Mystic Park Wines

Mudgee is located in Central New South Wales in the fertile soil of the Cudgegong River Valley, 261 kms from Sydney. Elevation ranges between 470m and 1080m in the scenic Mudgee Region.

The name Mudgee is from the Wiradjuri term ‘Moothi’, meaning ‘Nest in the Hills’.

The area famous for its fine wine also produces Cattle, Sheep, Wool, Olives, Honey, Wheat, Lucerne and Fruit. This beautiful land has rich volcanic soil laced with quartz.

Settlement in Mudgee NSW

It was 1821 when the first European Settler, James Blackman crossed the Cudgegong River and settled in the area that became Mudgee NSW.

When the major food sources of the Wiradjuri tribes were being killed by the white man, there was conflict and this led to a Martial Law being passed in 1824 ending in a significant reduction in the population of the Wiradjuri people.

In 1841 Mudgee NSW had 36 dwellings, 3 hotels, a post office, a hospital, an Anglican Church and 2 stores.

1861 was the year that Mudgee was declared a Municipality, the second oldest Municipality west of the Great Dividing Range. The population was 1500.

Gold and Coal Mining

In the 19th Century, Mudgee was a major Goldmining town. Gold wasn’t found in Mudgee itself, but it became very popular as a residence for the goldminers as they worked to find gold in the surrounding areas of Hargraves, Windeyer, Gulgong and Hill End.

One of the goldminers attracted to the area was Niels Peter Larsen who married Louisa Albury. When their first child was born they changed their surname to Lawson. Their oldest child was famous poet Henry Lawson who lived in the district until he was 15 years old. The family home was 8 kms out of Mudgee in the area called Eurunderee. The road passing the remains of the Lawson House is today called Henry Lawson Drive.

Ulan Coal Mine located 40kms out of Mudgee plays an important role as employment for many Mudgee residents. As well as Coal, the area also produces Pottery Clays, Marble, Dolomite and Shale.

Wine

Today Mudgee NSW is best known for its wine production. There are over 40 wineries in the region. Mudgee has a greater number of Grape vines in the ground than the Hunter Valley, even though Mudgee only gets approximately 10% of the tourists that the Hunter gets. A new winery in the Mudgee NSW region is Mystic Park Wines. Mystic Park Wines offers the style of wine that Mudgee is most famous for, dry and full bodied reds like Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon and bold whites like Chardonnay. Mystic Park Wines embodies the history of Mudgee NSW, located along the same road where the poet Henry Lawson lived and on the rich soils where goldminers once searched for gold. Mystic Park Wines is a great cellar door to visit with sprawling, green lawns and superb views of the surrounding hillside and vineyards. A visit to Mystic Park Wines is well worth the time.

Holidays and Sightseeing

A popular place for weekends away, Mudgee NSW has many Hotels and B & B’s.

However, staying amongst the vineyards is a great way to experience Mudgee. Mystic Park Wines offers this opportunity with a spacious self contained house surrounded by vineyards. Sightseeing in the area includes Mudgee’s cafes, restaurants markets and local night spots. Wine Tours are a must, drive yourself at leisure, join a bus tour or enjoy the scenery between wineries on a Horse and Cart.

Outside of Mudgee, popular locations include ‘Frog Rock’, a Natural rock formation of a frog by the side of the road, 19km from town.

‘Windamere Dam’ on Sydney Road, 24km from Mudgee is a great spot to enjoy Camping, water sports, or picnics.

‘The Drip’ picnic area is a great escape to the wilderness. Located 50km from Mudgee, it is worth the drive and 2km hike to the fern covered rock formations where the water drips down the rock face.

Continue North along the road past The Drip to see ‘Hands on Rock’, Aboriginal art on the rocks, painted hundreds of years ago.