COONAMBLEFrom the Mountains to the Marshes A History of Coonamble...........................................................................3 Things you need to know ........................................................................5 All that Coonamble has to Offer ...........................................................6 Communications............................................................................................7 Migrant Support .............................................................................................7 Transport ........................................................................................................8 Main Industry of the Coonamble Region .....................................................9 Accommodation...........................................................................................11 Real Estate....................................................................................................12 Childcare ......................................................................................................13 Education .....................................................................................................14 Higher Education .........................................................................................15 Employment Agencies ................................................................................16 Attractions/ Things to Do ............................................................................18 Sporting Clubs/Associations......................................................................20 Community Groups/Associations ..............................................................21 Churches/Religious Services......................................................................22 Financial Institutions ...................................................................................23 Services and Trades ....................................................................................23 Retail Services .............................................................................................25 Cafes/Restaurants .......................................................................................27 Clubs/Hotels.................................................................................................27 Medical Services ..........................................................................................28 1 A Better Life CoonambleFrom the Mountains to the Marshes The Country Careers Program.............................................................29 Health Service Details .................................................................................30 GWAHS Learning & Development Division......................................33 The Institute of Rural Clinical Services and Teaching (IRCST)34 AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements ................................................................................35 Created by: Catherine Deverell Country Careers Coordinator 22 February 2008 2 A Better Life COONAMBLEFrom the Mountains to the Marshes A History of Coonamble Coonamble is a smallish country town of some 3000 people on the Castlereagh River, 569 km north-west of Sydney, 93 km north of Gilgandra and 180 m above sea-level. It is essentially a service centre to the largest shire in NSW (almost 10 000 sq km) which covers the western slopes of the Warrumbungle Range and the alluvial plains of the Castlereagh. Wheat, sheep and cattle are the economic mainstays, though there is a significant horse industry and a number of famous stud farms. As far as can be determined, the original inhabitants of the area were the Kamilaroi, Kawambarai and Weilwan tribes. The town's name derives from an Aboriginal term 'gunambil', thought by some to mean 'full of bullock's dung', though the last surviving full-blood Aborigine of he area asserted that meant 'full of dirt'. This would appear to be either a reference to the arid nature of the terrain during drought or perhaps to the fact that the river bed is, for the most part, dry, owing to the fact that it flows underground when rains are absent. The first Europeans in the area were the 1818 party of John Oxley. A member of the team, George Evans, encountered the Castlereagh near the future townsite, naming it after Lord Castlereagh, the secretary of state for the colonies. In 1840 James Walker established the first run in the area; that being the 'Koonamble' station, settled by his agent. It soon became a watering place and campsite for passing stockmen. Land on either side of the river was reserved for a townsite in 1855. In 1859 it was surveyed and the first post office established. The township was gazetted in 1861 with the first courthouse and lock-up built in 1862. In 1865, bushranger John Dunn, the only surviving member of Ben Hall's gang, was surprised at his camp near Quambone (50 km west of Coonamble). Shot in the foot he hobbled away until shot in the back. As the constable approached Dunn sat up and shot the officer in the groin. Two more constables arrived and he fought them with his pistol butt but was overpowered. Put under light guard, owing to his injuries, he crawled away at night time, only to be found 3 km away the next morning. He was hanged for murder the following year. 3 A Better Life CoonambleFrom the Mountains to the Marshes The first public school was erected in 1869 with a police station and stables added in 1870. The local economy changed in its focus from cattle to sheep in the 1870s and amidst the general economic expansion of the 1870s and 1880s, the population increased from 209 in 1871 to 1680 in 1901. Consequently a new courthouse was built in 1877. It was the first government building of brick in town. The first council meeting was held there when Coonamble was declared a municipality in 1880. A bridge was built over the river in 1883 (it was replaced 100 years later). Prior to that the main river crossing was at Tooloon St and people were ferried across by means of a government boat in flood periods. The first bore south of the Darling River was drilled at Coonamble in 1894 and the town and district still rely on artesian water. This event greatly benefited the town, as did the arrival of the railway from Dubbo in 1903. A great fire struck the town in 1929, destroying almost all of the pre-war buildings in Castlereagh St. It is said the glow could be seen in Gilgandra, nearly 100 km distant. Sheep Crossing the Street in Coonamble 4 A Better Life CoonambleFrom the Mountains to the Marshes Things you need to know (Facts and Figures) The Climate of Coonamble ranges from a summer climate of 18 - 34 degrees to 3 - 17 degrees in the winter months. Major towns near Coonamble include Dubbo, which is 161.81 kilometres or 1.54 hours and also Orange which is 312.17 kilometres or 3.47 hours. So you are never isolated when you live in Coonamble. The Population of Coonamble consists of 4970 people. The Macquarie Marshes 5 A Better Life CoonambleFrom the Mountains to the Marshes All that Coonamble has to Offer Cultural Services Coonamble has an extensive calendar of events - from picnic races to twilight jazz concerts. Coonamble is a very active sporting town and offers excellent sporting facilities. Rodeo riding and camp drafting are common events. The recently renovated St. Patrick's Hall provides excellent facilities for drama and arts activities. The town also has an ampitheatre, an excellent setting for plays and musical performances. Coonamble attracts quality cultural performances promoted throughout the region. Outback Arts is a not for profit arts and cultural development organisation working in the 6 local government areas of Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Cobar, Walgett and Warren. Outback Arts receives core funding from ARTS NSW (formerly known as NSW Ministry for the Arts) on an annual basis (triennially applied for) as well as an annual contribution from the local government areas. This arrangement represents a partnership between the state government and local government in the delivery of arts and cultural outcomes in regional communities. Outback Arts was incorporated in 1999. Outback Arts' purpose is to build arts and cultural capacity in this region. Its focus is currently defined through seven key principles, with which it progresses its social and economic objectives. - defines culture holistically - effects positive community change through arts and cultural processes - is responsive to community priorities - defines community on the basis of common culture, interests, desires and aspirations - regards diversity and complexity as essential to creativity - promotes positive and healthy lifestyle by respecting and valuing people, and - seeks resources from all sectors 6 A Better Life CoonambleFrom the Mountains to the Marshes Communications The local paper for the Coonamble region is the Coonamble Times. Coonamble has its own 24-hour Community Radio station providing businesses with an outlet to advertise and creating a sense of community spirit. 3G mobile phone networks work in Coonamble. For some reason, Telstra’s Next G network seems to have better cover than other providers the further west you head. This may change as the network grows. Coonamble is currently serviced by Telstra and Optus. Coonamble television services offer 5 channels, including the ABC, Seven (Prime), Nine (WIN), Ten and SBS. Pay TV is also available in the area. Broadband and Dial up internet services are available in Coonamble. There are