Ashley, New South Wales facts for kids

Ashley (29°18′S 149°49′E / 29.300°S 149.817°E / -29.300; 149.817) is a small country town in New South Wales, Australia. It's home to about 339 people. You can find it about 17 kilometers (10 miles) north of Moree. Sydney, a much bigger city, is about 692 kilometers (430 miles) away. Ashley is part of the Moree Plains Shire area. It sits about 201 meters (660 feet) above sea level.

Welcome to Ashley!

Ashley is a small, friendly community in rural New South Wales. It's known for its wide-open spaces and important farming activities. The town is located on the Carnarvon Highway. It is part of the Moree Plains Shire local government area. This means it's managed by a local council.

A Bit of History

Ashley was named after a special place in England. This was the home of Mr. Hassall, who was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Moree. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the government.

The town's public school first opened in February 1898. It was called Medgun Creek back then. In October 1908, its name changed to Ashley. The school closed its doors in August 1968.

Ashley also had a post office. It opened on April 20, 1899, and closed in 1978. A railway line came to Ashley on September 29, 1913. It helped transport goods and people. The railway stopped running on December 17, 1974.

Life in Ashley Today

Today, Ashley has a few important places for its community. There is a general cemetery, which is a burial ground. The town also has a hall for community events. You can find a park for outdoor activities. There is also a small Rural Fire Service station. This service helps protect the area from bushfires.

Farming and Food

Ashley is a very important place for growing cotton. There are two large, modern cotton gins in the area. A cotton gin is a machine that separates cotton fibers from their seeds. This makes the cotton ready to be used. The cotton grows on the flat, dark plains around Ashley. These plains are irrigated, meaning water is supplied to them for farming.

Besides cotton, farmers in Ashley also raise other important produce. They raise sheep for wool and meat. They also grow wheat, which is used to make bread. Beef cattle are also raised in the Ashley area.

Nature and Environment

Near Ashley, you can find the Midkin Nature Reserve. It is located on Gingham Road. A nature reserve is a protected area for wildlife and plants. This reserve has been added to the Register of the National Estate. This list includes places that are important to Australia's natural and cultural history.

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