Scone Region
The Scone region is situated in New South Wales, Australia, approximately 280km (175miles) north of Sydney on the New England Highway.
The Scone Shire is situated in an area called the Upper Hunter Valley, and is proudly known as the Horse Capital of Australia. The climate and geography of the region make an excellent environment for the breeding, training and care of thoroughbred horses.
Excerpt from the Scone Shire Council website:
"Scone Shire is at the northern end of the wonderful Hunter Valley. It is a vibrant rural community that has been able to develop its own unique character, centred on the thoroughbred horse. It is reputed to be Australia's equivalent to the Kentucky Bluegrass region of the United States. Scone, with its many famous horse studs claims the title of Horse Capital of Australia and boasts a brand new racecourse, a new TAFE college and an Equine Research Centre which is dedicated to the study of specialised horse diseases."
Climate & Statistics
Location approx 32.04°S 150.80°E
Population 5000 (as at 2021 Census)
Elevation 208m (682ft) above sea level
(weather station)
Rainfall 644mm (25.4inches) per annum average (see
table below)
The following rainfall data was compiled over 115 years (1359 monthly records) between 1873 and 1988.
Average Rainfall
Statistics provided by worldclimate.com
| av period | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| av mm | 83.0 | 68.5 | 55.6 | 42.9 | 44.2 | 46.5 | 41.5 | 41.0 | 43.9 | 53.3 | 55.5 | 67.9 | 644.0 |
| av inches | 3.3 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 25.4 |
Source SCONE data derived from GHCN 1 for the 1,359 months between 1873 and 1988.
General information
Scone is a pleasant country town whose wide main streets are lined with trees. It is situated on the New England Highway that joins New South Wales and Queensland. It has an airport, polo grounds, well-equipped shopping centre, hotels, motels, and a historical museum. Just out of town, there is Lake Glenbawn, where the upper reaches of the Hunter were dammed in the late 1950’s, after disastrous floods had swept through the area. It is now an important recreation area, and an interesting place to visit
The town of Scone is host to a number of equine based festivities held each year.
Scone Horse Festival
Held over a 10-day period in May, the Scone Horse Festival is a salute to the Horse. Events include a Three Day Race Carnival, Cocktail Parties, Street Parades, Fetes, Art Exhibitions, Photographic Competitions, Stock Horse Demonstrations, Fun Run, Antiques display and Horse Festival Ball. Each day is full of a unique program to satisfy any visitor to the Shire of Scone. Programs can be requested through the Scone Visitor Information Centre.
View the Scone Horse Festival website »
Stock Horse Society of Australia
Scone is also the location for the Stock Horse Society of Australia.
Museum viewing is open Monday– Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm and is located located in Guernsey St, Scone.
Tourism & Business Information
Scone Council in conjunction with the Scone Chamber of Commerce have jointly developed the website www.horsecapital.com.au to promote Scone's reputation as the "Horse Capital", and to provide an access point for all Tourism & Business information.
Click here for www.horsecapital.com.au »
Scone Tourist Information Centre
Cnr Susan & Kelly Sts
Scone NSW 2337
Telephone: (02) 6545 1526 (int 61 2 6545 1526)
Facsimile: (02) 6545 3089 (int 61 2 6545 3089)
Email: stic@hunterlink.nsw.gov.net.au