The Advertiser

Cessnock is 160 kilometres from the heart of Sydney central business district and is less than one hour‘s drive from Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast. Cessnock grew as a city founded on coal mining and was fortunate to benefit from the new found interest in wine. From the late 1960s a flourishing tourism industry blossomed worth hundreds of millions to the local economy. Tourism focuses on the wineries, the numerous world-class restaurants and internationally-acclaimed accommodation, ranging from rustic style cabins to the elegant charm of guest houses and modern-as-tomorrow country club golf resorts. While many people still commute to the coal mines in the nearby Upper Hunter, the tourism industry has provided huge employment benefits. Cessnock has a substantial retail centre, supplemented by smaller centres in adjoining towns, including Kurri Kurri, Weston, Branxton and Greta. The Advertiser is published daily online and has been reporting on the local community since 1960.