The Lachlan River at Condobolin

 

Condobolin
Typical country service centre on the NSW central western slopes.
Condobolin is a country town of some 3500 people in NSW's Central West, located very close to the geographic centre of NSW. It is 99 km west of Parkes and 463 km west of Sydney at the junction of the Lachlan River and Goobang Creek, 189 m above sea-level. Wool, wheat, sheep, cattle, fruit and mixed farming are the economic mainstays of this red-soil plains district. There is little organised tourism development as Condobolin is not on any major road nor located near any other major centre.

Prior to white occupation the area was inhabited by the Wiradjuri people. It is from their language that the town's name derives, said to mean 'hop bush', or 'hop brush'.

The first known European in the area were the explorers John Oxley (in 1817) and Thomas Mitchell who camped at the junction of the Lachlan River and Goobang Creek in 1836. Squatting began shortly afterwards. It is said that an early landowner was Benjamin Boyd (see entry on Eden). William Lee occupied the 'Condoublin' run in 1844 (written as 'Condooblin' in 1848). A reserve was made on a portion of that run in 1853, on the north bank of the Lachlan.

The town was gazetted in 1859 but for over 20 years it was essentially a stopover and river-crossing for drovers moving stock from the north and west of New South Wales to Victoria, hence there were few permanent residents in what remained a pastoral area characterised by large holdings.

 

Red soil wheatfields halfway between Lake Cargelligo and Condobolin

 

Subdivision in 1880 led to the slow break-up of the large properties with free selectors moving in from the south. Fruit and wheat cultivation were established and the town began to develop.

A major copper discovery was made north at Melrose in 1885 and the town benefited from the subsequent traffic. A municipality was declared in 1890.

Gold was found north-west at Overflow station (immortalised in Banjo Paterson's poem 'Clancy of the Overflow') in 1896 and a major copper and gold mine was in operation at Condobolin from 1898 until around 1910.

The railway arrived in 1898 and Condobolin was the railhead for the central west until the line to Broken Hill was completed in 1927. Agricultural production was further expanded when the Wyangala Dam was established on the Lachlan in 1935. The town's Agricultural Show is held in August.

Things to see:  

Tourist Information
The Condobolin Travel Agency at 104 Bathurst St is the de facto information centre, tel: (02) 6895 2988. The shire offices at 62-64 Molong St are another source, tel: (02) 6895 2377.

 

Community Centre
The community centre is located in an old hotel (built in 1875) in Bathurst St, 200 m east of the post office. There are arts-and-crafts and historical displays, tel: (02) 6895 2112.

 

Lookout
Fine views of the town and surrounds are available at Reservoir Hill, off Maitland St.

 

 

A chinese grave in the cemetery at Condobolin

 

Cemetery
The cemetery, 2 km north on the Boona Rd, at the corner of Maitland St, has memorials to early pioneers and a recently restored Chinese section which is of some interest. A booklet called 'A History of the Chinese in Condobolin' is available from the newsagency.

 

Mount Tilga
It is claimed that Mount Tilga, 8 km north, is the exact geographical centre of NSW. It is a strenuous climb to the summit but the views of the Lachlan Valley make the effort worthwhile. Head out of town along the Melrose Rd and turn right.

 

Aboriginal Site
40 km west, adjacent the Lachlan Valley Way, is an Aboriginal burial site of some historic importance. It is believed that one of the Lachlan tribal chiefs was interred here. The site predates 1817 when John Oxley encountered it. The burial mound was surrounded by some carved trees, functionally equivalent to totem poles. Today there is a rock monument. The trees have, unfortunately, been removed to other locations and have now been replaced by rough replicas. The site is signposted to the right if you are heading west from Condobolin.

 

Gum Bend Lake
Gum Bend Lake, 4 km west, is a small artificial waterway created for boating, swimming and water skiing. It is surrounded by 40 ha of landscaped grounds and there are picnic facilities, barbecues, showers, toilets and a kiosk which is open on weekends. Equipment can be hired from Taylor's Marine in Lachlan St (tel: 02 6895 2284) and Parnabys Store in Bathurst St (tel: 02 6895 2629).

 

Agricultural Research Station
The Agricultural Research Station, 10 km east, is open by appointment on weekdays, tel: (02) 6895 2099.

 

Fishing
The Lachlan River around Condobolin is a popular fishing spot with large cod, perch and catfish to be had. There is a weir near the eastern entrance to town,.at the southern end of May St. There is some fine fishing downstream of the weir.

 

 

 

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Condobolin