Cathcart, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CathcartNew South Wales |
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 Cathcart
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 108 (2016 census) | ||||||||
| Established | 1857 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2632 | ||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Snowy Monaro Regional Council | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Monaro | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Eden-Monaro | ||||||||
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Cathcart is a small village in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council area of southern New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Mount Darragh Road. This road connects the town of Bombala to the port of Eden on the Far South Coast.
Contents
History of Cathcart
Before European settlers arrived, the Ngarigo Aboriginal people lived in the lands around Cathcart. They called this area Togranong.
How Cathcart Started
A town was planned on farming lands called "Taylors Flat" in 1857. The town was named after a British General, George Cathcart. He was killed during the Crimean War. At this time, the main jobs in the area were exporting wool and meat to Tasmania. People also traded animal hides.
The town grew quickly because it was on the way to Eden. More people also came through because gold was found at Kiandra. Cathcart became an important local centre.
Cathcart's Busy Days
At its busiest, Cathcart had many facilities. It had three hotels and three churches. There were also several places for sports. The town had a racecourse and showgrounds. There were yards for selling farm animals, a cemetery, a post office, a school, and a police station. Many stores and two banks also operated in the busy town. By 1901, about 300 people lived in the area.
In 1865, Maurice McKinnery opened a sawmill in Cathcart. He also owned a general store. These businesses ran until 1883. After this, the main work in the area changed to dairy farming.
Dairy Farming and Decline
The Cathcart Co-Operative Dairy Society Ltd opened a butter factory in 1895. However, it closed in January 1927. This happened because butter prices dropped too low. The last dairy farm in Cathcart changed to raising animals for meat in 1964.
By the 1970s, the town started to become smaller. The Catholic church closed in 1970. The school closed in 1974, with only 10 students left. Modern transport made travel faster. This meant people could easily go to bigger towns like Bombala. So, Cathcart did not need to have all its own services. Many businesses and facilities closed, and the number of people living there went down.
Cathcart Today
Today, Cathcart is a quiet village. It works closely with Bombala. Many community services for Cathcart are found in Bombala.
Community Life
Cathcart holds an annual variety show. This show takes place at the War Memorial Hall. The local community hosts this fun event.
A general store is still open for business. This store has been running for over 100 years. Besides selling everyday items, it also shows off local history. It is a popular stop for tourists and people travelling through the town.
Cathcart also has a volunteer fire brigade. It is part of the Monaro Rural Fire Service.
Historic Buildings
One of the town's first hotels, the Woolingubrah Inn, was built in 1860. It is still standing today. This building was made in the United States of America. It was then shipped to Cathcart through the port at Eden. It is one of only two such buildings known in Australia.
