Northumberland County was one of the original Nineteen Counties in New South Wales and is now one of the 141 Cadastral divisions of New South Wales. The Greta area was first colonized by Europeans around Anvil Creek in the 1830s. When the town was surveyed in 1842 it was given the name Greta, possibly after a small river in Cumberland, England. Coal mining was established in the area in 1862 with the development of a railway station.Robinson Fairbairn Collection: Two documents. 1. Receipt for payment from Robinson Fairbairn of Greta for purchase of land at Greta, NSW. Dated 7th August 1888. Receipt for £3/11/11 includes Interest noted at top. 2. Invoice to Mr. Robinson Fairburn for land purchase in account with Sparke and Clift, Auctioneers, West Maitland. mining, robinson fairbairn collection, maitland, northumberland, greta nsw, sparke and clift, coal