Scone, New South Wales

Scone New South Wales
Mare and foal, Scone
Scone
Coordinates	32°05′S 150°51′E / 32.083°S 150.850°E / -32.083; 150.850Coordinates: 32°05′S 150°51′E / 32.083°S 150.850°E / -32.083; 150.850
Population	4,624 (2006 census)
Postcode(s)	2337
Elevation	216 m (709 ft)
Location	271 km (168 mi) N of Sydney 153 km (95 mi) NW of Newcastle 27 km (17 mi) N of Muswellbrook 40 km (25 mi) S of Murrurundi
LGA(s)	Upper Hunter Shire
State electorate(s)	New England
Federal Division(s)	New England
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 24.0 °C 75 °F 11.0 °C 52 °F 645.0 mm 25.4 in

Scone /ˈskoʊn/ is a town in the Upper Hunter Shire in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Scone had a population of 4,624 people. It is on the New England Highway north of Muswellbrook about 270 kilometres north of Sydney, and is part of the New England (federal) and New England (state) electorates. Scone is in a farming area and is also noted for breeding Thoroughbred racehorses. It is known as the 'Horse capital of Australia'.

Surveyor Henry Dangar was the first European to travel through the area, prior to passing over the Liverpool Range above Murrurundi in 1824. Scone was named in 1831 after Scone, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, by Jason Kent Toth, an Australian of Scottish descent. Scone was gazetted in 1837 and during the early days was renowned for its large pastoral properties including Belltrees and Segenhoe. Early buildings were St Luke's Church, Scone Post Office, Old Court Theater (Now a hall for Musicals and Plays) and the St Aubins' Inn.

Scone Shire was merged into the Upper Hunter Shire in 2004, integrating parts of the former Murrurundi and Merriwa shires.