Binnaway, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Binnaway New South Wales
Royal Hotel, Binnaway
Binnaway Location in New South Wales
LGA(s)	Warrumbungle Shire

Tennis club mural

Binnaway is a small town in central western New South Wales, Australia. It sits on the Castlereagh River, about 35 kilometres south of Coonabarabran. In 2021, about 399 people lived there. The road between Binnaway and Coonabarabran follows the river. You can find many nice spots along the riverbanks for a picnic. Binnaway is also close to another small town called Mendooran. The town is part of the Warrumbungle Shire Council area. The main office for the council is in Coonabarabran.

History of Binnaway

What's in a Name?

The name Binnaway might come from an Aboriginal word. It is thought to be 'binniaway'. This word means 'peppermint tree wollybutt'.

Early Days and Settlers

Binnaway town is built on land that was once a large farm. This farm was called 'Mowabla'. William Lawson started this farm in 1848. In the early 1850s, David Innes Watt bought the farm.

From the 1860s, the big farms started to be divided. This happened after new laws were passed. These laws allowed people to choose and claim parts of government land. People began to settle along the Castlereagh River. Charles Naseby was one of these settlers. He claimed 50 acres in 1869 and another 50 acres in 1874. These areas are now part of the town, south of Renshaw Street. An old road from Coolah crossed the river here. In the 1870s, the Binnaway Inn was located near this crossing.

Growing as a Village

In 1876, Charles Naseby planned a "Private Village of Binnaway". In February 1876, John McWhirter was given a licence to sell wine. A post office opened in Binnaway in March 1876. It was located between Mendooran and Coonabarabran. By 1877, people in the area wanted a school.

In March 1887, Binnaway was described as a settlement. It was on the Castlereagh River. The area had lots of grass, food, and water. The people lived spread out. The town had a store, a post office, and a place to stay. It also had a fruit farm owned by Mr. M'Whirter. A public school was built in a central spot. But it was far from the town itself. Getting to Binnaway was hard back then. One way was through a deep, muddy swamp. The other way had dangerous, steep paths.

In 1904, David Innes Watt gave up 100 acres of his land. This land was next to Naseby's area. It was used to create a village. The official boundaries for Binnaway village were set in June 1909. In November that year, 42 blocks of land were sold.

The Railway Arrives

In April 1917, a railway line opened. It connected Dunedoo and Binnaway. By June 1917, the line went all the way to Coonabarabran. In 1917, about 200 people lived in the town and nearby area. Within three years, this number more than doubled. The railway helped the town grow a lot. New shops opened in the town. The railway also made it easier to grow wheat in the area.

In 1923, another railway line was built. This line went from Dubbo to Werris Creek, passing through Binnaway. This made Binnaway an important railway junction. In 1925, a place for train engines was built in Binnaway. By 1930, about 750 people lived in the town. The area had about nine thousand acres of wheat farms. By 1940, Binnaway was a centre for sheep farming and other crops. The town had about 900 people. Around 40 thousand acres of land nearby were used for growing wheat.

Famous Connections

In the 1950s, a movie called The Shiralee was filmed near Binnaway. It was about life in the Australian bush. The famous actor Peter Finch starred in it. Binnaway was also home to Frank Bourke's White Rose Orchestra. They had a very large piano!

In 1968, the main street of Binnaway was renamed Renshaw Street. It was named after Jack Renshaw. He used to be the Premier of New South Wales. He grew up and went to school in the Binnaway area.

The railway still runs through Binnaway today. It connects Dubbo to the Binnaway to Werris Creek line.

Things to Do in Binnaway

Sports and Activities

Binnaway has many sports and activities. The Binnaway Bombshells play in the Castlereagh Cup rugby league competition. The Binnaway Bowling Club is at the south end of town. Other popular sports in Binnaway include cricket, fishing, golf, pony riding, squash, tennis, and swimming.

You can also find popular tracks for 4-wheel driving and motocross nearby.