Wingen, New South Wales

Wingen /ˈwɪndʒən/ is a village in the Upper Hunter Shire, in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. Situated on the New England Highway, it lies about 15 minutes from the town of Scone. It is known for the local Burning Mountain tourist attraction, a burning underground coal seam. Wingen has a population of just several hundred people.

Wingen
New South Wales
"Old Church", New England Highway, Wingen
Wingen
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates31°53′S 150°52′E
Population323 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)2337
Elevation292 m (958 ft)
Location
LGA(s)Upper Hunter Shire
RegionHunter Region
CountyBrisbane
ParishWingen
State electorate(s)Upper Hunter
Federal Division(s)New England
Localities around Wingen:
Blandford
Wingen
Parkville
Wingen Maid

Its few businesses include an antique store and a pub.

The town is known for the Burning Mountain, which according to scientists is the world's oldest known coal fire, and has been burning for approximately 6,000 years. Explorers in the 19th century mistook its smoking summit for a volcano.[2] In fact the name Wingen comes from the local Aboriginal language, and means "fire".

The Wingen Maid is a rock formation in the local Wingen Maid Nature Reserve which resembles a woman when viewed from a particular direction.

A now-demolished railway station on the Main North railway line operated between 1871 and 1975.[3]

Heritage listings

Wingen has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Wingen (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  2. Krajick, Kevin (May 2005). "Fire in the hole". Smithsonian Magazine. Smithsonian Institution: 54ff. Retrieved 8 February 2007.
  3. Wingen station NSWrail.net, accessed 15 September 2009.
  4. "Mountain House". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H00311. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
Preceding station Former Services Following station
Murulla
towards Wallangarra
 Main North Line Parkville
towards Sydney
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