Couridjah, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CouridjahNew South Wales |
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 Couridjah
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 303 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2571 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 346 m (1,135 ft) | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Wollondilly Shire | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Macarthur | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Wollondilly | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Macarthur | ||||||||||||||
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Couridjah is a small town in the Macarthur Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Wollondilly Shire. Long ago, it was officially known as "Village of Couridjah". In 2016, about 303 people lived in Couridjah.
Discovering Couridjah's Past
The name "Couridjah" comes from a local Aboriginal language. People have said it means different things. Some believe it means "The Place of the White Ants." Others think it means "The Home of the Medicine Man."
Couridjah used to be a stop on the main train line. This line was called the Main Southern Railway. When the railway was first built, the area was known as "Jones's Hut."
In 1919, the train line was changed. A new path was built that was less steep. The old line then became known as the Picton-Mittagong Loop line.
West of the station are the Thirlmere Lakes. These lakes provided water for the trains. Steam locomotives needed water to run. They would fill up at special pipes called standpipes in Couridjah. This was important after their long trip up the steep hill from Picton.
The lakes were once called "Coridja Lagoons" or "Picton Lagoons." You can still see the old stone pump-house near the lakes. The standpipes are also still there near the station. However, trains stopped using them for water in 1964.
Historic Places in Couridjah
Couridjah has some important places that are protected for their history. These are called heritage-listed sites.
- The Couridjah railway station is one of these sites. It is part of the Main Southern railway's history.
Couridjah Today
The old train platform and a small waiting room at Couridjah have been fixed up. Volunteers from the NSW Rail Museum in Thirlmere take care of them. Even though old heritage trains still use parts of the Picton Loop line, they do not stop at Couridjah station.
The station and its platform were even shown in a TV ad. It was for "Minties" lollies, a popular Australian candy.
The main office for the Tharawal Local Aboriginal Land Council is in Couridjah. This council works to support the local Aboriginal community. Couridjah is also home to Picton Lakes Village. This village was started in 1925 for people who had a serious lung illness called tuberculosis.
Couridjah is a quiet place today. It does not have any shops, a post office, or other public buildings. There is no main street either. It is mostly a residential area with a semi-rural feel. You can find some small orchards and poultry farms there.
See also
In Spanish: Couridjah para niños
