Coolah, New South Wales

Coolah is a town in the central western part of New South Wales, Australia in Warrumbungle Shire. At the 2016 census, Coolah had a population of 1,290.[1] The name Coolah is derived from the Port Jackson Pidgin English word meaning "angry".[2]

"Coolah" redirects here. For the Tasmanian Devil, see Coolah (Tasmanian Devil).

Coolah
New South Wales
Main street
Coolah
Coordinates31°50′0″S 149°43′0″E
Population1,290 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)2843
Location
  • 370 km (230 mi) NW of Sydney
  • 136 km (85 mi) NE of Dubbo
  • 80 km (50 mi) NW of Merriwa
LGA(s)Warrumbungle Shire
State electorate(s)Barwon
Federal Division(s)Parkes

Geography

On the northeastern side of the area is the Liverpool Range with the Coolah Tops National Park. Most of the region is agricultural with sheep and cattle raising and crops grown along the Talbragar River and Coolaburragundy River valleys.

History

Coolah was initially the lands of the Wiradgeri and Kamilaroi People. It is said the valley was often used as a meeting ground between peoples of the two nations.The area was also the home to King Todgee a legendary leader of his people. His gravesite is on the Neilrex Road to the west of Coolah.[3] The Coolah area was first colonised by British pastoralists in the late 1830s. A Border Police barracks was established at Coolah around 1840 under Graham Douglas Hunter who was the Commissioner for Crown Lands for the Bligh District.[4] Coolah Post Office opened on 1 January 1849.[5] The town was served by a branch railway from March 1920 until May 1975.[6][7]

Cadbury Schweppes introduced a citrus-flavored energy drink in the US in 2006 named Coolah Energy. The text on the packaging for this product refers to the Australian Cadbury Schweppes product Solo as its inspiration, along with the lifestyle of the inhabitants of the town of Coolah.

Coolah is the location of the first Australian memorial commemorating The Battle of Long Tan. A total of 18 trees were planted along Coolah's Vietnam Memorial Avenue, one for each Australian soldier killed during the battle.

Heritage listings

Coolah has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Population

In the 2016 Census, there were 1,290 people in Coolah. 83.0% of people were born in Australia and 87.7% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were Anglican 39.6%, Catholic 20.1% and No Religion 17.4%.[1]

People

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Coolah (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 November 2018. Material was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License Archived 16 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. "NSW Place Names". State Library of NSW. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  3. A Short History of Coolah
  4. "Government Gazette Appointments and Employment". New South Wales Government Gazette (19). New South Wales, Australia. 8 March 1842. p. 390. Retrieved 10 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  6. Preston, R. G. (October 1976). "A Short History of the Craboon to Coolah Branch Line". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin: 213–225.
  7. "Coolah Branch". www.nswrail.net. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  8. "Old Police Station & Courthouse". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H00048. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
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