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Gilgandra, New South Wales
Gilgandra, New South Wales
Gilgandra, New South Wales
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Gilgandra is a country town in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia, and services the surrounding agricultural area where wheat is grown extensively together with other cereal crops, and sheep and beef cattle are raised.[4] The town is the administrative seat of the Gilgandra Shire.[5]

Key Information

Sited at the junction of the Newell, Oxley and Castlereagh highways, Gilgandra is located in a wide bend of the Castlereagh River, downstream from its source near Coonabarabran, directly downstream from Mendooran, and upstream from Gulargambone and Coonamble.[6] It is 432 km north-west of Sydney (about six hours' driving time), and is located approximately half way along the inland route from Melbourne to Brisbane. It is known as the town of windmills and the home of the "Coo-ees", and is a gateway to the Warrumbungles National Park.

Population

[edit]
Historical population
YearPop.±%
19542,032—    
19612,245+10.5%
19662,414+7.5%
19712,555+5.8%
19762,494−2.4%
19812,700+8.3%
19862,713+0.5%
19912,890+6.5%
19962,822−2.4%
20012,721−3.6%
20062,679−1.5%
20112,664−0.6%
20162,595−2.6%
20212,417−6.9%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics data.[7][8]

At the 2016 census, the population of Gilgandra township was 2,600. In the wider Gilgandra area, the population was 4,300, with 96.4% Australian-born and 13.8% identifying as Aboriginal. The largest category of employment was Agriculture and Forestry, which involved 28.6% of the population.[9]

Castlereagh Waterhole

[edit]

The name Gilgandra came from Aboriginal word for the area, and means "long waterhole".[10] The water level in the Castlereagh River is variable and the wide, sandy riverbed is frequently dry, or is reduced to a small stream.[11] However, there was a large permanent waterhole in the river, 100 yards (91 m) long and 12 feet (3.7 m) deep, near where the township developed, and for many years subsequently.[12] It was the source of the town's name.

Windmills and Artesian Water

[edit]

Gilgandra is situated above the subterranean water of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) and, specifically, over the Surat Sub-basin of the GAB.[13] Artesian water occurs where porous rocks below the surface, called aquifers, store and carry water underground. When bores are sunk to reach the aquifers, windmills can draw the water to the surface to be stored in tanks.[14] Well over a hundred years ago, windmills were being used by townspeople to access Gilgandra's fresh, drinkable artesian water for their households, and by farmers to obtain water for their stock.[15] Windmills were being advertised in the first Gilgandra newspapers in 1905, with several local people selling and installing them, including plumber Bill Hitchen, later famous for organising the 1915 Cooee march.[16] From the early 20th century, locals and others referred to Gilgandra as a "town of windmills", and many references to that can be found.[17]

In 1948, it was reported that there were over 300 windmills in Gilgandra.[18] Many can still be seen dotted around the town but few are now in use. The Gilgandra Shire Council built a reticulated water supply in 1966, reducing reliance on private windmills. The council draws on artesian water, operating a network of nine bores to supply water to Gilgandra.[19] In 2016 Gilgandra had the largest single annual licensed entitlement to water from the Great Artesian Basin of any shire council in NSW, at 2,020 megalitres.[20]

History

[edit]

Before the European squatters took up pastoral runs in the 1830s,[21] the Gilgandra region was home to three Aboriginal language groups: the Gamilaraay, Wiradjuri and Wayilwan.[22] According to archaeological evidence cited in the Warrumbungle National Park guidebook, indigenous groups are believed to have lived to the east of Gilgandra for at least 25,000 years, and in the Warrumbungle Ranges, 70 kilometres to the north, for about 17,000 years.[23]

Gilgandra was proclaimed as a town in 1888, and the first town blocks were sold in 1889. While that was an impetus to growth, the area had been settled by a Europeans for many years before that. Gilgandra's Post Office was formally established in 1867, a local school had opened in 1881, and the first hearings were held in the Gilgandra court house in 1884. The Gilgandra Shire was constituted in 1906.[24]

On 20 July 1900, an indigenous man, Jimmy Governor, murdered four members of the Mawbey family, and the children's governess, at their farming property just east of Gilgandra, in the area of Breelong. He was working as a fencing contractor for Mr Mawbey. The story of the murders received great publicity at the time.[25][26] It was revived 1972 as the basis of a fictional work by Thomas Keneally, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith.[27]

During World War I, a recruitment march to Sydney began in Gilgandra, known as the Coo-ee March. The men who enlisted on the way became known locally as "Coo-ees". The march was given its name because the marchers shouted the old bush call of "cooee" at each town along their journey to attract recruits. Twenty-six men left Gilgandra on 10 October 1915. At each town on the route, the marchers were feted and a recruitment meeting was held. By the time they reached Sydney, just over one month later on Friday 12 November 1915, the number of recruits had swelled to 263.[28][29] They were welcomed on arrival in Sydney with huge crowds lining George Street near the Town Hall to welcome them and an official address given to them by the Minister for Works representing the Premier of New South Wales.[30]

in 1919, as a peace thanksgiving, parishioners of St Ambrose Church in Bournemouth, England, grateful for the assistance England had received from the Dominions in defending the British Empire, decided to gift £1,200 to the town in the Empire with a good church and wartime service record. Gilgandra was chosen and the money funded the construction of St Ambrose Church, Gilgandra, which commenced in 1920.[31]

Climate

[edit]

Gilgandra experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa), with hot summers and cool winters. Rainfall is low throughout the year, with a slight peak in summer from thunderstorm activity.

Climate data for Gilgandra (Chelmsford Ave, 1915–1975 [incomplete], rainfall 1889–2025) 282 metres (925 ft) AMSL
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 45.8
(114.4) 		43.9
(111.0) 		39.4
(102.9) 		36.7
(98.1) 		31.7
(89.1) 		27.2
(81.0) 		23.9
(75.0) 		28.9
(84.0) 		35.0
(95.0) 		37.5
(99.5) 		43.3
(109.9) 		42.8
(109.0) 		45.8
(114.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 33.1
(91.6) 		32.2
(90.0) 		29.8
(85.6) 		24.8
(76.6) 		20.0
(68.0) 		16.4
(61.5) 		15.6
(60.1) 		17.2
(63.0) 		21.0
(69.8) 		25.2
(77.4) 		29.0
(84.2) 		31.9
(89.4) 		24.7
(76.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 17.3
(63.1) 		17.4
(63.3) 		14.6
(58.3) 		10.3
(50.5) 		6.1
(43.0) 		3.9
(39.0) 		2.5
(36.5) 		3.4
(38.1) 		5.9
(42.6) 		9.4
(48.9) 		12.6
(54.7) 		15.9
(60.6) 		9.9
(49.9)
Record low °C (°F) 4.4
(39.9) 		4.4
(39.9) 		2.2
(36.0) 		−2.8
(27.0) 		−5.6
(21.9) 		−6.1
(21.0) 		−6.7
(19.9) 		−6.1
(21.0) 		−4.4
(24.1) 		−1.7
(28.9) 		0.6
(33.1) 		3.9
(39.0) 		−6.7
(19.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 63.8
(2.51) 		52.9
(2.08) 		49.4
(1.94) 		40.1
(1.58) 		42.0
(1.65) 		45.9
(1.81) 		42.6
(1.68) 		39.3
(1.55) 		40.1
(1.58) 		47.3
(1.86) 		49.1
(1.93) 		54.0
(2.13) 		566.5
(22.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 4.4 4.0 3.9 3.2 3.9 5.0 4.9 4.4 4.2 4.5 4.4 4.3 51.1
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology[3][a]

Heritage listings

[edit]

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

Attractions

[edit]

Sport and Recreation

[edit]

Gilgandra has many sporting facilities. Local clubs support participation and arrange training and competitions.

The most popular sport in Gilgandra is rugby league. The Gilgandra Panthers rugby league team play in the Castlereagh Cup and have won the competition on six occasions, with the most recent being in 2018. They also won five premierships in the Group 14 competition which ran from 1949 until 2000, and won a Group 11 title in 1989 during their short stint in that competition.

Gilgandra's public swimming pool is located next to the town's main park and is open across the warmer months from October to end March. Learn-to-swim and exercise classes are held here. Set in lovely grassed grounds, the tiled pool was opened in October 1939 and is 33m long. There is also a children's play pool with good sun protection over.[33] Grassed tennis courts are located on a corner opposite the swimming pool (corner Castlereagh and Willie Sts).

A 9-hole public golf course, with grass greens and a licensed club-house, is located on Racecourse Rd over the bridge from the main part of the town. Golf competitions are held regularly. The golf course is situated entirely within the town's horse racing track.[34]

The town has a race course for horse racing, situated on Racecourse Road, where the Gilgandra Jockey Club arranges race meetings during the year, including the Gilgandra Cup held each January. The race course is picturesque with the town's golf fairways and greens inside the boundary of the track.[35]

There is a youth club, which has squash courts, basketball courts, and an indoor area. A fitness centre operates out of the facility.[36]

There are two main grassed recreation grounds where many different team and club sports are played (cricket, rugby league, football, Little Athletics). The town's original oval is located in Eiraben St and the Ernie Knight Oval is on Warren Rd.[37]

Gilgandra Speedway is a popular track in the district where regular motor (car) racing events are held in many divisions. It is run by Gilgandra District Speedway Club which has hosted both state and national titles here at different times. The track is well fenced and is lit for night racing. It is located on the Newell Highway 4 km south of the township (direction of Dubbo).[38]

Tourist Attractions

[edit]

The tourist information centre is located in the Cooee Heritage and Visitor Information Centre, at the south end of the town, on the Newell Highway. Coming from the direction of Dubbo, it is on the right-hand-side just after the grain silos and railway track crossing. Coming from Coonabarabran, Coonamble or Mendooran directions, it is along the river bank on the left-hand-side.[39]

The Cooee Heritage and Visitor Information Centre houses several museums and galleries.[40] The Gilgandra Art Gallery exhibits local and visiting artists in a range of mediums, and exhibitions are regularly changed. Aboriginal artefacts and ancient fossils and shells are displayed in the Joy Trudgett Gallery. Family history, including details of Gilgandra locals who enlisted in WW2, is on display in the Allan Wise Gallery where exhibitions are also regularly changed.

The Gilgandra Rural Museum displays and preserves an extensive collection of local farming equipment, and agricultural plant and machinery. It was established, and is run, by the volunteers of the Gilgandra Historical Society. The Museum is situated just along from the Cooee Heritage and Visitor Information Centre on the Newell Highway at the edge of Gilgandra and can be identified by a large display windmill outside. Particularly interesting large items include the Howard Rotary Hoe (a version of a cultivator) which was invented at Gilgandra, a Ridley Stripper, and a Ruston & Proctor Steam Traction Engine.[41]

Windmill Walk commences at the Rural Museum and meanders along the Castlereagh River to the town centre. Picnic spots and BBQ facilities are located along the way.[42]

The Gilgandra Native Flora Reserve is 8.5 ha of remnant bushland which features many plant species. The local wildflowers in the reserve are best seen from September to November. There are picnic and barbecue facilities.[43]

Gilgandra has a privately owned observatory open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday.

Hitchen House Museum is set up in the house once owned and lived in by Bill Hitchen, who was the driving force for the Cooee March. Displays in the museum tell the story of the Cooee March. There is a good array of WWI memorabilia in the museum.[44]

The Cooee March memorial is a stone cairn marking the spot in Bridge Street where local men commenced the Cooee March on 10 October 1915. A nearby wall mural contributes to the memorial. Recruitment marches like this were called Snowball marches, and sprang up elsewhere in NSW following the example of the Cooee March. The men assembled here in October 1915 to begin their recruitment drive by themselves marching to Sydney.[45]

There is a community radio station WARFM, which is on 98.9FM, broadcasting a wide range of programs.[46]

Annual Events

[edit]
  • January – The Gilgandra Cup is a horse race run over 1600m at the Gilgandra Race Course. It is held in January each year during the annual two-day horse racing Gilgandra Cup Carnival, and is run by the Gilgandra Jockey Club. In 2018 the total prizemoney for the Gilgandra Cup was $35,000.[47][48]
  • April or May – The Gilgandra Show is an agricultural show held in April or May each year at the Gilgandra Showground at the western end of town on Warren Rd. It is run by the Gilgandra Show Society. In 2018 it was held on Friday 20th and Saturday 21 April. The annual show is a gathering point for the local community with displays of livestock, agricultural products and farm machinery, as well as ring events and equestrian competitions, woodchopping competitions, fun entertainment such as sideshows and rides, and food and drink stands.[49][50]
  • April – Senior Citizens Week and awards.[51]
  • October Long Weekend – Gilgandra Cooee Festival. Gilgandra organises a fun weekend festival of activities and entertainment for townspeople and visitors for many years on the October long weekend. There is a main street parade. On one day there is entertainment in the town park with wood chopping, stalls, rides, buskers, games competitions, and the coo-ee calling competition. There are sporting competitions such as golf. Live entertainment is offered in the evenings.[52]

Shops and Services

[edit]

Retail

[edit]

Miller Street is the main street with a full offering of retail stores. The Central Stores offer a range of merchandise from fashion to homewares, books and jewellery. Interest is added with an antiques, two beauty and cosmetic retailers and two hairdressers, a well-stocked pharmacy, newsagent and electrical retailer.[53]

Target Country closed its Gilgandra branch on 6 July 2019.[54] However, the main street has a range of grocery providers with a bakery and a butcher and a grocery / liquor store. Farmers, and the community's hardware needs, are met by timber retailers, farm suppliers and farm machinery suppliers, and grain and timber stores as well as hardware store in the main street.[53]

Professional Services

[edit]

Several different financial/legal professional services firms operate in the town, from two private legal firms, to an insurance broker, three accountants and business services firms.[55] There is a combined real estate/stock & station agency.

Gilgandra Veterinary Clinic serves the needs of farm animal production and large animals, right through to domestic pets.[56]

Community and Health Services

[edit]
  • Medical – The Gilgandra Medical Centre is a one-stop centre for doctors' and other health services in the town. The town's GPs run their own independent practices but operate out of the medical centre. Appointments for visiting dentist and optometrist services are also made here. The centre was established as part of Rural and Remote Medical Services.[57] The town has a large, modern pharmacy/chemist shop located in the main street.
  • Hospital – Gilgandra's hospital is a modern, purpose-built 'Multi Purpose Health Service' with 31 beds situated in Chelmsford Avenue. It provides acute and sub-acute, emergency, and residential aged care. It also provides visiting practitioners and clinicians for allied health services. The nearest major referral hospital is only 40 minutes’ drive away at Dubbo.[58]
  • Aged Care – Retirement village and hostels. The Cooee Lodge Retirement Village situated next to the town's hospital facility offers detached retirement units for independent living, and a 40-bed hostel with an additional 10-bed special care wing. The Jack Towney Hostel is a separate 13-place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care facility with 24-hour support staff.[59]
  • Community / Disability services – A Community Care Centre is located in the main street, run by NSW's Home and Community Care Program. It has an Aged Care Assessment Team, and clients are the frail, frail aged, and people with a disability.[60]
  • Orana Lifestyle Directions provides support services for people with intellectual disability who live in group homes within Gilgandra, while Carlginda Enterprises provides employment for people with disability and offers training for employment.[61]

Education Services

[edit]

There are two primary schools and a public high school, all co-educational:

  • Gilgandra Public School educates children from Kindergarten to Year 6 with around 190 pupils. It opened in October 1881, with centenary celebrations in 1981.[62]
  • St Joseph's Primary School is a Catholic systemic school from years K–6 with approximately 200 pupils. Founded in 1909 by the Sisters of St. Joseph from the Bathurst Diocese, it is now run by lay teachers.[63]
  • Gilgandra High School educates approximately 230 local teenagers from Year 7–12.[64]

A Technical College (TAFE) campus offers vocational training in a range of trade and industry specific areas, such as business administration, and digital photography.[65]

For the Under-5's, there is a professionally run community pre-school, and a private early childcare business also offers a pre-school program in addition to long day care.

Religious Services

[edit]

Like many towns in western NSW, Gilgandra has an array of churches offering services supporting their congregations. Many of these have their own web page with details of the times of their church services. The various churches are:

  • Catholic – St Joseph's Church in Wrigley St. The Catholic community also runs St Joseph's primary school. The Sisters of St. Joseph are also represented at a convent located next to the church. A St Vincent de Paul centre, with a Vinnie's shop manned by volunteers, is open daily and is located in Wamboin St between Warren Rd and Myrtle St.
  • Anglican – St Ambrose Church on the corner of Myrtle and Wamboin Streets. The Anglican Minister's manse is located next door to the church.
  • Uniting Church – corner Wamboin and Myrtle Streets.
  • Presbyterian – at 42 Myrtle Street.
  • Lutheran – located on the Newell Highway.
  • Assemblies of God – New Life Centre, 74 Warren Road.
  • Australian Indigenous Ministries (AIM) – 89 Wrigley St.
  • Heartland Church – 44 Miller Street.

Notable people

[edit]

Civic Minded

[edit]
  • Gerald Colin McKellar (1903–1970), farmer and politician, was born on 29 May 1903 at Gulgong, New South Wales, second child of native-born parents Gerald Murdoch McKellar, a carrier who turned his hand to farming, and his wife Margaret Jane, née Travis. Educated at Gilgandra and prominent in farming organizations, McKellar was a director (1951–1959) of the Dubbo Pastures Protection Board and a councillor (1960–1964) of the New South Wales Sheepbreeders' Association. He also chaired Gilgandra Newspapers Pty Ltd for two years. Committed to the Country Party, he led its Lawson and Castlereagh electorate councils for two decades before becoming chairman (1957) of the New South Wales division. In 1958 he was elected to the Senate. He was also Chairman of Committees including federal party's rural finance committee and Deputy President of the Senate from 1952–1964 and Minister for Repatriation from 1964–1970. The suburb McKellar in the ACT (2617) is named after him.
  • Jim Curran (1927–2005), Gilgandra-born and raised, he was the local member for the Castlereagh electorate in NSW State Parliament from 1980 to 1981. Prior to that he had been very involved in the Gilgandra branch of the NSW Labor party in capacity as Secretary and then President for many years.[66]
  • William Thomas Hitchen (1864–1916), was a Gilgandra plumber and the Captain of the Gilgandra rifle club when WW1 commenced. He proposed the concept of a recruiting march from Gilgandra to Sydney, and was instrumental in making this a reality by organising the Cooee March which commenced in October 1915 from Gilgandra. Hitchen himself enlisted for the march and was shipped with troops to England. However, he died in England in 1916, not having seen active service.[67]
  • Ernie Knight (1943–1995), an Indigenous Australian, who worked for Gilgandra Shire Council for the thirty years of his working life, diligently and loyally maintaining the town's parks, gardens and recreational grounds. The Railway Oval was renamed in his memory in November 1995 as 'Ernie Knight Oval'.[68]
  • Tony McGrane (1946–2004), was Mayor of Gilgandra for 16 years. He then moved 40 miles south to Dubbo and became Mayor of Dubbo for eight years from 1991 until early 1999 when he ran as an independent for the seat of Dubbo. He won the seat of Dubbo, formerly considered a safe Country Party seat, by 24 votes from the Country Party.[69] From 27 March 1999 until 15 September 2004 McGrane was then the member for the Dubbo electorate in the NSW State Parliament. Tony McGrane died in office on 15 September 2004.[70]

Inventors

[edit]
  • Arthur Clifford Howard, known as "Cliff", (1893–1971), inventor of the rotary hoe (a version of a cultivator), whose father John Howard moved in 1908 from Crookwell to a property named "Mountain View" at Biddon near Gilgandra. In 1912 when his father introduced a steam tractor engine to his farm Cliff Howard had the idea of applying the tractor's power to blades that would turn the soil instead of compacting it as a pulled plough did. In 1912 Howard created and tested the prototype of his invention on "Mountain View", leading to his patenting the rotary hoe in 1919.[71]

Pioneers

[edit]
  • Hannah Morris (1829–1911), pioneer of Gilgandra, resided in the area from 1852, innkeeper and landowner, and driving figure in establishing Gilgandra township.[72]

Sportspeople

[edit]
  • Bob Foran (1938–2018), Gilgandra-born and raised horse trainer, owner and race caller.[73][74] Bob's father, Vic Foran, was a well known Gilgandra horse trainer as was, in turn, Vic's own father – Jim Foran. Bob himself was widely known across the western NSW racing region, and in January 2015 reached the incredible milestone of calling his 60th Gilgandra Cup.[75][76]
  • John Farragher, OAM, (1957–2025), Gilgandra-born and raised rugby league player who attended Gilgandra High School and played rugby league for Gilgandra. He was selected for the Western Districts rugby league team in 1977. In 1978 he commenced playing First Grade rugby league with Penrith Panthers, aged 21. In May the same year, John was playing in prop position in only his seventh game with the Penrith club, when the scrum collapsed and John, underneath the collapse, became quadriplegic. Following his extensive rehabilitation efforts, Penrith Panthers employed John in a public relations capacity and he has been a familiar face at the door greeting and assisting visitors to the club for many years since.[77] John was awarded an OAM in 2016 for services to rugby league and to the Penrith community.[78]
  • Johnny King (b.1942), rugby league winger from 1960 for twelve years with St George's First Grade side in the NSW Rugby League competition, whose first seven years with the club were on the winning grand final side, and who represented Australia fifteen times. Johnny King was born and raised in Gilgandra, the son of Cec King, a local mechanic, and was a Gilgandra jeweller's apprentice when he left for Sydney at the age of 16.[79]
  • Don O'Connor (b.1958), Gilgandra-born and raised cricketer played for Tasmania and for South Australia in the interstate Sheffield Shield competition 1981–1990.[80]

War heroes WWI

[edit]
  • Herbert Foran (1893–1973), born in the Gilgandra area to grazier Thomas Foran and his wife Sarah (Green), he was raised by his parents on "New Berida" with nine siblings, and was farming there when he enlisted early in WW1. Herb Foran was awarded the French Medaille Militare in 1918.[81]
  • Leslie Greenleaf (1899–1980) was a recent British immigrant who was working on 'Dick's Camp' Collie when he enlisted in October 1915 for WW1, aged only 17, as one of the original Coo-ee marchers setting out from Gilgandra. He was awarded the Military Medal for action in March–April 1918 at Villiers-Bretonneux, France. Leslie Greenleaf was the last survivor of the original 35 men who commenced the Coo-ee march at Gilgandra.[82]
  • Thomas Henry Turvey (1893–1965) was born at Gulgong where his grandfather Frederick Turvey had settled after being transported on the "Charles Kerr" arriving NSW in 1837. Thomas Turvey was raised at Gilgandra when his parents, Thomas Isaac Turvey (1867–1950) and wife Mary, bought "Cedar Side" at Gilgandra. He was working at Gilgandra when he joined the Coo-ee March in October 1915 as one of the original 35 men commencing the march. His WWI military record[83] shows that he signed up along the way on 4 November, aged 22, and was enlisted at Lawson in the Blue Mountains on 7 November. Tom Turvey was awarded the Military Medal for action in February 1917 at Guedecourt, France. This was "for bravery in the field".[84] Turvey returned to Gilgandra during the 1940s and later moved to Sydney.[85]

War heroes WWII

[edit]
  • Malcolm Foran DFC (1922–1979), son of Herbert Foran (See 'War Heroes WW1) and Grace, née Deans, Malcolm was Gilgandra-born and raised, and was a bomber pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force serving in England in WWII. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944.[86]
  • Allan Donald McKellar (1917–1975), Gilgandra-born, son of Gerald Murdoch McKellar (d. March 1949) and Margaret, née Travis. Alan McKellar was a bomber pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force who served in England in WWII, and in mid 1944 received the King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.[87] Allan's father had purchased Gilgandra's "Eringanerin" property in 1907. Allan was farming on "Eringanerin" when he married Miss Lorraine Lucas of Gilgandra in 1940, and when he enlisted later the same year. He took over the running of the property on his return.[88]
  • Rawdon Middleton VC (1916–1942), was known as Ron Middleton and was the elder son of Frank Middleton and his wife Faith, née Miller. He was raised at Gilgandra as a teenager, became a bomber pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942, serving in WWII, and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.[89]
  • Frank Morris VCF, raised at Balladoran near Gilgandra, bomber pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force serving in England during WWII, awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944.[90] Frank Morris was the son of Welsh immigrants, Robert and Mary Morris, who settled first at Curban by 1911[91] and then at Balladoran on a property they named "Garthowen".[92] Frank's mother died in 1938, before he enlisted, leaving him with three surviving brothers and three surviving sisters in addition to his father.[93]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Gilgandra, New South Wales

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Gilgandra is a rural town in the Orana region of central-western , , located on the banks of the Castlereagh River and functioning as the administrative centre for Gilgandra Shire. The shire encompasses a population of approximately 4,300 residents as of recent estimates, with the town supporting a local economy dominated by , including extensive cultivation in the surrounding districts. The name Gilgandra originates from an Indigenous Australian term meaning "long waterhole," denoting its position as a traditional gathering site near a persistent water source. The town achieved lasting historical prominence as the launch point for the 1915 Coo-ee March, a volunteer recruiting expedition for that departed with 25 men from Gilgandra and expanded to 263 enlistees upon reaching after traversing over 300 miles on foot, exemplifying regional mobilization for the Allied cause. Proclaimed in 1888 amid earlier European settlement, Gilgandra developed as a service hub for pastoral and farming activities, bolstered by its strategic placement along key transport routes connecting inland areas to coastal ports.

Geography and Environment

Location and Topography

Gilgandra is situated in central-western , , within the Orana region, at 31.70° S and 148.66° E. The town lies approximately 460 km northwest of and 66 km east of , positioned at the confluence of the Newell, Oxley, and Castlereagh Highways, facilitating regional connectivity. The town's elevation is recorded at 282 m above , with local ground levels generally flat around 285 m Australian Height Datum (AHD). It occupies a position along the banks of the meandering Castlereagh River within the expansive Great Western Plains, characterized by open, level terrain typical of the region's alluvial and sedimentary landscapes. To the northeast, the transitions toward the foothills of the Warrumbungle Range near Tooraweenah, marking a shift from plains to more elevated volcanic formations.

Climate

Gilgandra experiences a (Köppen Cfa), with hot summers, cool to cold winters, and rainfall occurring throughout the year without a pronounced . Mean annual maximum is 24.7 °C and minimum 9.9 °C, based on records from 1915 to 1975, while average annual rainfall measures 567.4 mm over the period 1889 to 2025. The region's inland location in central-western contributes to significant diurnal ranges, particularly in summer, and occasional frosts in winter. Summer (December to February) features mean maximum temperatures exceeding 31 °C, with averaging 33.1 °C daytime highs and 17.3 °C overnight lows; heatwaves can push extremes above 45 °C. Winters ( to ) are cooler, with July mean maxima at 15.6 °C and minima at 2.5 °C, supporting frost occurrences on approximately 30-40 nights annually in the cooler months. Spring and autumn serve as transitional seasons, with milder conditions facilitating agricultural activities. Rainfall is moderately variable, averaging 4-5 days per month with at least 1 mm, and totals highest in summer (e.g., 63.9 mm in ) due to convective thunderstorms, though winter months like (45.6 mm) also contribute via frontal systems. periods are possible, as the borders semi-arid zones, but the even distribution—least in and at around 40 mm—avoids extreme .
MonthMean Max Temp (°C)Mean Min Temp (°C)Mean Rainfall (mm)
Jan33.117.363.9
Feb32.217.452.8
Mar29.814.649.9
Apr24.810.340.6
May20.06.142.2
Jun16.43.945.6
Jul15.62.542.6
Aug17.23.439.3
Sep21.05.939.8
Oct25.29.447.1
Nov29.012.649.7
Dec31.915.954.2
Annual24.79.9567.4
Data sourced from Bureau of Meteorology station records at Gilgandra (Chelmsford Ave).

Water Resources and Historical Infrastructure

Gilgandra's early European settlers depended on natural watercourses such as the Castlereagh River and tributaries including Marthaguy Creek for pastoral activities, supplemented by privately constructed dams like the one built by John Lawrence Brown on Baronne Creek using 300 Chinese laborers in the 19th century, which provided downstream water until its breach. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, windmills became ubiquitous, earning the town the moniker "Town of Windmills," with local businesses such as W.T. Hitchen & Son specializing in their installation for bores and wells as early as the pre-1900 period. Over 300 windmills dotted the landscape by the 1950s, pumping groundwater from artesian aquifers, though events like the 1955 flood damaged 60 of them, highlighting vulnerabilities in the decentralized system. Proposals for a centralized reticulated emerged in 1916 but failed via due to insufficient public support; renewed efforts in 1945 led to a survey in 1951, with a site selected that . The Gilgandra Council implemented the scheme by 1965, transitioning from reliance to a public town water system in 1966, followed by fluoridation in 1967; nearby Tooraweenah received reticulated supply in 1956. This infrastructure shift reduced dependence on private pumps, integrating with electricity advancements like the 1934 local DC plant that supported early operations until Dubbo's 1950 . Contemporary water resources center on from the Great Artesian Basin's Southern Recharge Groundwater Source, accessed via artesian bores rather than surface storages, as the Castlereagh River remains unregulated without major dams. The council manages the supply network, with recent enhancements including six new bores completed by 2023 to bolster security and support projects like construction, tapping deeper aquifers for non-potable and community use.

History

Indigenous and Pre-European Presence

The Gilgandra region exhibits evidence of long-term Indigenous occupation predating European contact, with archaeological findings supporting human presence for up to 25,000 years in areas east of the town and approximately 17,000 years in the nearby Warrumbungle Ranges. Sites include rock shelters, open campsites, scarred trees, and caves containing hand stencils, engravings, and marked rocks, alongside silcrete deposits utilized for tool-making. The area's traditional custodians encompassed speakers of the language group to the northeast, to the south, and Wayilwan to the west, with the and Mole tribes also frequenting the central Gilgandra waterhole. This location functioned as a meeting place among these groups, facilitated by its position along the Castlereagh River. The name Gilgandra originates from an Indigenous term translating to "long water hole," denoting the prominent perennial water source on the Castlereagh River that anchored settlement and resource use. Cultural practices reflected deep interconnections between people, land, and spiritual beliefs, with the waterhole and surrounding environs central to sustenance, gatherings, and traditional law.

European Settlement and 19th-Century Growth

European settlement in the Gilgandra district commenced in the 1830s, as squatters moved beyond the Nineteen Counties to establish large pastoral runs along the Castlereagh River, driven by the demand for grazing land. Andrew Brown, acting for James Walker, squatted on the river in the early 1830s and developed properties including Briambil and Cuigan, while others such as Richard Rouse at Mundooran, Thomas Perrie at Breelong, and James Bennett at Bearbong and Curban secured licenses following Governor Bourke's legalization of in 1836. John Jude and John Hall obtained early run licenses that year for Carlingangong and Armatree, respectively, marking formalized occupation amid conflicts enforced by Commissioners of Crown Lands like Graham 'King' Hunter, appointed in 1839. Mid-century expansion saw pastoral holdings consolidate around sheep and cattle, with wool production surging from the late 1840s due to export demand; stations like Biamble employed over 60 workers, supported by convict shepherds, Chinese laborers, and stockmen. Infrastructure emerged to service these runs, including the establishment of inns as coaching stops and the Gilgandra post office on 1 January 1867. Hannah Morris, who arrived in the Castlereagh area in 1852, acquired the license for the Bushman’s Arms Inn in 1867, contributing to early community hubs, while a police station opened at Curban in 1880 and courts in 1884 facilitated governance. The village of Gilgandra was proclaimed on 8 1888, with lands opened for selection, prompting a sale of town lots and spurring closer settlement under the Robertson Land Acts. This catalyzed modest population growth and economic diversification, as pastoral runs fragmented for wheat cultivation and small farms, though large-scale remained dominant; a bridge over the Castlereagh, opened in under Morris's initiative, enhanced connectivity for stock and produce. Government services, including postal and telegraphic links, supported this transition from expansive to nucleated by century's end.

Early 20th-Century Developments and the Coo-ee March

The extension of the to railway line through Gilgandra, with construction beginning in 1901 and the first operating on 29 1902, catalyzed significant economic expansion by facilitating the of agricultural produce to broader markets. This infrastructure development spurred wheat cultivation, as the introduction of rust-resistant Federation wheat in 1908 enabled larger-scale farming on the region's fertile plains, with surplus processed at the newly constructed Castlereagh Flour Mill operational by 1910. The Gilgandra Shire was formally proclaimed on 6 1906, reflecting administrative maturation alongside population growth from approximately 95 residents in 1891 to increased settlement driven by railway access and free selection policies attracting migrants from Victoria and . Agricultural innovation complemented infrastructural advances, including experiments with rotary hoe technology by Cliff Howard at Biddon in 1912, which improved soil preparation for crops, and the formation of the Gilgandra Pastoral and Agricultural Association in 1911, culminating in its first show with 800 entries in May 1912. Community facilities evolved with the opening of a on 24 July 1908 and the establishment of a volunteer brigade in December 1911, while the , construction of which began in October 1913, opened on 16 August 1916 to serve the growing rural populace. By 1920, concrete elevators, such as the large Metcalfe structure in Gilgandra, underscored the town's emergence as a hub for high-grade production and export. The Coo-ee March originated in Gilgandra in 1915 as a grassroots response to declining enlistments following the Gallipoli campaign's heavy casualties. Organized by local and rifle club T. Hitchen, the recruitment drive began on 10 1915 with 25 men departing Gilgandra, calling "coo-ee"—a traditional bush signal—to rally volunteers in towns along the 515-kilometer route to via , , Bathurst, and the Blue Mountains. The march, the first of ' "snowball" recruiting efforts, swelled to 263 enlistees by arrival in on 12 November 1915 after 33 days, with recruits joining at stops like 35 from Gilgandra itself, 31 from , and others from intermediate centers. These men underwent training at Liverpool camp before deploying to the Western Front in March 1916, exemplifying rural Australia's voluntary mobilization amid national war fervor.

Post-War Era to Present

Following World War II, soldier settlement schemes revitalized parts of Gilgandra Shire, with subdivisions established at Armatree in 1949 and Tondeburine allocating 22 blocks the same year, attracting ex-servicemen to wheat and grazing lands. European migrants, including Poles and Yugoslavs, arrived for forestry work, contributing to temporary population boosts amid broader New South Wales rural shifts. The 1950s wool boom provided credit for equipment purchases, supporting these settlers, while timber production peaked with annual sleeper cutting of 45,000–50,000 units and monthly railway payments of £4,000 by 1958. Infrastructure expanded rapidly: electricity transmission from reached Gilgandra in 1950 and Tooraweenah in 1955, a new opened in 1955, water and sewerage systems became operational by 1965, and council chambers were inaugurated on 24 October 1958. Warrumbungle National Park was gazetted in 1953 with 3,360 hectares, followed by campsite developments in 1956–1957. However, in reduced labor demands, leading to job losses and gradual in outlying areas; the Castlereagh Flour Mill closed in November 1974 amid shifting wheat handling practices introduced in the 1960s. The 1970s wool crisis prompted a pivot to cattle, while the February 1955 flood devastated the region, damaging 24 homes, destroying 125 toilets and 60 windmills, killing two people, and displacing Aboriginal residents from Tin Town. By the late 20th century, persistent droughts—such as the 2008 event that killed eucalypts at Breelong—compounded mechanization's effects, contributing to rural depopulation trends across . The Aboriginal community received 'The Pines' land on 15 December 2000 following a 1994 native title claim. Shire population stood at 4,386 in 2011 and approximately 4,296 in 2021, reflecting slow decline despite median age rising to 46 years. remained dominant, with , , and emerging and aged care sectors; the "Shop Local" program generated $4.8 million in economic impact from 2021–2024. Recent initiatives focus on revitalization, including 51 km of road gravel re-sheeting, 12.5 km sealing of National Park Road for $4.88 million in 2024, and rezoning 21 hectares of industrial land by 2025. Housing efforts via Aero Park released 22 lots starting at $82,500 to address shortages, while events like Under the Gums drew over 3,000 attendees in 2023. The shire targets population growth to 5,000 through strategies emphasizing , business grants ($151,887 council-funded from 2021–2024), and community facilities like a proposed $8 million Hunter Park sports precinct.

Demographics and Society

The population of Gilgandra Shire stood at 4,368 according to the 2011 Australian conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This number declined to 4,236 by the 2016 , a reduction of 132 residents or 3.0 percent, reflecting outmigration and limited growth in rural western during that period. The 2021 recorded a slight rebound to 4,295 residents, an increase of 59 people or 1.4 percent from 2016, indicating stabilization rather than sustained expansion. These figures demonstrate low volatility and underperformance relative to regional New South Wales averages, where growth has generally outpaced rural shires like Gilgandra due to urban pull factors and agricultural sector changes. The shire's estimated resident remained around 4,300 as of recent profiles in 2024-2025, underscoring persistent stability amid broader declines in some adjacent western NSW areas during the late . Key demographic statistics from the 2021 census include a age of 46 years, exceeding the Australian of 38 and signaling an aging common in non-metropolitan locales. The is approximately 0.9 persons per square kilometer across the shire's 4,832 square kilometers.
Census YearPopulation (Gilgandra Shire LGA)Change from Previous Census
20114,368-
20164,236-3.0%
20214,295+1.4%
Data derived from ABS census QuickStats.

Ethnic and Cultural Composition

According to the , Gilgandra's population of 4,295 residents exhibited limited ethnic diversity, with 84.2% born in , 1.0% born in , and 0.5% born in the ; the remainder included minor shares from other countries. English was spoken at home by 86.8% of residents, reflecting a monolingual profile dominated by native English speakers, with negligible use of other languages such as or Filipino (each at 0.2%). Ancestry responses, which allow multiple selections, underscored a strong heritage among non-Indigenous residents: Australian (43.9%), English (38.3%), Irish (10.8%), and Scottish (9.4%) topped the list, consistent with patterns in rural regions settled by British colonists. Both parents of 78.3% of residents were born in , further indicating generational continuity of this demographic base. Aboriginal and Islander peoples comprised 14.5% of the population (621 individuals), substantially higher than the average of approximately 3.4%; this group had a age of 27 years and included 219 families, with 30.9% structured as one-parent households. The area's traditional custodians include the , , and Wayilwan Aboriginal language groups, whose cultural presence persists through community ties to the land described in local nomenclature as "long water hole." Aboriginal ancestry was reported by 13.1% overall, overlapping with but not limited to -identified Indigenous status.

Economy and Industry

Primary Industries: Agriculture and Farming

dominates the economy of Gilgandra , employing over one-third of local residents and generating an annual output of approximately $96 million as of 2019. The total area used for agricultural holdings spans 403,495 hectares, primarily supporting systems that integrate with broadacre cropping. Key enterprises focus on sheep for production and , with sheep established in the district since 1830 and cattle numbers expanding significantly during the . Crop production emphasizes winter cereals, including as the predominant grain and , alongside crops such as , lupins, chickpeas, and fava beans. prevails, accounting for 71% of operations through and 29% via non-irrigated cropping, with limited due to minimal entitlements in the Macquarie-Castlereagh catchment. Typical farm sizes range from 4,000 to 5,000 acres, reflecting land aggregation trends driven by since the mid-20th century, which has reduced the number of farm families while enabling larger-scale production. Recent developments include increasing specialization in and sheep enterprises, alongside opportunities for value-adding tied to like the project, though agriculture remains vulnerable to drought and market fluctuations characteristic of the Central West region. The sector's output contributes substantially to the broader Castlereagh region's agricultural value, estimated at $176.3 million in 2020-21, underscoring Gilgandra's role in regional food and fiber supply.

Employment, Output, and Emerging Sectors

Employment in Gilgandra Shire is predominantly in , which supports 506 local jobs and comprises 33.2% of total employment across 1,524 positions. The recorded 1,793 employed residents aged 15 years and over, with agriculture-related roles such as grain-sheep or grain-beef farming (101 persons, 5.6%) and other grain growing (90 persons, 5.0%) among the top specific industries, alongside administration (108 persons, 6.0%). Approximately 500 residents are employed in overall, reflecting its role in sheep, , and cropping activities. The local generates an annual output of $620.9 million, dominated by , , and at $292.7 million or 47.14% of the total. Other notable contributors to include and training ($18.4 million), retail trade ($13.4 million), and , gas, , and waste services ($11.8 million). Health care, disability services, and aged care have grown as key employers, supplementing agriculture's dominance and providing stability amid farming's volatility. initiatives promote economic diversification through industrial land releases, with new lots targeting , , and energy sector supply chains to attract businesses leveraging the town's central location and . These developments, including a 12-lot subdivision, aim to build resilience by expanding non-agricultural opportunities.

Government, Infrastructure, and Services

Local Governance

Gilgandra Shire Council is the local government authority administering the Gilgandra Shire, encompassing responsibilities for local planning, infrastructure maintenance, community services, and economic development in the Orana region of . The council operates under the framework of New South Wales local government legislation, with elected representatives overseeing policy implementation and budgetary decisions. The council is led by Mayor Doug Batten, who serves as an ex-officio member of all standing committees and represents the shire on regional bodies including the Castlereagh Macquarie and the Roads and Committee. Batten was reaffirmed in the mayoral role following the 2024 local government elections. The council comprises multiple elected councillors, including representatives such as Brian Mockler, Greg Peart, Amber Bunter, Ian Freeth, and , who contribute to committees on , services, and aged care. In September 2025, Ash Walker resigned after 13 years of service, including roles on the Joint Regional Planning Panel, prompting a countback under electoral rules to fill the councillor vacancy. Former Gail Babbage was selected through this and rejoined the council effective late September 2025. elections occur every four years, with voting compulsory for enrolled residents in the shire. The council's governance includes public access to business papers, reports, and management team details, ensuring transparency in decision-making on issues like and service delivery. It maintains affiliations with bodies such as the Local Government NSW for advocacy on rural shire priorities.

Education, Health, and Community Services

Gilgandra's education system comprises public and Catholic institutions serving primary and secondary students. Gilgandra Public School, a on Wrigley Street, caters to students from to Year 6 in a culturally diverse rural setting approximately 65 km north of . St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, affiliated with the of Bathurst, provides coeducational instruction from to Year 6 in central western NSW. Gilgandra High School, a comprehensive coeducational secondary school also 65 km north of , offers academic, sporting, and creative arts programs, alongside pathways to universities, , and local businesses for career development. Health services in Gilgandra are anchored by the Gilgandra Multi Purpose Health Service (MPS), managed by the Western NSW Local Health District at 6 Chelmsford Avenue. This facility integrates acute care, residential aged care, medical imaging including x-ray and ultrasound, renal dialysis, dental support, and allied health services to ensure continuity of care tailored to local needs. Complementary provisions include mental health assessment, counselling, and youth support through the MPS, as well as Aboriginal-specific services such as skin checks and minor procedures at the Gilgandra Clinic operated by Bawrunga Medical Services. Community services are coordinated via the Gilgandra Shire Council's interagency committee and directory, listing government and non-government organizations for support in areas like aged care, disability, and emergency aid. Key providers include the Australian Red Cross Gilgandra Branch for welfare assistance and Gilgandra Lifestyles for in-home community care targeting residents aged 65 and over (or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people). The council itself delivers youth services, day care, and volunteer-coordinated programs through local progress associations.

Transportation and Utilities

Gilgandra's transportation relies heavily on road networks, with the town situated at the junction of the Castlereagh, Oxley, and Newell Highways, facilitating connectivity to regional centers like (approximately 100 km southeast) and (about 110 km northwest). These sealed highways support both local traffic and freight haulage, including agricultural goods, though rural road maintenance challenges persist due to weather and usage by heavy vehicles. Public transport options are limited, with no active passenger rail services directly to Gilgandra following the closure of its railway station in the ; instead, daily coaches connect the town to Railway Station, where passengers can transfer to XPT trains servicing (journey time around 6-7 hours total). Coach routes extend to destinations such as Lightning Ridge, Walgett, and , operated under with bookings required via 13 22 32. Freight rail infrastructure includes a 96 km line to , upgraded in 2023 with $24 million in NSW Government funding to improve track reliability for grain and bulk commodities. Air access depends on Dubbo City Regional Airport, 45 minutes north, offering daily commercial flights to and Newcastle via airlines like and FlyPelican. The local Gilgandra Aerodrome supports and charter flights, including capacity for aircraft up to 55-tonne transports, but lacks scheduled passenger services. Utilities in Gilgandra are managed locally for , with the Shire Council overseeing , , and drainage systems, including operation of the town's Sewage Treatment Plant to handle domestic and commercial . Water sourcing and distribution fall under council responsibility, aligned with NSW regulatory standards for rural utilities, though specifics on reservoirs or treatment processes are not publicly detailed beyond compliance reporting. Electricity distribution is provided by Essential Energy, the regional network operator for central western NSW, delivering power to residential, commercial, and agricultural users with outage management and infrastructure maintenance. Retail electricity supply varies by provider choice, such as or Amber Electric, but network reliability in the area has faced challenges from storms and remote grid demands. Natural gas reticulation is unavailable, with residents typically relying on bottled LPG for heating and cooking.

Culture, Heritage, and Attractions

Heritage Sites and Listings

St Ambrose Church, located at Myrtle Street, is the principal heritage site in Gilgandra listed on the State Heritage Register, with designation occurring in January 2011. Constructed from 1920 to 1922 under the design of architect Louis Reginald Williams and built by contractor J. D. Ryan, the Anglican church was funded in part by a £1,200 donation (equivalent to approximately £2,500 in period terms adjusted for inflation) from St Ambrose Church in , , honoring Gilgandra's wartime contributions. It functions as a memorial to local participants, reflecting the town's early 20th-century architectural and commemorative heritage amid regional agricultural settlement. At the local level, heritage items are documented in Schedule 5 of the Gilgandra Local Environmental Plan 2011, which identifies structures, sites, and places of environmental heritage significance within the shire for protection under development controls. Gilgandra Shire Council maintains these listings following a community-based heritage study that evaluates cultural significance, recommending inclusions or updates to the schedule as needed. The council administers a Local Heritage Fund to support conservation efforts for owners of identified items, with grants available annually for maintenance, repairs, or interpretive works on properties contributing to the area's historical character. Beyond formal listings, relocated historic structures at the Gilgandra Rural Museum—such as the Tooraweenah Police Gaol, Uargon Subsidised School, and Berida Sheep Station bookkeeper's office—preserve tangible elements of early 20th-century rural , including and facilities from surrounding districts, though their ex-situ status limits formal site-based protections. The Coo-ee Heritage and Visitor Information Centre interprets the 1915 Coo-ee March's origins in Gilgandra, where recruitment began on October 10, 1915, but lacks a specific heritage listing for the originating sites themselves. No places in Gilgandra appear on the National Heritage List or Australian Register of the National Estate, emphasizing the predominance of state and local mechanisms for heritage governance.

Tourism and Natural Attractions

Gilgandra's tourism draws visitors seeking authentic experiences, with natural attractions emphasizing the region's semi-arid riverine landscapes and access to broader wilderness areas. The Castlereagh River, which bisects the town, supports riparian ecosystems featuring eucalypts, acacias, and bird species such as corellas and galahs, providing a backdrop for low-impact . The Windmill Walk, a 2-kilometer one-way commencing near the town center, traces the riverbanks and highlights native and alongside remnants of early 20th-century windmills that powered local pumps. This accessible path, suitable for most fitness levels, integrates natural observation with historical context, drawing day-trippers year-round. Positioned 60 kilometers south of Warrumbungle National Park, Gilgandra functions as a logistical base for excursions into this 23,311-hectare reserve, formed from an extinct dating to 13-17 million years ago. The park's attractions include over 50 kilometers of maintained bushwalking tracks, such as the 9.5-kilometer Breadknife and Grand High Tops circuit, which ascends through basalt columns and offers panoramic views of domes like Belougery Spire. Its International Dark Sky Park status, designated in 2016, supports stargazing , with low enabling observation of the and southern celestial events. Local operators promote guided tours and camping, contributing to regional visitor economies without overdevelopment.

Sports, Recreation, and Annual Events

Gilgandra supports community sports primarily through junior and local clubs focused on and . The Gilgandra Junior & club fields teams in the Group 14 competition, including under-14 squads that have competed in semi-finals and grand finals, with seasons running through winter months and featuring matches against regional opponents. The Gilgandra Association organizes teams across age groups, promoting participation in local leagues affiliated with Association, with registrations and competitions emphasizing skill development for youth players. Recreational facilities include the Gilgandra Swimming Pool, a 33-meter tiled outdoor pool established in 1939 within Hunter Park, which operates seasonally from October to March and offers learn-to-swim classes, exercise sessions, and public entry fees. The Gilgandra Golf Club maintains a 9-hole public course with grass greens, available for casual play and club events. Hunter Park serves as a central venue for sports fields and community gatherings, with ongoing precinct upgrades planned to include enhanced amenities, shaded areas, and youth facilities as part of a $16 million development announced in 2025. Annual events highlight rural traditions and . The Goin' to Gil Festival Weekend, held over three days in late September (such as 25-27 September 2026), features live music, markets, family activities, and the incorporated Under the Gums with performances and local food vendors. The Gilgandra Show occurs in January as an agricultural showcase with livestock judging, arts and crafts displays, and entertainment. Regional rodeos, including the Tooraweenah Show and with events, yard dog trials, and mechanical bull rides starting from 2 p.m., draw competitors and spectators in the shire. The Gilgandra Campdraft in May involves skilled riders herding cattle in timed competitions at showgrounds. The Gilgandra Shire Council recognizes sports contributions through Australia Day awards, including categories for sports achievement alongside community events.

Notable Residents and Contributions

Pioneers and Civic Leaders

Early European settlement in the Gilgandra district began in the 1830s with pastoralists seeking grazing land along the Castlereagh River. Andrew Brown, scouting for James Walker, established initial sheep runs and by 1847 held seven leases totaling approximately 112,000 acres, including stations at Yarragrin and Tooraweenah. John Jude and John Hall were the first to secure depasturing licenses on 31 December 1836, marking formal occupation of runs like Armatree. Hannah Morris (1829–1911) played a foundational role in town development by operating the Bushman’s Arms hotel from 1867 to 1871, facilitating trade and settlement amid pastoral expansion. James Madgwick (born 1853), whose family settled nearby under the 1861 Free Selection Act, became one of the district's earliest growers, his 1889 Collie crop by flail and carting it to for milling; he documented early landowners including Peter O’Neill at Barragon and James Barling at Bungle. John Jones (died 23 August 1930), a pastoralist born around 1856 at Cobbora, managed stations like Bullagreen and Nianbah, breeding superior sheep, cattle, and racehorses while maintaining a reputation for fair employment practices. Civic leadership emerged with the shire's formation in 1906, featuring interim councillors such as James Barling, James Alfred Berryman, Henry William Mitchell, and Robert Ballantyne Sanderson, who laid administrative groundwork. William Thomas Hitchen (1872–1916), a and windmill entrepreneur who arrived before 1900, co-organized the 1915 Coo-ee March from Gilgandra to , recruiting over 300 volunteers for service before enlisting and dying in action. Alf Yeo (1890–1976), a local farmer and councillor from 1928 to 1931, advanced regional governance as a New South Wales from 1932 to 1941 and Minister for Lands from 1940 to 1941. Anthony McGrane (1946–2004) served as shire president for 16 years, later as Mayor of from 1991 to 1999 and state MP for from 1999 to 2004, exemplifying sustained local influence.

Military Heroes and War Contributors

Gilgandra's most prominent military contribution occurred during with the organization of the Coo-ee March, a drive that originated in the town on October 10, 1915. Led by William "Captain Bill" Hitchen, captain of the Gilgandra Rifle Club, and initiated by his brother Richard "Dick" Hitchen, the march began with 26 volunteers calling "coo-ee" to enlist others along a 320-mile (515 km) route to . By November 12, 1915, the group had swelled to 263 men, who were subsequently incorporated into units such as the 13th and 45th Battalions of the Australian Imperial Force, contributing to campaigns including Pozières and the Somme. Several Coo-ee participants demonstrated exceptional gallantry in combat. James Gerald Cameron received the —the second-highest award for enlisted personnel after the [Victoria Cross](/page/Victoria Cross)—for bravery during the Battle of Bellenglise on September 18, 1918, where he advanced under heavy fire to secure a key position. Leslie Greenleaf was awarded the for rescuing a wounded officer under intense enemy bombardment near in May 1918. Thomas Henry Turvey earned the for conspicuous courage at Guedecourt on February 13, 1917, holding a against German assaults despite being outnumbered. These decorations highlight the valor of Gilgandra's early enlistees, with over 30 Coo-ees serving and many sustaining wounds or fatalities. John Robert Lee, a local clergyman who joined as and orator, provided spiritual support and morale-boosting addresses during the march, aiding recruitment efforts across central western towns. The Coo-ee March's success inspired similar "snowball" recruitments, symbolizing rural Australia's commitment to the amid declining enlistments post-Gallipoli. In , Gilgandra residents served in various Australian forces, as documented on the district's timber-and-glass honour roll, which names enlistees from the area without specifying individual decorations or heroic actions in primary records. The town's further commemorates local fatalities from both world wars, Korea, , and other conflicts, underscoring sustained community sacrifice.

Inventors, Sports Figures, and Other Notables

Arthur Clifford Howard (1893–1971), an agricultural engineer, developed the rotary hoe while living in Gilgandra, where his family relocated in 1908. At age 16, Howard conceived the idea of a powered machine with rotating hoe blades to till soil more efficiently than traditional methods, building a in 1912 that used a . His , patented in 1922, revolutionized farming by enabling cultivation in wetter conditions and reducing labor, with over 30,000 units produced by the Howard Rotavator Company by the mid-20th century. Jarrod McEwen-Young, a Kamilaroi-Wailwan man born and raised in Gilgandra, became profoundly deaf after contracting meningococcal as an and grew up as one of only two deaf individuals in the town. He represented in deaf , playing for the national men's team at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Deaf Basketball Championships, where his team, the Goannas, secured victory and qualification for the 2025 . McEwen-Young's participation highlights adaptive sports achievements, having transitioned from local challenges in to international competition.

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  28. https://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/630-nbr-community-profile-gilgandra.pdf
  29. https://www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/files/assets/public/v/1/castlereagh-county-regional-drought-resilience-plan-rev-2.pdf
  30. https://app.remplan.com.au/gilgandra/economy/summary?locality=gilgandra
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  35. https://www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/Stay-Connected/News/Media-Releases/Gilgandra-Progresses-Industrial-Land-Development
  36. https://www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/Your-Council
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  41. https://www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/Stay-Connected/News/Public-Notices/Local-Govt-Election
  42. https://gilgandra-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/
  43. https://www.facebook.com/GilgandraPS/
  44. https://stjosephsgilgandra.catholic.edu.au/
  45. https://gilgandra-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/
  46. https://educationhq.com/directory/gilgandra-high-school-3587/
  47. https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/wnswlhd/service-directory/gilgandra-health-service
  48. https://www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/Live/Your-Community/Health/Gilgandra-MPS-Hospital
  49. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/australian-health-services/healthcare-service/gilgandra-2827-nsw/gilgandra-multi-purpose-service/hospitals/9b5c3413-e2e3-acf8-4f23-a5d2b6e13db4
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  54. https://www.gilgandralifestyles.com.au/Community-Care
  55. https://directory.wayahead.org.au/service/5365/
  56. https://www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/Enjoy/Visit-us/Visit-Gilgandra/Getting-here
  57. https://www.gilgandraregion.com.au/explore/getting-here-gilgandra
  58. https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/media/documents/2017/central-west-regional-transport-plan%25282%2529.pdf
  59. https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcheritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=1590074
  60. https://www.graincentral.com/news/coonamble-gilgandra-rail-in-line-for-24m-upgrade/
  61. https://www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/Live/Water-Sewer
  62. https://www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/Live/Water-Sewer/Sewer
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  64. https://www.facebook.com/groups/gilgandralivingandsocial/posts/1014487413325714/
  65. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-01-25/state-heritage-listing-for-gilgandra-church/1916682
  66. https://www.flickr.com/photos/alwyn_ladell/sets/72157628078876153/
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  83. https://gilgandra.nsw.guide/Sports
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  103. https://www.newcastle.edu.au/scholarships/ma-and-morley-scholarship-program/scholars/2022-scholars/indigenous-scholars/jarrod-mcewen-young
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