Collector, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Collector New South Wales
The War Memorial at Collector
Collector Location in New South Wales
Population	376 (2021 census)
Postcode(s)	2581
Elevation	697 m (2,287 ft)
Location	35 km (22 mi) SW of Goulburn 231 km (144 mi) SW of Sydney 56 km (35 mi) NE of Canberra
LGA(s)	Upper Lachlan Queanbeyan–Palerang Yass Valley
County	Argyle
Parish	Collector
State electorate(s)	Goulburn
Federal Division(s)	Hume
Localities around Collector: Cullerin Breadalbane Wollogorang Lerida Collector Currawang Gundaroo Lake George Currawang

Collector is a small village in New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Federal Highway. This highway connects Goulburn and the Australian Capital Territory. Collector is about seven kilometres north of Lake George.

The name "Collector" also refers to the area around the village. This includes places used for postal services and official records. In 2021, about 376 people lived in Collector and its surrounding district.

History of Collector

Early European Settlement

People from Europe first settled in the Collector area in 1829. A man named Terence Aubrey Murray was given land here. He first called his property Old Collector.

Later, Murray bought more land and renamed his property Winderradeen. He built a large 12-room house there in 1837. Around the same time, he also owned Yarralumla. This property is now the official residence of the Governor-General in Canberra.

Village Development

A post office opened in Collector in 1848. The village's name, Collector, is thought to come from the Aboriginal name for the region, colegdar.

In June 1988, the Federal Highway was improved. A new road was built around Collector. This bypass included a bridge over the Collector Creek floodplain. It made travel to Canberra easier in all weather. However, many businesses in Collector relied on travellers stopping by. After the bypass, the village faced challenges to keep its shops and services open.

Bushranger History

The Bushranger Hotel in Collector has a famous story from 1865. On January 26, 1865, a police officer named Constable Samuel Nelson was shot there. This happened during an event involving John Dunn. Dunn was a member of Ben Hall's gang, a group of bushrangers.

One hundred years later, on January 26, 1965, a memorial was placed. It marks the spot where Constable Nelson was buried.

Heritage-Listed Sites

Collector has some places that are important for their history. These are called heritage-listed sites.

• The Bushranger Hotel at 24 Church Street (Federal Highway) is one of them.

Collector Today

Local Attractions and Lifestyle

Collector is part of the Lake George wine region. Several wineries are located near the village. These include Lerida Estate, Lake George Winery, and the award-winning Collector Wines.

Every year since 2003, Collector hosts the Collector Village Pumpkin Festival. This is a traditional harvest festival. It features market stalls, live music, and local produce. You can also see displays of vintage cars and old farming machines.

Collector is becoming a popular place for people who work in nearby cities. Its closeness to Goulburn and Canberra makes it a good choice. New residents are drawn to the quiet country life and friendly village feel.

Education in Collector

The village has a small public primary school. It is called Collector Public School. In 2007, 28 students were enrolled there. This school teaches children from Kindergarten to Year 6. Students at Collector Public School wear a compulsory uniform.

Dreamer's Gate Sculpture

Dreamer's Gate
Artist	Tony Phantastes
Year	1993 - 1997
Type	Concrete on a chicken wire and wooden frame
Location	Collector, New South Wales, Australia

Collector is also known for a unique sculpture called Dreamer. Artist Tony Phantastes built it between 1993 and 1997. He created it to remember his father and son, among other things. His goal was to make a "wonderland" that showed the history of how land was used in Australia.

The sculpture is a Gothic-style structure. It is made from cement and chicken wire. Since 1999, there have been discussions between the artist and the local council about the sculpture. The land where it stands was once for sale. There were also orders to take the sculpture down. However, as of May 2021, it still stands. Unfortunately, parts of the sculpture have started to rust. This means it is not as strong as it used to be.

Images for kids

• 

  A front view of the Dreamer sculpture.

• 

  A closer look at the details of Dreamer.