Condobolin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CondobolinNew South Wales |
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Main street of Condobolin
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 Condobolin
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 3,486 (2021 census) | ||||||||
| Established | 1859 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2877 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 220 m (722 ft) | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
| LGA(s) | Lachlan Shire | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Barwon | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Parkes | ||||||||
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Condobolin is a town in the west of the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located right on the Lachlan River. In 2021, about 3,185 people lived in Condobolin.
Contents
Discovering Condobolin's Past
Before Europeans arrived, the land around Condobolin was home to the Wiradjuri people. They are the traditional owners of this area.
The name "Condobolin" likely comes from an Aboriginal word. Some say it's from "Cundabullen," meaning "shallow crossing," referring to a spot on the Lachlan River. Others believe it comes from a Wiradjuri word for 'hop bush'.
European explorers like John Oxley visited the area in 1817. Later, Thomas Mitchell explored it in 1836. Large farms, called 'runs', started appearing by 1844. More people began to settle here in 1880 when these big farms were divided into smaller ones.
The town of Condobolin was officially created in 1859. When the railway arrived in 1898, the town grew quickly. This growth was also helped by the discovery of copper in 1885 and gold in 1896. A big copper and gold mine operated here from 1898 until about 1910.
Farming is still very important to Condobolin. The Wyangala Dam, built in 1935, helped farming by controlling the Lachlan River's water. Today, farmers grow crops like wheat, barley, and canola. They also raise sheep for wool and meat, and cattle. More recently, irrigation has allowed farmers to grow fruits, vegetables, and cotton.
From the 1860s to the 1920s, paddle steamers used to travel along the Lachlan River. This was a common way to transport goods and people.
A fun fact for music fans: the first music video for Australian singer Shannon Noll's song What About Me? was filmed right here in Condobolin!
Where is Condobolin?
Condobolin is very close to Mount Tilga. Some people believe Mount Tilga is the exact geographical centre of New South Wales. However, other studies suggest the centre is actually near a place called Five Ways, which is about 33 km west-north-west of Tottenham.
The town sits where the Lachlan River and Goobang Creek meet. It is about 463 kilometres (288 miles) west of Sydney, Australia's largest city.
Near Condobolin is a place called Overflow Station. This station is famous because it's the setting for the poem Clancy of the Overflow by Banjo Paterson. The poem tells the story of an Australian drover, who is someone who herds large groups of sheep or cattle over long distances.
Condobolin's Weather
Condobolin has a cold semi-arid climate. This means it has long, hot summers and cool winters. The temperature changes a lot between seasons. It doesn't rain much, but the rain is spread out throughout the year. The town gets a lot of sunshine, with many clear days each year.
| Climate data for Condobolin Retirement Village (1907–1995, rainfall 1881–2022); 220 m AMSL; 33.08° S, 147.15° E | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 45.6 (114.1) |
44.0 (111.2) |
40.9 (105.6) |
37.0 (98.6) |
28.5 (83.3) |
25.5 (77.9) |
24.8 (76.6) |
28.7 (83.7) |
37.1 (98.8) |
38.1 (100.6) |
42.6 (108.7) |
43.8 (110.8) |
45.6 (114.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 33.7 (92.7) |
33.0 (91.4) |
29.8 (85.6) |
24.7 (76.5) |
19.8 (67.6) |
15.8 (60.4) |
15.2 (59.4) |
17.4 (63.3) |
21.2 (70.2) |
25.4 (77.7) |
29.1 (84.4) |
32.3 (90.1) |
24.8 (76.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.6 (65.5) |
18.4 (65.1) |
15.4 (59.7) |
10.8 (51.4) |
7.3 (45.1) |
4.6 (40.3) |
3.7 (38.7) |
4.9 (40.8) |
7.3 (45.1) |
10.8 (51.4) |
14.2 (57.6) |
16.9 (62.4) |
11.1 (52.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 9.4 (48.9) |
9.2 (48.6) |
5.6 (42.1) |
0.5 (32.9) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
3.0 (37.4) |
4.7 (40.5) |
8.3 (46.9) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 43.2 (1.70) |
38.2 (1.50) |
37.9 (1.49) |
33.8 (1.33) |
35.3 (1.39) |
36.5 (1.44) |
33.9 (1.33) |
35.5 (1.40) |
31.6 (1.24) |
41.5 (1.63) |
35.3 (1.39) |
39.7 (1.56) |
442.4 (17.42) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 5.7 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 65.8 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 36 | 38 | 40 | 44 | 55 | 62 | 60 | 53 | 47 | 42 | 38 | 34 | 46 |
Who Lives in Condobolin?
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1921 | 1,470 | — |
| 1933 | 2,572 | +75.0% |
| 1947 | 2,616 | +1.7% |
| 1954 | 2,840 | +8.6% |
| 1961 | 3,150 | +10.9% |
| 1966 | 3,593 | +14.1% |
| 1971 | 3,216 | −10.5% |
| 1976 | 3,273 | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 3,355 | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 3,229 | −3.8% |
| 1991 | 3,163 | −2.0% |
| 1996 | 3,100 | −2.0% |
| 2001 | 3,050 | −1.6% |
| 2006 | 2,847 | −6.7% |
| 2011 | 2,755 | −3.2% |
| 2016 | 2,864 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 2,579 | −10.0% |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics data. | ||
In 2021, Condobolin had a population of 3,486 people. The average age of people living there was 38 years old. About 22.1% of the residents identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. The average age for this group was 21.
Most people (85.0%) living in Condobolin were born in Australia. This is much higher than the national average for Australia. Also, 88.8% of residents spoke only English at home.
Christianity was the most common religion in Condobolin, with 78.6% of people identifying as Christian. This includes groups like Catholic (27.0%) and Anglican (23.6%). About 17.8% of residents said they had no religion.
Sports and Events
Popular Sports
The most popular sport in Condobolin is rugby league. The local team is called the Condobolin Rams. In 2021, they won the Woodbridge Cup competition! The club has also been part of the Group 11 Rugby League district for a long time.
Condobolin used to have an Australian rules football team. They played in the Northern Riverina Football League.
Exciting Events
Condobolin hosts a special two-day race called the "Condo 750." This is a cross-country navigational rally. Competitors from all over Australia come to race on private and public roads and tracks. The course is over 750 kilometres (466 miles) long!
Every year in late August, the town holds the annual Condobolin Show. This two-day event is full of fun. It features livestock displays, showjumping, and cooking competitions. There's also entertainment, fireworks, and car-boot picnics around the main arena.
Getting Around Condobolin
The Condobolin railway station opened in 1898. It is on the Broken Hill railway line. You can catch the famous twice-weekly Indian Pacific train from here. This train travels between Sydney and Perth.
The NSW TrainLink's Broken Hill Outback Xplorer train also stops at Condobolin. This train goes to Broken Hill on Mondays and to Sydney on Tuesdays.
Famous People from Condobolin
Condobolin has been home to some well-known Australians:
- Don Athaldo (born in Condobolin), a famous strongman.
- William Beech, who invented a special periscope rifle holder used in World War I.
- Kevin Gilbert, a talented poet, author, playwright, and activist.
- Percy Knight, a former rugby league player for the Balmain Tigers and Canberra Raiders.
- Bill Leak, a well-known cartoonist.
- Eris O'Brien, who became an archbishop.
- Shannon Noll, a popular singer.
