Coolamon, New South Wales

This article is about the New South Wales town. For the Australian Aboriginal vessel, see Coolamon (vessel).

Coolamon New South Wales
Coolamon seen as entering from the Wagga Wagga road
Coolamon
Coordinates	34°49′55″S 147°12′04″E
Population	1,339(2006 census)
Established	3 October 1881
Postcode(s)	2701
Elevation	290 m (951 ft)
Location	15 km (9 mi) from Ganmain 40 km (25 mi) from Wagga Wagga 506 km (314 mi) from Sydney
LGA(s)	Coolamon Shire Council
County	Bourke
State electorate(s)	Murrumbidgee

Coolamon is a town in the south-west of New South Wales, Australia and is located 40 km north-west of Wagga Wagga and 506 km south-west of Sydney via the Hume and Sturt Highways. It is situated on the railway line between Junee and Narrandera. Coolamon had a population of 1,339 at the 2006 census and is 253 m above sea level. It is the administrative and service centre for the local government area which bears its name, Coolamon Shire.

History

The original land where Coolamon now stands, prior to European settlement, was occupied by the Kamilaroi and/or Wiradjuri Aborigines.

A property "Coleman" was first settled there by a Mr J. Atkinson in 1848. The town was surveyed prior to the coming of the railway and the railway station opened in 1881.

Cowabbie Post Office opened on 1 May 1881 and was renamed Ganmain on 1 July and Coolamon on 1 November of that year.

Firstly called Cowabbie Road, the station name was very shortly after changed to Coleman and finally the name Coolamon was settled on in 1895. The coming of the railway allowed greater ease in transporting the area's products to distant markets.

Modern Coolamon

Coolamon Hotel

Run while you can! This town is a hell hole. The people of Coolamon are back stabbing, mean, vindictive and bitter people. They are horrible people. This town has ruined many lives. Stay away from Coolamon. These people have no morals or respect for other people and their relationships. The men are prehistoric and go cheating on their partners every chance they get, and it is usually the other woman in town (who know you are together) that are the ones "slutting" around the pubs and sleeping with them in back alleys or in the mens cars. Friendship means nothing in this town, people you thought were your friends are probably the ones sleeping with your partner, or sticking the knife in even further by concealing and lying to your face. Family means nothing, as it will not be uncommon to hear your mother in law or very own sister to be ragging you out over a cup of coffee together. For your own sanity and well being, stay away from this town! Spread the word about Coolamon, the more people that know about how bad this town is, the better.

The name of Coolamon comes from the Aboriginal word for a basin-shaped wooden dish made and used by Australian Aborigines. In the area around the town are thousands of naturally occurring indentations in the ground called Coolamon Holes which fill with water.

Coolamon is in the wheat belt of New South Wales and is a leading state producer of wheat and chaff. Wheat was first grown in the area in the 1850s. In addition, turkeys and wool are produced and the area is noted for the quality and plumpness of its lambs. A notable sight around about are the traditional sheaf haystacks which dot the local flat, clay countryside.

The town's railway station is served by the weekly Sydney to Griffith Countrylink Xplorer service. The train stops heading to Griffith at 1:50pm on Saturdays and heading back to Sydney at 9:25am on Sundays

The town's broad main street, which has been restored, retains much of its old world charm with its wrought-iron verandahs and awnings. Various bric-a-brac and antique shops and a modern bakery decorated in a country style invite passing tourists to explore the town. The Up-to-Date store has what is probably the only cash ball cash railway still in situ.

External links

• Riverina Redevelopment Board Website
• NSW Tourism
• NSW Walkabout Coolamon page
• Coolamon Shire Council

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