“For many years, Cessnock had a reputation as somewhere you wouldn’t go,” Slade says.
“I had friends who were coming up for a buck’s weekend recently and they couldn’t believe they had to stay in Cessnock. But they came up and loved it – now they’re looking to buy property here.”
In many respects, Cessnock is a bridesmaid city.
It doesn’t have the sandy beaches of Newcastle or the boutique sparkle of wine-growing gems such as Pokolbin and Lovedale.
What it does have is lashings of country charm, a laid-back vibe, easy access to the Hunter Valley’s best cellar doors and plenty of jobs in mining, healthcare, construction and manufacturing.
The city’s under-the-radar appeal has proved rewarding for Slade, who flips properties and runs a home-staging business.
Unlike more established tourist destinations, Cessnock is still a happy hunting ground for buyers seeking pretty Federation-era and interwar fixer-uppers.
“I love the fact we can find these beautiful run-down properties here. It’s such a treasure trove for me,” she says.
“We’re getting new generations in that are seeing what they can buy in this area. They realise how beautiful all the old features are.”
Cessnock started life in the mid-1800s as a service centre for what was then predominantly farming land.
After the discovery of coal in the late 1800s, the population boomed.
Mining powered the local economy for most of the 20th century.
More recently, automation and advanced technologies have led to job losses and mine closures.
Despite the changes, coal mining was still the local government area’s biggest employer in the 2016 census.
A new gas plant at nearby Kurri Kurri is expected to create hundreds of jobs in the construction phase.
The growth of the wine industry and wine-related tourism coincided with the decline of mining in the area.
For Slade, the thrill of living less than half an hour from some of Australia’s best vineyards still hasn’t worn off.
“All the cellar doors are on our doorstep. Before COVID, we were often going to concerts at the vineyards.”
Brendan King of Belle Property Cessnock reports robust interest from Sydneysiders looking for a lifestyle change or investment property.
“You can sell your $1 million apartment, buy an acreage here for $1 million and just sit back and enjoy,” King says.
The median house price in Cessnock has surged 39 per cent in five years, according to the Domain House Price Report for the March 2021 quarter.
“Some people are even selling one property in Sydney and buying two up here,” King says.
“The rental market is crazy, with a very low vacancy rate for residential and holiday rentals.”