Morpeth
Categories: newcastle-and-surrounds
Date: 24 June 2012 08:52:18
Jan's comment on my previous post about other directions to head in sent me to another near-English-Newcastle name appropriated for the surrounding area of Newcastle, NSW: Morpeth. The town was originally settled by Lieutenant E. C. Close who selected a property of 1,000 hectares and developed it as a river port from 1831 as it ideally situated along the Hunter River. He had a sandstone house built, Closebourne, which became an episcopal residence from 1848 to 1912 and then eventually became part of St John's Anglican Theological College, which was moved from Armidale to Morpeth in 1918; there is a lot of redevelopment going on currently, and I look forward to seeing the results. As the northern railway when built bypassed Morpeth, Newcastle became the main port and Morpeth's commercial significance lessened. I last visited Morpeth in either 2001 or 2002, as part of a church retreat -- which also featured visits to the Hunter Valley wineries! I am not one for antiques, collectibles or knick-knacks, so Morpeth, which like many country towns in Australia has gone down the antique shop and café route to survive, does not interest me from that perspective: but it is a lovely place to wander about, enjoy lunch, or a coffee and delicious cake which I did [macadamia and mango flourless cake if you are interested...] in a sunny courtyard on a sunny, but with a biting chilly wind, day. I saw a museum but it was closing in 10 minutes so I will leave it for another day. A very pleasant trip, and about as far from where I am living as Newcastle is, but west instead of south-east.
My parents were up this weekend, coming up on Thursday afternoon for Friday's Grandparents' Day at Skye's school. I took them out for lunch today at the Junction Inn, by the river. On another sunny day with a biting wind, all the inside tables were booked so we braved the outside, with nice views of the river; generally okay, as we were in the sun, but when the wind picked up we felt it. A great meal, and we all ended up ordering the same -- lamb cutlets (yes, I have failed miserably the Apostles' Fast; attending an Old Calendar church now I suppose I at least have more time to make it up...). Some very nice crunchy hot chips too. It was great to see them, and they did spend some time looking at houses around here: with both children now up here, I am suspecting they may move up soon.