🔍

Hargraves

NSW 2850 • New South Wales

300
Population (2021)
N/A
Median Income
588.37 km²
Area
N/A
Median Rent
RuralHistoricAffordable

About Hargraves

Hargraves is a small historic locality in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, situated approximately 70 kilometres north-east of Mudgee and 260 kilometres north-west of Sydney. The town holds a significant place in Australian history as the site where Edward Hargraves made Australia's first payable gold discovery in February 1851, triggering the NSW Gold Rush. Today, with a population of around 300 people spread across nearly 600 square kilometres, it remains a quiet rural settlement retaining much of its 19th-century character.

The lifestyle in Hargraves is deeply rural, with residents engaged in sheep and cattle grazing, cropping, and small-scale farming across the undulating tablelands landscape. The area is a destination for history enthusiasts and fossickers, who are drawn by the gold rush heritage and the chance to try gold panning in the local creeks. Everyday services are accessed in Mudgee, which is about an hour's drive and offers supermarkets, schools, hospitals, and a vibrant food and wine scene.

Hargraves falls under postcode 2850 and is governed by the local council Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Upper Hunter electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2850
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
N/A
Federal Electorate
Calare
State Electorate
Upper Hunter
Type
Locality
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-32.69°, 149.60°
Statistical Area
N/A
Area
588.37 km²
Elevation
0m

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • CountryLink/NSW TrainLink coach — Mudgee (connecting to Sydney) ~1 hr to Mudgee

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
260 km
By Train
No direct rail; drive to Mudgee then NSW TrainLink coach/bus to Sydney (~4.5 hrs total)
By Car (Peak)
3–3.5 hrs
By Car (Off-Peak)
3 hrs

🛣️ Car is the primary mode of transport; via Castlereagh Highway and Bells Line of Road or Great Western Highway

Walkability Car-Dependent

Very small rural settlement; no footpaths or public transport within the locality; private vehicle required for all trips

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🔍 Crime Statistics

NSW crime data is provided by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR). Use the interactive tool below to explore recorded crime incidents in Hargraves by offence type, year and trend.

📊 View Hargraves Crime Statistics on BOCSAR ↗

Data source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Search for "Hargraves" under Suburb

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
0
Census 2021
300
▲ 0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Income 2016
N/A
Income 2021
N/A
▲ 0% increase

Income Comparison

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Hargraves NSW famous? +

Hargraves is famous as the site of Australia's first officially recognised payable gold discovery. On 12 February 1851, Edward Hargraves found gold at Summerhill Creek near the town, sparking the NSW Gold Rush.

Where is Hargraves NSW located? +

Hargraves is located in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, about 70 kilometres north-east of Mudgee and 260 kilometres north-west of Sydney.

Can you still gold fossick at Hargraves? +

Yes, gold fossicking is still possible around the Hargraves area, particularly along Summerhill Creek and nearby waterways. Visitors should obtain the appropriate fossicking licence from the NSW Department of Regional NSW before prospecting.

What is the population of Hargraves? +

Hargraves has a population of approximately 300 people according to the 2021 Census, spread across a large rural locality of nearly 600 square kilometres.