What's On In
Morpeth & Maitland 2008

 

Morpeth, We Dare You
to See it in a Day!

Morpeth is a small village that sits above an elbow in the Hunter River just 10 minutes from Maitland, 40 minutes from Port Stephens' Blue Water Wonderland and Pokolbin Wine Country and an hour and a half from Sydney.

It is a village of 1,100 people with boundless charm and character, unforgettable hospitality, the finest art and distinctive crafts, boutiques and fabulous food - all in a settlement that is steeped in Australian colonial history.

In fact there is much more to Morpeth
than you could ever see in a day.

A walk along Morpeth's main street is to have your sense of smell aroused by the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee, the delicate bouquet of a selected tea, or perhaps the mouth-watering smell of fresh bread baking.

Cafes and teashops are located in gardens or in crannies down small cobblestone alleyways. Eateries feature dishes that use and emphasize local fare, some of it grown or produced in gardens and paddocks you can see through the window as you dine.

Many dishes are 'home made' and fresh from a small oven, presented in a distinctive style and in an atmosphere of warmth and friendliness.

A Rare Shopping Experience
Wander at your leisure through more than 60 quality art, craft, fashion, antique and collectible shops. You cannot afford to miss one because each has a distinctive range of products. There are gifts for all members of the family, many of which cannot be bought anywhere else.

Taste Gourmet Foods such as jams, mustards, pickles and sauces - just like Grandma used to make. Taste fudge, ginger beer and honey, at Campbell's Store Craft Centre or simply lose an hour or two in a fashion boutique.

Living History
Many famous Australian companies began in Morpeth - household names such as Arnotts of biscuit fame, Brambles, a major transport company and Caleb Soul who started Soul Pattinson Pharmacy chain. Find out more about these business icons by taking a village walk which points out the sites of significance.

Newcastle Craft & Quilt Fair and The Wood Working & Hobbies Expo.
Friday 29th February, Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd March 2008.
Newcastle Entertainment Centre. Your admission ticket will gain you entry to both of these Fairs all under the one roof. Campbell's Store will be exhibiting with the Miss Rose & Sister Violet range of beading, lace & velvet flowers. Over 100 stalls in the craft area, plus Quilt display. See You There. www.craftfair.com.au

Festival of Two Palettes
Sat 8th & Sunday 9th March 2008.
Morpeth Gallery, 5 Green St, Morpeth
Visit Morpeth Gallery, where you can chat to the artists who exhibit their works at the Gallery in an informal relaxed environment. Hunter Wine & Fine Food will be available for tastings & sale. It's a Festival of Two Palettes! Activities in Main Street too! Plus you can win an ORIGINAL PAINTING More Info (pdf)

Morpeth Honey Festival
Sat 29th - Sunday 30th March, 2008.
Morpeth Honey & Gourmet Foods,
5 Green St, Morpeth ph 02 4933 1407
Learn how the bees make honey, by watching a bee keeping and honey extraction, then taste the finished product! Taste 13 different honeys and honey fine foods… Honey wine, mustards, dressings, chocolate honey, dessert sauces, nuts. Discover honey skin care and honey for healing. Admission FREE.

Cranky Handle Rally - Free Admission
Sat 29th - Sunday 30th March, 2008.
Large rally of Vintage Farm Machinery including brightly coloured vintage tractors which will be used for 2 parades down the main street of Morpeth, some going putt putt, others roaring. This exhibition of old pumps & motors, takes up 1.5 acres of land on the grounds of St John College, opposite Campbell's Store.

Maitland Heritage Month
1st April - 30th April 2008
Maitland comes alive, with non-stop events throughout the month of April, to celebrate Maitland & Morpeth's unique heritage. Open House Tours of Heritage Homes & Gardens, Walking & Coach Tours, Musical Concerts, Theatre, Antique Auctions, Vintage Car Show & Shine, Maitland Gaol Tours, Morpeth Honey Festival, Steamfest & much more. Go to www.maitlandhuntervalley.com.au.

Hunter Valley Steamfest
Sat 19th - Sunday 20th April, 2008.
Maitland Railway Station Precinct
Dedicated solely to steam. Ride on a Steam Train. See Steam Traction Engines. Enjoy the Farmers Markets and Fine Food. Catch a Free Return bus to Morpeth. For train tickets Ph: 02 49312800. www.maitlandhuntervalley.com.au


Tocal Field Days
Friday 2nd - Sunday 4th May 2008.
Tocal College, Paterson Road, Tocal
Visit these massive field days just North of Morpeth to see how hobby farming is conducted. Yabbies, Olives, Emu, Deer, Cattle, Goats and Horses to name a few along with craft & food. www.tocal.com

Mother's Day at Morpeth
Sunday 11th May 2008. Campbell's
Store Craft Centre, Morpeth.
Pamper your mum with a day out in Morpeth. Take mum shopping for that special gift. Soak up the relaxed atmosphere of Morpeth with a traditional Devonshire Tea with real jam & cream at Servant's Quarters Tearoom. Open for breakfast from 9am.

Hunter Caravan, Camping & 4WD Show
Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th May, 2008. Maitland Showground. ph 02 6760 9544
Three days of outdoor demonstrations & fun.

World Environment Day Wildlife Art Exhibition. (Free Admission)
Thurs 5th - Monday 9th June 2008.
Morpeth Gallery, 5 Green St, Morpeth.
ph 02 4933 1407 Australian birds, animals and plants painted by Australia's Leading Wildlife Artists in a spectacular display of investment art.

John Vander Art Exhibition
'Forty Shades of Green'
Ireland: The Emerald Isle.
Thursday 10th - Sunday 13th July 2008.
Morpeth Gallery, 5 Green St, Morpeth.
Renowned Australian South Coast traditional landscape artist John Vander's art career has spanned decades. Welcome to the land of legends, a landscape of 'forty shades of green', of misty mountains, lovely lakes and a warm friendly greeting wherever you go. It's Ireland captured in oils, as you have never seen it before! Free Entry.


Morpeth Weird and Wonderful
Novelty Teapot Exhibition

Run over two weeks, every day, from
Thurs 21st Aug till Sun 31st Aug 2008.
Morpeth Gallery, 5 Green St ph 02 4933 1407
Two weeks of visual extravaganza featuring the amazing creativity of teapot makers from all over Australia and around the world...And the best part is.... it's all-FREE. A staggering 3,524 teapots are on their way from every state in Australia & overseas. All teapots are for sale. Novelty Teapot Tea Cosy Competition - entry forms on our website.

Opera in the Vineyards
Saturday 18th October 2008.
An annual feast for the senses, returning for the thirteenth year. Great wines, gourmet delights, spectacular views and the exhilaration of opera, with the cream of Australia's finest opera singers.
Why not stay in Morpeth and hire a Morpeth owned limousine to chauffeur you out and back in style?

'Planes, Trains, Tall Ships & Automobiles'
Australia's Heritage Art Exhibition
by Hunter Artist John Bradley
Thurs 9th - Sunday 12th October 2008. Morpeth Gallery. Phone 02 4933 1407
John Bradley is known as 'the perfectionist painter', with his background as an engineer and attention to detail. View the original artworks, retracing our heritage, then purchase them in a coffee table style book. Limited & Open Edition Prints, books & cards will be for sale. Free Entry.

Christmas Nativity Exhibition
1st November - 28th December 2008.
At Morpeth Gallery discover hundred's of nativities in all shapes & sizes, made from all manner of materials - glass, wood, resin, tin, ceramic, pottery. Light ups, musicals, modern and traditional scenes. Every one for sale.

Stay in Morpeth:
www.bronteguesthouse.com.au
www.morpethconvent.com.au
www.huntertennisresort.com.au
www.morpethhuntervalley.com.au

Maitland Fair Markets
The first Sunday of every month (not January) plus 19th Oct, 16th Nov, 21st Dec. Maitland Showground 8am-2pm. Phone 02 4962 5522 Over 600 sites display the best made, grown and crafted goods. Next stop… Morpeth, for Fine Food & Craft, FREE Ginger Beer, Fudge & Honey Tasting and afternoon tea!

For Information on any of these events
Contact: Campbell's Store Craft Centre
175 Swan Street Morpeth NSW 2321.
Open Thursday - Sunday 10am - 5pm.
ph 02 4933 1407 fax 02 4934 2107
Email: info@morpethgallery.com
Website: www.morpethgallery.com
Website: www.morpethhuntervalley.com.au

All of the above events cater for children.
Disabled facilities including toilets are available.