley Ravensworth open-cut coal mining operations.jpg|thumb|Ravensworth open-cut coal mining operations run by [[Glencore]]]]
[[File:Hunter Valley coal operations.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Hunter Valley coal operations, including several mines and power plants]]

The most important economic activity in the valley is coal mining (through businesses such as [[Rio Tinto (corporation)|Rio Tinto]] and [[BHP]]), mostly for export. The [[Port of Newcastle]] is the world's largest export facility for coal, most of which is brought to the port by [[Hunter Valley Coal Chain#Rail infrastructure|rail]]. Coal ships are often seen off the coast of Newcastle.

=== Electricity generation ===
[[Electricity generation]] at the [[Eraring Power Station|Eraring]], [[Bayswater Power Station|Bayswater]], [[Liddell Power Station|Liddell]], [[Munmorah Power Station|Munmorah]], [[Redbank Power Station|Redbank]] and [[Vales Point Power Station|Vales Point]] coal-fired power stations is a major industry of the region.

=== Horse breeding ===
The Hunter Valley is Australia's main region for the breeding and rearing of [[Thoroughbred]] horses and most of the country's best racehorses.<ref name="Barrie">Barrie, Douglas M., The Australian Bloodhorse, Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1956</ref><ref name="Dr Collins">Thomas, Ray, Expanding coal mining in Hunter Valley threatens breeding industry and autumn racing revamp, [[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]], 15 August 2013</ref> The Upper Hunter area around [[Scone, New South Wales|Scone]] is one of the largest horse breeding areas in the world.

=== Tourism ===
Commonly known as "Wine Country",<ref>{{cite web |last=Magro |first=Rebecca |title=The Weekender: Hunter Valley, New South Wales – Hunter and Bligh |url=https://www.hunterandbligh.com.au/travel/hunter-valley-nsw-the-weekender/ |website=Hunter and Bligh |access-date=29 September 2020 |archive-date=25 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925124447/https://www.hunterandbligh.com.au/travel/hunter-valley-nsw-the-weekender/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> the Hunter Valley is a major tourist destination in New South Wales and is the 6th most visited place in Australia attracting more than 2.5 million people annually. There are regular events held in the Hunter for visitors, including the Hunter Valley Steam Trains running the first three Sundays of each month and regular scenic cruises on the Hunter River and [[Lake Macquarie (New South Wales)|Lake Macquarie]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/hunter |title=Hunter Valley |publisher=VisitNSW.com |access-date=18 November 2012 |archive-date=3 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103070822/http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/hunter |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.tourism.nsw.gov.au/Sites/SiteID6/objLib93/The-Hunter-YE-Jun-12.pdf |title=Travel to The Hunter |date=June 2012 |publisher=Destination NSW |access-date=18 November 2012 |archive-date=21 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421112834/http://archive.tourism.nsw.gov.au/Sites/SiteID6/objLib93/The-Hunter-YE-Jun-12.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Wine production ===
{{Main|Hunter Valley wine}}

[[File:Cows and Hunter Valley Vineyard (9679974515).jpg|thumb|A Hunter Valley vineyard]]

The Hunter Valley Wine Zone [[Australian Geographical Indication]] was registered on 1 May 1996 and is approximately the entire Hunter River catchment. It contains only one named wine region, Hunter.<ref name="Hunter">{{cite web |url=http://www.wineaustralia.com/en/Production%20and%20Exporting/Register%20of%20Protected%20GIs%20and%20Other%20Terms/Geographical%20Indications/New%20South%20Wales/Hunter%20Valley/Hunter.aspx |title=Hunter |publisher=[[Wine Australia]] |year=2015 |access-date=5 November 2015 |archive-date=30 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130041334/http://www.wineaustralia.com/en/Production%20and%20Exporting/Register%20of%20Protected%20GIs%20and%20Other%20Terms/Geographical%20Indications/New%20South%20Wales/Hunter%20Valley/Hunter.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> The Hunter Wine Region Australian Geographical Indication was declared on 18 March 1997. It is not as large as the Hunter Valley zone, but includes most of the significant vineyards. It does not extend east of the [[Pacific Highway (Australia)|Pacific Highway]].

Some of the oldest vines in the Hunter Valley were planted in 1924 around the village of Fordwich. [[Pokolbin, New South Wales|Pokolbin]], located in the "Lower Hunter Valley", is the centre of the [[Hunter Valley wine]] country, which claims to be Australia's oldest wine region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/hunter |title=Hunter Valley |website=Visit NSW |date=16 May 2017 |access-date=16 May 2017 |archive-date=8 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508211819/http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/hunter |url-status=live }}</ref> It is located between the towns of [[Cessnock, New South Wales|Cessnock]] and [[Branxton, New South Wales|Branxton]], about {{Convert|50|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} west of Newcastle. The wine country is primarily located within the [[City of Cessnock|Cessnock]] and [[Singleton Council|Singleton]] LGAs. Its proximity to Sydney has been an influence on the area's investments in wine production and its emergence as a tourist destination. The Broke Fordwich area is located along the Hunter River tributary of the [[Wollombi Brook]] near the suburb of Pokolbin and was founded in 1830 by Major [[Thomas Mitchell (explorer)|Thomas Mitchell]] who named the region after his fellow [[Napoleonic War]] veteran Sir [[Charles Broke-Vere]].

Much of the rolling countryside around Pokolbin is under vine and has a large number of [[vineyard]]s, restaurants, shops, golf courses and country guesthouses. Other parts of the valley including the [[Wollombi, New South Wales|Wollombi Valley]] and [[Broke Fordwich]] subregion are also well known for wine, along with the [[Hunter Valley wine#Upper Hunter Valley|Upper Hunter Valley]]. The main town in the Upper Hunter Valley subregion is [[Muswellbrook]].

== Administration ==
=== Political representation ===
For the purposes of [[Elections in Australia|Australian federal elections]] for the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]], the Hunter Region is contained within the divisions of [[Division of Hunter|Hunter]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/nsw/hunter.htm |title=Profile of the electoral division of Hunter (NSW) |work=Current federal electoral divisions |publisher=[[Australian Electoral Commission]] |date=26 September 2013 |access-date=22 December 2013 |archive-date=24 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224094430/http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/nsw/hunter.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Division of Lyne|Lyne]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Paterson&filterby=Electorate |title=Lyne |publisher=[[Australian Electoral Commission]] |date=26 July 2012 |access-date=3 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029100345/http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Paterson&filterby=Electorate |archive-date=29 October 2009}}</ref> [[Division of Newcastle|Newcastle]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Newcastle&filterby=Electorate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521211351/http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Newcastle&filterby=Electorate |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 May 2011 |title=Newcastle |publisher=[[Australian Electoral Commission]] |date=26 July 2012 |access-date=10 October 2012}}</ref> [[Division of Paterson|Paterson]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Paterson&filterby=Electorate |title=Paterson |publisher=[[Australian Electoral Commission]] |date=26 July 2012 |access-date=3 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029100345/http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Paterson&filterby=Electorate |archive-date=29 October 2009}}</ref> and [[Division of Shortland|Shortland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Shortland&filterby=Electorate |title=Shortland |publisher=[[Australian Electoral Commission]] |date=26 July 2012 |access-date=6 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224101536/http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/LocalitySearchResults.aspx?filter=Shortland&filterby=Electorate |archive-date=24 December 2013}}</ref>

For the purposes of New South Wales elections for the [[Legislative Assembly of New South Wales|Legislative Assembly]], the Hunter Region is contained within the electoral districts of [[Electoral district of Cessnock|Cessnock]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/cessnock |title=Cessnock |publisher=[[New South Wales Electoral Commission]] |access-date=23 November 2019 |archive-date=22 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122225848/https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Cessnock |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Electoral district of Charlestown|Charlestown]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/charlestown |title=Charlestown |publisher=[[New South Wales Electoral Commission]] |access-date=23 November 2019 |archive-date=22 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122225826/https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Charlestown |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Electoral district of Lake Macquarie|Lake Macquarie]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/lake-macquarie |title=Lake Macquarie |publisher=[[New South Wales Electoral Commission]] |access-date=23 November 2019 |archive-date=25 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225200830/https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Lake-Macquarie |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Electoral district of Maitland|Maitland]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/maitland |title=Maitland |publisher=[[New South Wales Electoral Commission]] |access-date=23 November 2019 |archive-date=23 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123004236/https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Maitland |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Electoral district of Myall Lakes|Myall Lakes]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/myall-lakes |title=Myall Lakes |publisher=[[New South Wales Electoral Commission]] |access-date=23 November 2019 |archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130053944/https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/myall-lakes |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Electoral district of Newcastle|Newcastle]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/newcastle |title=Newcastle |publisher=[[New South Wales Electoral Commission]] |access-date=23 November 2019 |archive-date=23 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123004349/https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Newcastle |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Electoral district of Port Stephens|Port Stephens]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/port-stephens |title=Port Stephens |publisher=[[New South Wales Electoral Commission]] |access-date=23 November 2019 |archive-date=27 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227074025/https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Port-Stephens |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Electoral district of Swansea|Swansea]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/swansea |title=Swansea |publisher=[[New South Wales Electoral Commission]] |access-date=23 November 2019 |archive-date=23 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123005936/https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Swansea |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Electoral district of Upper Hunter|Upper Hunter]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/upper-hunter |title=Upper Hunter |publisher=[[New South Wales Electoral Commission]] |access-date=23 November 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228115449/https://elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Upper-Hunter |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Electoral district of Wallsend|Wallsend]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/wallsend |title=Wallsend |publisher=[[New South Wales Electoral Commission]] |access-date=23 November 2019 |archive-date=25 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225200748/https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Wallsend |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Electoral district of Wyong|Wyong]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/wyong |title=Wyong |publisher=[[New South Wales Electoral Commission]] |access-date=23 November 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228115654/https://elections.nsw.gov.au/District-profiles/Wyong |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Demography and area ===
The following [[Local government areas of New South Wales|local government areas]] are contained within the region:

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:right"
|+Population by local government area
|-
! scope="col" | Hunter rank
! scope="col" | Local government area
! scope="col" | Estimate resident population 30 June 2020<ref name="auto"/>
! scope="col" | 1 year growth rate
! scope="col" | Population density (people/km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
| scope="row" | 1
| [[City of Lake Macquarie]]
| 207,775
| 0.9
| 320.3
|-
| scope="row" | 2
| [[City of Newcastle]]
| 167,363
| 1.1
| 896.2
|-
| scope="row" | 3
| [[City of Maitland]]
| 87,395
| 2.6
| 223.2
|-
| scope="row" | 4
| [[Port Stephens Council]]
| 74,506
| 1.4
| 86.8
|-
| scope="row" | 5
| [[City of Cessnock]]
| 61,256
| 2.1
| 31.2
|-
| scope="row" | 6
| [[Singleton Council]]
| 23,380
| −0.3
| 4.8
|-
| scope="row" | 7
| [[Muswellbrook Shire]]
| 16,355
| −0.1
| 4.8
|-
| scope="row" | 8
| [[Upper Hunter Shire]]
| 14,167
| −0.1
| 1.7
|-
| scope="row" | 9
| [[Dungog Shire]]
| 9,664
| 2.6
| 4.3
|-
! colspan="2" | Hunter
! style="text-align:right" | 661,861
! style="text-align:right" | 1.3
! style="text-align:right" | 29.2
|}

=== Environmental protection ===
The Hunter Region contains the [[Goulburn River National Park]], [[Myall Lakes National Park]], [[Barrington Tops National Park]], [[Werakata National Park]], [[Watagans National Park]], [[Mount Royal National Park]], Polkolbin State Forest, Putty State Forest, Chichester State Forest, Running Creek Nature Reserve, The Glen Nature Reserve, [[Black Bulga State Conservation Area]], Myall River State Forest, and Karuah Nature Reserve.

Within the Hunter, many endangered ecological communities (EECs) have been declared under the [[TSC Act]]. These communities are found on both public and private land, and prior to development of land, the landowner is required to undertake an environmental assessment to ascertain whether it will impact endangered species or endangered communities. Examples of endangered ecological communities found within the Hunter Region are:
# Grey Box–Grey Gum Wet Sclerophyll Forest<ref name="gbgg">{{cite web |year=2011 |author=NSW Scientific Committee |title=Grey Box – Grey Gum Wet Sclerophyll Forest in the NSW North Coast Bioregion – Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/greybox36a.htm |publisher=NSW Office of Environment and Heritage |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904013001/https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/greybox36a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
# Hunter Floodplain Red Gum Woodland<ref name="fp">{{cite web |year=2011 |author=NSW Scientific Committee |title=Hunter Floodplain Red Gum Woodland in the NSW North Coast and Sydney Basin Bioregions – Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/hunterfloodplain36a.htm |publisher=NSW Office of Environment and Heritage |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904014514/https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/hunterfloodplain36a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
# Hunter Lowland Redgum Forest<ref name="rg">{{cite web |year=2011 |author=NSW Scientific Committee |title=Hunter Lowland Redgum Forest in the Sydney Basin and NSW North Coast Bioregions – Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/hunterlowlandredgum36a.htm |publisher=NSW Office of Environment and Heritage |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904012935/https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/hunterlowlandredgum36a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
# Hunter Valley Vine Thicket<ref name="vt">{{cite web |year=2011 |author=NSW Scientific Committee |title=Hunter Valley Vine Thicket in the NSW North Coast and Sydney Basin Bioregions – Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/huntervalleyvine36a.htm |publisher=NSW Office of Environment and Heritage |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904014446/https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/huntervalleyvine36a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
# Hunter Valley Weeping Myall Woodland<ref name="wm">{{cite web |year=2011 |author=NSW Scientific Committee |title=Hunter Valley Weeping Myall Woodland of the Sydney Basin bioregion – Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/huntervalleyweepingmyall36a.htm |publisher=NSW Office of Environment and Heritage |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904014612/https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/huntervalleyweepingmyall36a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
# Lower Hunter Valley Dry Rainforest<ref name="LH">{{cite web |author=NSW Scientific Committee |year=2011 |title=Lower Hunter Valley Dry Rainforest in the Sydney Basin and NSW North Coast Bioregions – Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/lowerhuntervalleydryrainforest36a.htm |publisher=NSW Office of Environment and Heritage |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904011323/https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/lowerhuntervalleydryrainforest36a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
# Warkworth Sands Woodland. This EEC occurs on [[aeolian processes|aeolian]] sands, south east of [[Singleton, New South Wales|Singleton]] (but may occur elsewhere in the Bioregion.)<ref name="WS">NSW Scientific Committee. (2011) {{cite web |title=Warkworth Sands Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion – Determination to make a minor amendment to Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/warkworthsands36a.htm |publisher=NSW Office of Environment and Heritage |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904012943/https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/warkworthsands36a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Statehood movement ==
There is an active movement campaigning for the Hunter Region to secede from New South Wales to form its own state. The sale of the Port of Newcastle and the refusal of the NSW state government to build a container terminal in Newcastle has been cited as the motivation behind the campaign.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Rod |title=Group calls for Hunter Valley statehood after Sydney snubbings |url=https://newcastleweekly.com.au/group-calls-for-hunter-valley-statehood-after-sydney-snubbings/ |access-date=5 October 2021 |work=Newcastle Weekly |date=29 September 2021 |ref=HVSM |archive-date=5 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005031023/https://newcastleweekly.com.au/group-calls-for-hunter-valley-statehood-after-sydney-snubbings/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The movement's demands include a [[Royal commission]] into the feasibility of Hunter Valley Statehood as soon as possible, and a referendum on Hunter Valley statehood by 2030.<ref>{{cite web |title=Who We Are |url=https://hunterstatehood.com/about/ |website=Hunter Valley Statehood Movement |access-date=5 October 2021 |ref=HVSMweb |archive-date=5 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005031028/https://hunterstatehood.com/about/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Chapter VI of the [[Constitution of Australia]] allows new states to be formed, but only with the consent of the Parliament of the state in question.

==See also==
{{Portal|New South Wales}}
* [[Regions of New South Wales]]
*[[New South Wales wine]]
*[[List of endangered ecological communities in NSW]]

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage|Hunter}}
{{Commons category|Hunter Region, New South Wales|Hunter Region}}
*[http://www.huntergardens.org.au/ Hunter Region Botanical Gardens]

{{-}}
{{Hunter Region places and items of interest}}
{{Regions of New South Wales |state = autocollapse }}

[[Category:Hunter Region| ]]
[[Category:Valleys of Australia]]
[[Category:Endangered ecological communities]]