Coonabarabran, New South Wales

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Coonabarabran
New South Wales

Location of Coonabarabran in New South Wales (red)

Population:

2,736 ^[1]

Postcode:

2357

Elevation:

505 m (1,657 ft)

Location:

451 km (280 mi) NW of Sydney
161 km (100 mi) NE of Dubbo
182 km (113 mi) W of Tamworth
120 km (75 mi) SW of Narrabri

LGA:

Warrumbungle Shire Council

State District:

Barwon

Federal Division:

Gwydir

Mean Max Temp	Mean Min Temp	Rainfall
23.7 °C ^{75 °F}	7.4 °C ^{45 °F}	745.9 mm ^{29.4 in}

Coonabarabran is a town in Warrumbungle Shire in northwestern New South Wales, Australia. At the 2001 census, the town had a population of 2,736.^[1]

Lewis Gordon first proposed a town plan survey for Coonabarabran in 1859 although the area had been opened up by a Government-sponsored expedition in 1817. John Oxley found Aboriginal people living here the following year 1818 – later identified as the western language reach of the Kamilaroi clans (Gamilaraay is the spelling used by linguists). Kamilaroi people are still well represented in the region, having occupied Coonabarabran for approximately 7,500 years.

The township is located on the Newell Highway and the Oxley Highway, approximately halfway between Melbourne and Brisbane and can be reached in about six hours by car from Sydney. There are numerous motels, hotels, and caravan parks for travellers and a good meal can be found at one of the Chinese restaurants in the main street, or the local bowls or golf club.

Coonabarabran is the gateway to the Warrumbungle National Park and the Pilliga Forest. A central feature of the town is the Town Clock which is situated in the middle of town at the intersection of John Street and Dalgarno Street.

Coonabarabran is the closest town to the the 3.9 m Anglo-Australian Telescope, the largest optical telescope in Australia, situated on Siding Spring Mountain. A number of other telescopes are in use on the mountain with a number of them operated by the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the Australian National University. There are a total of 12 telescopes currently on Siding Spring, with a 13th currently being built. This is the Skymapper Survey Telescope of the ANU. Siding Spring is also home to the Uppsala Telescope where Dr Rob McNaught discovered his now famous daylight comet C2006 P1 McNaught in August 2006. A recent addition to the town was the construction of the World's Largest Virtual Solar System Drive on the roads leading to the observatory.

There are aged care facilities in the town, providing hostel, lodge and nursing home facilities. There are also village self-care units.

There are a number of doctors, a dentist and a hospital.

1 Media
2 Schools
3 Shops and Services
4 See also
5 References
6 External links==

[edit] Media

The area is currently served by a small community radio station, 2WCR FM. This station broadcasts on 99.5 FM, with a limited broadcast distance due to the hilly terrain.

[edit] Schools

The town of Coonabarabran is home to three schools:

[edit] Coonabarabran Public School

Coonabarabran Public School is a Government-funded school, located on John Street, on the Oxley highway. It has approximately 350 students, and its educational facilities range from Kindergarten to Year Six. Its Principal is Mr. Noel Willougby.

[edit] Coonabarabran High School

Coonabarabran High School is located on the Oxley highway, is also Government-funded, has approximately 400 students. It has a range of academic and sporting facilities, an Ag-plot, two computer labs, a gym, and a hall. The principal is Mr. Kevin Sharp, and the deputy is Mr. Graham Enks.

[edit] St Lawrence's Catholic School

St Lawrence's Catholic School is located on Dalgarno Street. It caters for Kindergarten to Year Ten. It is not Government-funded, and education is based around a Catholic lifestyle.

[edit] Shops and Services

Being a small country town, Coonabarabran has limited shops. There are two major chain shopping centres, Woolworths and Coles, plus the fast food stores Subway and Eagle Boys Pizza. Until 2007 there was an IGA store, run by the Woo family, that supplied most of the town. There is a newsagency, and two video hire stores, as well as a local bakery, catering service, two Chinese restaurants, a Thai food store, Mini Golf, and several hotels.