Situated just outside Singleton in the Hunter Valley, Dale Frank’s Botanic Gardens opened in November 2020. These gardens are an unexpected and fun place to visit because of the unusual and interesting plants on display. For opening times, check out their Facebook page.
These beautifully laid out gardens are the work of Dale Frank, an internationally renowned artist based in Singleton. With many of the trees being mature specimens, the area already has the look and feel of an established garden. This has been achieved by saving trees from developers in Sydney and transporting them to Singleton. They have survived the transition because of the attention given to them by Dale and his team.
Plants range from palm tree and boabs to cactus and succulents, with the settings varying as you walk around.
A great place to visit for a relaxing walk around if you are in the area.
One of the Displays at the GardensBoab Tree Cactus GardenMature Palm TreesMature Palm Trees
To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.
Information from the Singleton Historical & Museum Guide. The museum is undergoing renovations.
Located in Burdekin Park, the Singleton Museum houses an amazing collection of local artefacts, making it a great place to stop and look around. Staffed by volunteers from the local Historical Society, the museum’s displays are well curated and professionally laid out. The information displayed at each exhibit is interesting, but if you need a more in depth explanation, the staff are willing to help.
Museum Building’s History
The building was originally Singleton’s first “lock up” built on the site in 1840. By 1841 a detached Court House was built 50 ft to the west and donated by Benjamin Singleton to the government in return for Minimbah buildings. In April 1862 two stone cells were built on the western side of the slab cells being 8ft x 11ft with wooden floors, to hold five prisoners each having a centre corridor between.
Two stone cells built in 1874 replaced the slab cells had concrete floors and a hallway built along the west side of the cell block. All were of stone with walls extending 4 ft below the floor level. Built onto the west side of the hallway, is a brick gaoler’s residence & guard room consisting of a room at each end with a guard room in the centre.
With the construction of a new town lockup and residence in 1899, the Municipal Council obtained the buildings . The removal of the old gaoler’s residence and the southern partition made a Council Chamber 36ft x 14ft with a 16ft x 14ft room retained at the northern end for the Town Clerk’s Office.
In 1963 the Singleton Historical Society gained use of the building, enabling displays featuring Aboriginal, convict, pioneer and rural articles of local heritage to be available to the public. These exhibits have been mostly collected locally and donated by the residents of Singleton Shire.
Mayor Munro Monument Fountain Outside the Museum’s EntranceSingleton MuseumTractors at Singleton Museum
Singleton Museum’s Displays
Rural Section
Filled with carts, buggies, farm tools and more, this room contains an image of farm life when Singleton was first settled. The bell from St Clair Station makes an interesting exhibit, as it has been engulfed by a growing tree.
Located in this room is a suitcase that belonged to Henry Dangar, who was a government surveyor and important pastoralist in the early 1800s.
Horse CartHorse BuggyOld Farm ToolsSt Clair Station BellDangar’s Suitcase
Displays
Throughout the building’s other rooms containing well maintained displays covering Singleton’s past. From typewriters and surveying equipment, to aboriginal artefacts and fine china, there is a huge quantity of items to inspect..
Hand Powered WheelchairOld Railway ClockMonarch Typewriter
OldKitchen
Furnished as an old kitchen, one of the old gaol cells, contains everything a pre electric kitchen needs. Beautifully laid out, this room is fun to look around and admire the old furniture and artefacts.
The KitchenThe Kitchen
GaolCells
Originally holding-cells for the court house, the barred doors, manacles, leg irons and bedding on display show how spartan conditions were for prisoners.
Gaol Cell 1861Manacles
Records Room
The library is the custodian of an immense amount of records from numerous local companies, clubs and residents. Many records are on microfilm, however some are still only in paper form and are becoming fragile. Available for use at a modest fee, this is a treasure trove of local history.
Hand Written LedgerOld Record BooksOld Books in the Records Room
What Did We Think of the Singleton Museum?
We had a great time looking through the rooms and displays. Although small, the museum makes the best use of the available space with well curated displays which are all well maintained.
A great place to visit if you are passing through town, and a place all locals should visit to understand the town’s history.
Singleton is located in the New South Wales Hunter Valley. The region is known for its vineyards and coal mines. Often used as a rest point or base for further adventures in the area the town has a few things that are worth looking at if you are in the area.
Burdekin Park
At one time this was the centre piece of the town. A nice park with mature trees (cirrus pines) and the town’s war memorials. Unfortunately a colony of fruit bats colonised the trees and over the last few years have severely damaged them. As a result most of the large trees have been removed. The Park is now very open, but safe to enter.
If you are interested in the fruit bats there are still some inhabiting the remaining trees, but not the vast numbers that were previously present.
War Memorial
The Singleton War Memorial is located in the centre of Burdekin Park. It commemorates the sacrifices made by local residents in wars Australia fought in. The ANZAC ceremony was held here until the bats arrived and has now been moved next to the civic centre.
War Memorial South African War Memorial Burdekin Park Mayor Munro Monument Fountain
Historical Museum
Also located in Burdekin Park, the Museum houses some interesting relics from Singleton’s past. If the Museum is not open, there are some external exhibits of old farming equipment on display. For the full story about the museum, please click here.
Singleton Historical Society Museum Tractors at Singleton Historical Museum
Townhead Park
If travelling from Newcastle this is the first park you will see when entering town. There are plenty of car spots available along with picnic areas and covered tables. There is also a great playground for kids to let them run around after hours in a car.
The town’s tourist information site is located here, along with a café with outside seating available overlooking the park.
Also located in the park is a Matilda Tank used by the Australian Army in World War Two.
Matilda Tank Townhead Park Singleton
Saint Catherine’s Church
Located on Queen Street, Saint Catherine’s is the town’s Catholic Church. The area comprises the church, school and convent of the Sisters of Mercy. The sisters have a tour available called Sacred Spaces which allows you to see their buildings and gardens.
St Catherine’s Catholic Church Singleton
World’s Biggest Sundial
The World’s biggest sundial can be found on Ryan Avenue overlooking the Rise Point sports fields. A present to the town from a mining company to celebrate Australia’s bicentenary.
Giant Sundial Rose Point
Jacarandas in Bloom
If you visit Singleton during the jacaranda flowering season, around October, you are greeted by a sea of purple..
Jacarandas in Bloom
Civic Precinct
The civic precinct contains Singleton’s council buildings. In addition there is a statue commemorating early European settlers in the area and a memorial for service personnel. This memorial is the location for the Anzac Day dawn service held each year on the 25th of April.
Pioneer Statue Singleton War Memorial Civic Centre Singleton
Court House
The Singleton Courthouse is located in Elizabeth Street. Built in 1841, it is still in operation today.
Court House Singleton
Wynyard Street Corner Shop
This is one of the original corner shops that used to exist in small towns but have mostly disappeared. The sort of shop that stocks the essentials so that you don’t need to visit the supermarket.
General Store Singleton
Uniting Church
A nice church shaded by a lot of trees in the centre of Singleton.
Uniting Church Singleton
All Saints Church
Located in High Street the All Saints Anglican Church dates from 1913, although there has been an Anglican Church on the site since 1845.
All Saints Anglican Church Singleton
Presbyterian Church
The old Presbyterian Church is located just up from the Court House in Elizabeth Street. No longer a Presbyterian Church, it is used by the Singleton Evangelical Church.
Presbyterian Church Singleton
Apex Lookout
The lookout is situated out of town near the light industrial area. It gives a nice view over Singleton and the surrounding area. While you are here have a look at the mural painted on the toilet block. Unfortunately it is a little faded and over sprayed but worth a quick look.
Street Art – Toilet Block Lookout Singleton
York Street Aboriginal Mural
What used to be an old rusty iron fence has been painted in an aboriginal theme. Is is located near the Singleton RSL in York Street.
Street Art York Street Singleton
Singleton Train Station
The Singleton Train Station dating from 1863 is a nice old building on the edge of town. Worth having a look at if you are passing by.
Railway Station Singleton
Nearby
Camberwell
Located in the small village of Camberwell 15-minute drive north of Singleton is St Clements Anglican Church. No longer in use for services, the church’s interior was extensively damaged by fire in 2009. If you are driving the New England Highway and want to see a typical small village church, stop here and have a look.
A small dirt track leads down to the church just past the turn off from the highway. On arriving we found the gate to the churchyard unlocked, so we walked around the grounds.
This church was often booked by people from out of town for weddings because of its appearance, but unfortunately the fire has stopped that.
St Clements Anglican Church
Whittingham
Two memorials can be found on the east side of Singleton at the intersection of the New England Highway and Range Road, Howe Memorial Reserve, Whittingham. Located near the rail overpass to Range Road, a parking bay makes stopping to have a look easy.
The first and largest commemorates the sesquicentenary of the arrival of John Howe`s exploration party in the vicinity on the 15th March, 1820.
Sesquicentenary of John Howe Expedition Memorial
The second, smaller monument commemorates those from the district who served in World War One. Originally the Whittingham War Memorial had a German machine gun on top, but this is now missing.
Whittingham War Memorial
So if you are passing through Singleton or staying for a few days, there are a few things to see around town that will keep you occupied for a few hours.
To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.
