Capertee, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CaperteeNew South Wales |
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The Royal Hotel, Capertee.
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 Capertee
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 145 (2016 census) |
| Postcode(s) | 2846 |
| Elevation | 808 m (2,651 ft) |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | City of Lithgow |
| State electorate(s) | Bathurst |
| Federal Division(s) | Calare |
Capertee (pronounced KAY-per-tee) is a small village in New South Wales, Australia. It's about 46 kilometres (29 miles) north of Lithgow. The village sits high up, about 808 metres (2,651 feet) above the beautiful Capertee Valley. In 2016, only 145 people lived there.
The Castlereagh Highway connects Capertee to Lithgow in the south and Mudgee to the north. The area around Capertee is surrounded by National Parks and land used for grazing animals. People in Capertee mainly work in coal mining, farming, and jobs related to tourism.
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Exploring Capertee's Past
Before Europeans arrived, the Capertee area was home to the Wiradjuri people. They lived on this land for thousands of years.
Early European Settlers
In 1821, explorers like James Blackman and William Lawson travelled through this region. They were looking for an easy way through the mountains to reach good farming lands to the north-west.
By the early 1830s, a wealthy landholder named Sir John Jamison set up a large farm called 'Capita' or 'Capertee'. It was about 18,000 acres (7,300 hectares) in size. Convicts worked on this farm, helping to run the cattle station.
In the 1840s, more land in the Capertee Valley became available. This led to many sheep farms being started. After Sir John Jamison passed away in 1844, the 'Capertee' farm was briefly leased by Benjamin Boyd, another big landholder.
The Capertee Camp Inn
In 1861, a man named John Shervey bought some land near Blackman's Crown. He built a place called the Capertee Camp Inn. This inn offered food, drinks, and a place to stay for people travelling between Sydney and Mudgee.
The Capertee Camp became known when bushrangers robbed a mail coach in 1863. Police chased one of the robbers and caught him near Capertee Camp.
The inn was a common stop for travellers, but it didn't have a proper license to sell alcohol. In 1869, Mary Shervey, who ran the inn, was fined for selling drinks without permission.
The Village Grows
The actual village of Capertee started to grow around 1882. This was when the railway station was built. The station and the station master's house are still from that time. Other old buildings in the village also date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s.
In 1882, Capertee became a temporary end point for a railway line coming from Wallerawang. Later, the line was extended to Mudgee. The railway station is now closed, but the line is still used.
What's in Capertee Today?
Capertee has a few important places for its community. There's a public school, a police station, and a hall for the bush fire brigade. The village also has a community hall called the Progress Hall.
You can find the Royal Hotel, a public telephone, and a combined garage, shop, and post office. There are also two churches built from a material called fibro, which is quite rare. A community market is held in the Progress Hall on the third Sunday of every month.
Fun Things to Do in Capertee
Capertee is a great place for people who love nature and art. It's popular with landscape painters, photographers, and people who enjoy walking.
Bird Watching Paradise
The Capertee Valley is famous for bird watching. In a book called Fifty Places to Go Birding Before You Die (2007), the Capertee Valley was chosen as one of the top 50 bird-watching spots in the world! People come here to see many different kinds of birds. One special bird to look out for is the rare regent honeyeater.
Amazing Views
Just two kilometres (1.2 miles) south of the town, you can find Pearson's Lookout. From here, you get amazing views of the whole Capertee Valley. It's a perfect spot to take photos and enjoy the scenery.
