The broad stretch of undulating Hunter Valley land known as ‘Anvil Creek’ is one of those very special places that captures the imagination and demands a high quality plan for its future.

Over the past several years, Greta Estates Pty Ltd, have been working with some of the country’s best known architects, planners, environmental scientists and engineers, landscape and heritage architects and golf course  designers, to  create a masterplan for a truly great rural lifestyle destination in the thriving and growing Hunter Region of New South Wales.

From their efforts a design has evolved for Anvil Creek that respects its heritage, is sensitive to its environment and creates the foundations for a community that is uniquely Australian, a place that will continue the tradition of the region and foster a natural environment where people will want to live and visit.

Following a rezoning of the site by the New South Wales Government, Cessnock City Council has approved the masterplan, including Stage 1 consent, for a major residential and tourist development at Anvil Creek that includes a hotel and tourist villas; a golf course and clubhouse; commercial, retail and education precincts; a vineyard and over 1300 permanent residential dwellings.

In April 2014 the New South Wales Government approved a further refinement of the zoning to enable greater design flexibility, which opens up a range of exciting new possibilities for the site.

Timing and location have led to property booms in regional Australia as new infrastructure creates fresh opportunities. The opening of the Hunter Expressway (M15) in March 2014 has significantly reduced travel times from Sydney and Newcastle to the Hunter Valley, improving tourist access and opening new commuter and tree-change markets.

The Anvil Creek site offers a rare and exceptional opportunity. It is strategically situated in the Lower Hunter Wine Country and perfectly located to take advantage of the new infrastructure. The current approved masterplan for the development is exemplary and promises to create a highly desirable residential community and an extremely popular tourist destination. The added flexibility delivered by the latest rezoning creates new opportunities to vary or enhance the masterplan.

After more than 30 years of ownership and in excess of a decade spent obtaining the rezoning, creating the masterplan and gaining development consent , Greta Estates have decided to offer the property (with Masterplan and Stage 1 development consent) for sale by private treaty.

Residential

Anvil Creek is ideally placed to capitalise on the growing economic strength of the powerhouse Hunter Region. The Region’s labour market is strong, evidenced by rising employment and relatively low unemployment. Residential demand in the Hunter, to accommodate people attracted to the area by employment opportunities and the family­ friendly environment, remains strong in an under-supplied market. The NSW State Government anticipates the Hunter population will grow by 160,000 persons by 2031 generating demand for an additional 115,000 new dwellings. Centrally located and within easy reach of the Newcastle CBD, regional business centres and the coal mines, Anvil Creek will offer a family-friendly rural resort lifestyle for new and existing Hunter residents.

Tourism

Tourism is a key economic driver for the Hunter, worth over $2 billion in the year to June 2014, and the region has enormous potential for growth in this sector. Its proximity to Sydney, Australia’s most populous city and the main gateway for international visitors makes it accessible to important domestic and international markets.

The Hunter Valley, one of Australia’s oldest and best-known wine growing regions attracts more than 3 million visitors annually. It is the most popular NSW tourist destination outside Sydney and the sixth most visited place in Australia.

With the opening of the Hunter Expressway, the Wine Country has stepped closer to both the Sydney and Newcastle markets. The growth of Hunter tourism goes beyond the expansion   of the wineries, restaurants and cellar doors, with many hospitality and tourist related developments emerging in recent years. The area has become increasingly popular as a destination for concerts, weddings, meetings and conventions, all enjoying consistent growth over the past decade. Anvil Creek’s strategic location in a beautiful setting at the gateway to the Wine Country make it an ideal choice for all of these activities and as a base from which to explore the region.

Golf tourism has also become a focus of the Wine Country and the Graham Marsh designed golf course at Anvil Creek will be the third international standard, signature course in the vineyard area, alongside Cypress Lakes and The Vintage. This will create the critical mass of high-grade facilities needed for the Wine Country to become a major golf tourism destination. Research indicates that golf tourism visitors spend 60% more than average visitors and stay 50% longer (Tourism Victoria).