Bellata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BellataNew South Wales |
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Bellata Memorial Hall
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 Bellata
Location in New South Wales
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| Postcode(s) | 2397 |
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| LGA(s) | Narrabri Shire |
| State electorate(s) | Barwon |
| Federal Division(s) | Parkes |
Bellata is a small village in the northern part of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the Narrabri Shire. In 2021, about 266 people lived in Bellata. The name Bellata might come from an Aboriginal word. It could mean "kangaroo" or "home of belar trees."
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Discovering Bellata
Bellata is about 47 kilometers (29 miles) north of Narrabri. It sits almost exactly halfway between Narrabri and Moree. You will find it when you travel along the Newell Highway.
What is Bellata known for?
The area around Bellata is famous for its rich soil. This makes it a very important farming region. Farmers here grow some of the best "primehard" wheat in Australia. You can see many large buildings in town used for storing and handling grain.
Bellata is also known for its interesting rocks and minerals. People who enjoy looking for rocks, called fossickers, can find many cool things here. These include high-quality agate, jasper, carnelian, petrified opal, and petrified wood.
Bellata's Buildings and History
Bellata has changed a lot over the years. In the early to mid-1900s, it was a busy place. It had a post office, two general stores, and even a doctor. There were also two garages and a café.
Past and Present Buildings
One famous building was the Nandewar Inn Hotel. It was a two-story hotel built in 1902. Many people loved this old building, but sadly, it was destroyed by fire in 2006.
Today, Bellata still has several important places:
- A roadhouse for travelers
- A police station
- A primary school
- A nine-hole golf course and Golf Club
- Tennis courts
- Anglican and Catholic churches
- A memorial hall, where movies used to be shown
- A caravan park
- Several community groups
The Post Office in Bellata has an interesting history. It first opened on September 1, 1899, and was called Woolabra. In 1909, its name was changed to Bellata.
Bellata Railway Station
The Bellata railway station is on the Mungindi railway line. It is 615 kilometers (382 miles) from Sydney. The station also opened in 1897 as Woolabra and was renamed Bellata in 1909.
The station has a platform and a simple waiting shed for passengers. Today, a single Xplorer train stops here each day. One train goes towards Moree and Sydney in the morning. Another Xplorer train heads towards Moree in the evening. Sometimes, the trains do not stop if no one needs to get on or off.
