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GUNNEDAH AREA & INTERESTS
Gunnedah Koala Country My Country Prior to white settlement in 1834, the Gunn-e-darr people of the Kamilaroi tribe inhabited the Gunnedah area. One of the first identities to live in the area was the “Red Chief”; the legendary Aboriginal warrior whose life story has been told by Ion Idriess in his book entitled “The Red Chief”. The township of Gunnedah began as a tiny settlement known as “The Woolshed”, nestled amidst the fertile black soil plains of the Upper Namoi Valley and overlooking the Namoi and Mooki Rivers. Since this time, Gunnedah has developed into a bustling and progressive country town with a population of between 9,000 and 10,000 residing in the town and a total of 13,000 within the Shire area. Local industries and the natural attractions of the area have encouraged the establishment of a strong, close-knit community supporting a full range of retail outlets and a wide spectrum of business and service industries. Visitors to Gunnedah are always pleasantly surprised with attractions including several memorials, the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial near the Visitor Information Centre, the Miners Memorial near the Town Hall and the Red Chief Memorial in Abbott Street. Other attractions include, the Rural Museum, one of the healthiest Koala colonies in the State, Waterways Wildlife Park, Keepit Dam, the Bindea Walk, Lions Club Town Tour, Porcupine Lookout and of course the abundant natural beauty and wildlife. Gunnedah also hosts Ag-Quip, the largest agricultural field days in the Southern Hemisphere and is held in the third week of August every year attraction over 100,000 visitors to the area. During this time the Visitors Centre operates a Bed & Breakfast accommodation service in private homes in town to cater for the influx of visitors. Other annual events include the Mitre-10 Week of Speed Festival held during late March, the weeklong Grey Mardi Gras, ‘A Celebration for Seniors’, during April, and the Two Rivers Cultural Festival over the long weekend in October. The Mitre-10 Week of Speed festival features varied forms of racing: Go-karts, drag, sailing, horse, greyhound, bicycle as well as burnouts, car and motor bike shows and speed chess! If it moves it’ll be there! The largest industry in the area is agriculture, occupying approximately 407,072 hectares and providing an annual income approaching $675 million. This income is derived from a mixture of highly motivated family farms and a number of large corporate farm units focusing on summer and winter crops including cotton, wheat, barley, sorghum, sunflowers and soya beans and the production of livestock such as cattle, sheep and pigs. A well established infrastructure exists to service the demands of these industries including the local saleyards which is one of the largest stock selling centres in NSW with stock sales held every Tuesday. The coal industry has also played a large part in the local economy. Gunnedah Shire is located on one of the largest underground coal seams in NSW. Both open cut and underground mines have been in operation and have provided an important source of employment and revenue to the area. Mining continues at Whitehaven Mine near Maules Creek.
Gunnedah - What to See & Do! Gunnedah and district is home to an expanding, healthy koala population. They can be easily seen in an around the town. By day they are mostly sleeping in their favoured eucalypts and sometimes, in the early morning or evening, seen sauntering from tree to tree along the footpath or crossing the streets! Localities where they are often seen include near the Gunnedah Visitor Information Centre, in Henry Street near St Xavier’s School and the Tourist Caravan Park, along Stock Road, the Bindea Walking Track on Porcupine Lookout and in the TAFE Campus grounds. This sign posted self-drive tour takes about 45 mins. The tour takes you up to Porcupine Lookout and around various points of interest in the town including residential, industrial and historical sites. An information leaflet is available from the Visitors Centre, which provides details about the tour directing you to follow the corresponding numbers on the signposts. A bronze, life-sized statue of Dorothea Mackellar, author of “My Country”, is located in Anzac Park. The Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society Inc. is raising funds to enhance the collection of memorabilia currently housed in the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Wing of the Gunnedah Visitors Centre. The Society also coordinates the annual Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards, a National Poetry Competition for School Children of all ages, which results in over 10,000 entries being received annually. A selection of student’s poems are on display, with souvenirs, a book of Dorothea Mackellar Poems and a CD with Dorothea Mackellar reciting ‘My Country’, being for sale. Located near the entrance of the State Office block in Abbott Street, this is the first memorial to be erected in honour of an Aboriginal historical identity. This great warrior and leader has been immortalised by Ion Idriess in his book titled, “The Red Chief”. Dedicated to the 20 miners who lost their lives during the 89 years of mining in and around Gunnedah, this 1¼ times life-size statue depicts a miner replacing a pit prop. The broken prop at the miner’s feet is symbolic of the ‘broken’ miners’ lives. Located in Brock’s Court, opposite the Town Hall, it is an imposing landmark and at night is transformed with strategic lighting. A working museum of farm machinery, equipment and artefacts highlighting the early days of agriculture in Australia, in particular, the Gunnedah and Liverpool Plains area. Located on the Oxley Highway, 1km west of the Visitors Centre, the museum is open seven days from 9.00am to 3.00pm. Located in Anzac Park this museum is quite unique in concept. Memorabilia is housed in the old water tower that was built in 1908 and was the first water reservoir to be constructed in Gunnedah. The building now comprises of three floors with an observation deck on the roof. A feature of the museum is the mural painting on the third floor which captures the very early Aboriginal and European history of the district. The museum is open every Saturday afternoon between 2.00pm and 5.00pm and also by special arrangement. Located 7 kms from Gunnedah on the Mullaley Road, it has all sorts of wildlife including kangaroos, wombats, emus, possums, lizards, birds, koalas, etc. Entry charges are $2.50 for 5 to 15 years and $5.00 for 15 years plus. Opening hours are from 10 AM – 5 PM, 7 days a week. Telephone 02 6742 1826. Turn off the Oxley Highway 29 kilometres north-east of Gunnedah (on the Tamworth Road). The lake area is a further 5 kilometres in and is well signposted. Lake Keepit State Park located on the foreshore of the lake has large well appointed vans, cabins, camp-o-tels available. The lake is the centre for aquatic sports and is surrounded by picnic and free electric barbecue areas. Other facilities include 5 hole golf course, Western Paintball, half and full size tennis courts and bird watching just to name a few. Gunnedah Saleyards Gunnedah Saleyards is one of the largest stock selling centres in NSW and is located on the edge of town 1 km from the town centre on the Narrabri Road. Stock sales are held every Tuesday and cattle sales commence at 9.00 am. All cattle are sold live weight and sheep sales follow at around 1.00 pm. A canteen operates from 7.30 am opposite the saleyards and sells home style meals and morning & afternoon tea. Located in Chandos Street, this building was Gunnedah’s major Bicentennial project. The gallery houses the town art collection and 33 Jean Isherwood, “My Country”, water colour paintings. The Centre is also available to hire for meetings and conferences - enquiries or bookings can be made by contacting Gunnedah Shire Council on (02) 6740 2100. The caretaker office is located next door at the Town Hall and inspection can be arranged by contacting the office. Opened in March 2001, the Civic is located in Chandos Street between the Town Hall and Creative Arts Centre and is named after the former Civic picture theatre (now Bi-Lo in Conadilly Street). Containing tiered seating for 135 (including wheelchair spaces) and state of the art audiovisual equipment, the Civic is the focus of Gunnedah’s cultural and performing arts and is a sought after conference venue. The walking track was designed and constructed by Tamworth Lands Office in association with the Gunnedah Shire Council. Located at the top of Porcupine Lookout, the track offers a range of different walks of various lengths. Picnic and barbecue facilities have been provided at a number of locations. A map of the walks is available from the Visitors Centre. Held in Wolseley Park, (opposite Woolworths), on the third Saturday of each month these well-attended markets start around 8.30 AM. A variety of stalls offer something for everyone. To book a stall call Barb Heath on 0429 402249. Free electric BBQ’s are available at Wolseley Park on the northern side near the adventure playground in Bloomfield Street and also one on the western side of the park in Tempest Street. Another is located in Anzac Park next to the Visitor Information Centre. The Heated Pool is open weekdays from 6.00am to 9.00pm and weekends from 9.00am to 7.00pm. A kiosk operates selling takeaway foods & snacks. Entry gate to the indoor pool during the winter months is located 300 metres from the Main entrance building around in Memorial Avenue so why not enjoy a swim all year round. § Ben Hall’s Wall at Breeza, § John Oxley Cairn on the Mullaley-Tambar Springs Road, § “Chief Havoc” Memorial (famous Greyhound) located at the entrance of the Gunnedah Coursing Club in Henry Street, § Eighth Division Memorial Drive - 40 flowering ironbarks in memory of the fallen of the 8th Division of World War 2, § The 150 degrees East Time Meridian, 34 kms south west of Gunnedah on the Oxley Highway.
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