Grenfell, New South Wales
| Grenfell New South Wales |
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 Main Street, Grenfell, during the 2011 Henry Lawson Festival |
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 Grenfell
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| Population: | 1,994[1] | ||||||
| Postcode: | 2810 | ||||||
| Coordinates: | 33°54′S 148°09′E / 33.9°S 148.15°ECoordinates: 33°54′S 148°09′E / 33.9°S 148.15°E | ||||||
| Elevation: | 410 m (1,345 ft) | ||||||
| Location: |
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| LGA: | Weddin Shire | ||||||
| State electorate: | Burrinjuck | ||||||
| Federal Division: | Hume | ||||||
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Grenfell is a country town in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia, in Weddin Shire. It is 370 kilometres west of Sydney and five hours' drive from the city. It is close to Forbes, Cowra and Young. At the 2006 census, Grenfell had a population of 1,994.[1]
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[edit] History
Prior to European settlement the Grenfell area was home to the Wiradjuri Aborigines. Grenfell is a goldmining town first known as Emu Creek and renamed in honour of John Grenfell, Gold Commissioner at Forbes, who had been killed in 1866 when bushrangers attacked a stagecoach on which he was travelling. Weddin Post Office opened on 3 December 1866 and was renamed Grenfell on 24 December the same year.[2]By 1870-71 it was producing more gold than any other town in NSW. However by the mid-1870s gold was in decline. Wheat was first grown in the district in 1871. The railway reached Grenfell in 1901. Unlike most Australian country towns Grenfell has a main street which bends.
In June 2007, the Spirit of the Bush Concert was held on the sporting fields. Acts included the organiser and Australian of the Year Lee Kernaghan, local and international star Steve Forde & the Flange, Adam Brand, Leo Sayer, Diesel, and The McClymonts.
[edit] Henry Lawson Festival of Arts
The poet and story writer Henry Lawson was born on the nearby gold fields. On the Queen's Birthday weekend in June every year, the town hosts the Henry Lawson Festival of Arts, which attracts thousands of visitors. The festival is a celebration of local and national talent, with art, poetry and writing competitions drawing entries from all over Australia. It was first held in 1958.[3] The June weekend was chosen because it is close to Lawson's birthday. Over the years, such personalities as Chips Rafferty, Barry Humphries, Patrick White and Sigrid Thornton have attended.
[edit] Fossils
Grenfell is an important centre of for fossils of Devonian fishes, which occur in many surrounding outcrops of the Hunter Siltstone geological formation.
[edit] People
Cricketer Stan McCabe, cyclist Reggie McNamara and tennis player Jan Lehane were born in Grenfell.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Grenfell (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=UCL135400&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
- ^ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=NSW&country=. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
- ^ A ride from Grenfell to Gulgong is also held to commemorate the Lawson family trek from Grenfell to Gulgong when he was a boy.The Grenfell Henry Laawson Festival of Arts History of Festival
[edit] External links
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