Coonamble Local History
Coonamble is a rural region located in the central west part of New South Wales, Australia. It is situated on the banks of the Castlereagh River, a tributary of the Darling River.
The area was originally home to the Wiradjuri people, who lived in the region for thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers.
European exploration of the area began in the early 1800s, with the first recorded sighting of the Castlereagh River in 1818 by John Oxley, a British explorer and surveyor.
One of the first European settlers in the area was William Lawson, a member of the famous exploration party that crossed the Blue Mountains in 1813. In 1827, Lawson received a land grant of 1,000 acres in the Coonamble area, and he named his property "Bathurst Plains."
Throughout the mid-1800s, the Coonamble region became a popular destination for pastoralists, who raised sheep and cattle on the fertile grasslands along the Castlereagh River. By the 1860s, there were several large pastoral properties in the area, including Coonamble Station and Combara Station.
The first town in the area, called "The Coonamble," was established in the early 1870s to serve the growing population of pastoralists and their workers. The town soon became a hub of activity for the region, with a hotel, post office, courthouse, and several stores.
The discovery of gold in nearby Gulgong in 1871 brought a new wave of settlers and activity to the Coonamble region. Many miners and prospectors passed through the town on their way to the goldfields, and some even stayed, contributing to the growth of the town and the broader region.
In 1883, the railway line from Dubbo to Coonamble was completed, connecting the town to the rest of New South Wales and facilitating the transport of wool and other goods from the region to markets in Sydney and beyond.
In the early 1900s, the Coonamble region experienced a period of growth and development, with the establishment of new businesses, schools, and civic institutions. The town was incorporated in 1907, and by the 1920s, it had a population of over 2,000 people.
Throughout the 20th century, the Coonamble region continued to be a key player in the Australian wool industry, as well as a hub of agricultural production and processing. Today, the town and surrounding region are home to a diverse range of industries, including mining, tourism, and healthcare.
Despite the challenges faced by rural communities throughout Australia, the Coonamble region remains a vital and vibrant part of the country's landscape and history.