Culcairn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CulcairnNew South Wales |
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Balfour St, the main street of Culcairn
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 Culcairn
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 1,473 (2016 census) |
| Postcode(s) | 2660 |
| Elevation | 215 m (705 ft) |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Greater Hume Shire Council |
| County | Hume |
| State electorate(s) | Albury |
| Federal Division(s) | Farrer |
Culcairn is a town in the south-east Murray region of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Greater Hume Shire area. You can find Culcairn on the Olympic Highway, located between the bigger towns of Albury and Wagga Wagga.
The town is about 514 kilometers (319 miles) south-west of Sydney, the state capital. In 2016, about 1,473 people lived there. Culcairn is an important place for nearby towns like Morven, Gerogery, Henty, Walla Walla, and Pleasant Hills. The Billabong Creek flows along the southern edge of town. This creek even gave its name to the local high school!
Contents
History
People from Europe first settled in Culcairn in 1834. Explorers Hume and Hovell had explored the area in 1824. They said the land was great for grazing animals.
Between 1862 and 1865, a famous bushranger named Dan "Mad Dog" Morgan caused trouble in the area. Bushrangers were like outlaws who lived in the Australian bush. A reward of £1,000 was offered for Morgan. He was finally caught and killed in Victoria in 1865.
The town of Culcairn was officially planned in 1880. A local landowner named James Balfour laid it out. He named it after a place in Scotland where his mother was born. The Culcairn Post Office opened on September 1, 1880.
In the early days, Culcairn had businesses like mills for cutting hay and a company that dealt with grain. There was also a quarry for digging up stone. The town grew a lot when the main railway line was extended. This line connected Sydney and Melbourne. The Culcairn Hotel, built in 1891, was the biggest hotel along this important railway route.
Heritage Sites
Culcairn has some special places that are protected because of their history. These are called heritage-listed sites. One important site is the Culcairn railway station. It is part of the Main Southern railway line.
Sports and Fun
Culcairn is a town that loves sports!
Australian Rules Football
The Culcairn Football Club plays Australian rules football. This club started way back in May 1895. Some talented players like Riley Grogan and Thomas O'Keeffe have come from here.
During World War I, a former player named Private Dan Dalahunty was sadly killed in action in 1916.
The Culcairn team has played in many different football leagues over the years. They have won several championships, called "premierships." For example, they were champions in 1910, 1921, 1936, and three years in a row from 1952 to 1954. They also won in 1963, 1968, 1990, and 1993, and again in 2007.
The Culcairn & District Football Association was a local league formed in 1910. It had teams from different parts of the area. This league stopped during World War I but started again in 1919.
Rugby League
Culcairn also used to have a rugby league team. They played in the Group 13 Rugby League competition. This club started in 1946. Their team colors were green and gold, just like the Australian national team.
Weather
| Climate data for Culcairn (Lat: 35.67° S Lon: 147.04° E) (precipitation normals 1961-1990) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 42.8 (1.69) |
28.9 (1.14) |
35.0 (1.38) |
54.4 (2.14) |
62.2 (2.45) |
46.4 (1.83) |
65.1 (2.56) |
65.4 (2.57) |
54.7 (2.15) |
60.3 (2.37) |
38.6 (1.52) |
46.5 (1.83) |
600.3 (23.63) |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology | |||||||||||||
Famous People
Many well-known people have connections to Culcairn:
- Jim Matthews - An Australian rules footballer and tennis player. He was born and grew up here.
- Rex Hartwig - An international tennis player. He was also born and raised in Culcairn.
- Andrew Hoy - A triple Olympic Gold medallist in horse riding. He was born and grew up in the town.
- Bradley Clyde - A rugby league player. He was born in Culcairn.
- Jeremy Finlayson - An Australian rules footballer. He was born and raised here.
Getting Around
Culcairn is located on the main railway line that connects Sydney and Melbourne. The NSW TrainLink XPT train service stops at the local railway station twice a day.
This station used to be a very busy spot. It was where other railway lines, like the Corowa and Holbrook lines, branched off from the main line.
Images for kids
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The old police station and courthouse on Balfour Street.
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The historic Culcairn Hotel.
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The sign at Culcairn Railway Station.
