Curlewis, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CurlewisNew South Wales |
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Commercial Hotel
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 Curlewis
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 779 (2021 census) |
| Established | 1890 |
| Postcode(s) | 2381 |
| Elevation | 247 m (810 ft) |
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| LGA(s) | Gunnedah Shire |
| County | Pottinger |
| State electorate(s) | Tamworth |
| Federal Division(s) | Parkes |
Curlewis is a small village in New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Kamilaroi Highway. The village is about 16 kilometers south of Gunnedah. Curlewis is part of the Gunnedah Shire local government area. This region is known as the North West Slopes of New England.
Contents
The Story of Curlewis
Curlewis was founded by Henry Thomas Pike. He was a sawmiller, which means he worked with wood. Later, he even became the mayor of Gunnedah.
Railway and Livestock Sales
In 1909, a railway station opened in Curlewis. It was a stop on the Mungindi branch line. However, the station has since closed down. In May 2013, the station building was taken down. This happened after a storm damaged its roof earlier that year.
Livestock sales began in Curlewis in 1919. For many years, these sales were held every other week. They would switch between Gunnedah and Curlewis. But then, the saleyards in Gunnedah got better. This led to fewer sales in Curlewis. Eventually, Curlewis's livestock yard closed.
Solving Water Problems
Curlewis has often had problems with water. This is because there isn't a big river nearby. In 1950, the local council had to clean out an old dirt dam. They also put up a large tank. Residents could get water from this tank. In 1972, a system of pipes brought water directly to homes in Curlewis.
Life in Curlewis Today
In 2023, Curlewis had 779 people living there. About 52.8% were male and 47.2% were female. Around 26% of the people had an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background. This is higher than the average for Australia, which is 3.2%.
The most common job for people in Curlewis is coal mining. About 10.5% of residents work in this industry.
Village Facilities and Wildlife
Today, Curlewis has many useful places. These include:
- a hotel
- a public school (with 89 students)
- a general store
- a grain silo (for storing crops)
- a police station
- a sports ground
- a community hall
- a Rural Fire Service station
- a sport and recreation center
- an RV Park (for recreational vehicles)
- a bus station
The area around Curlewis is also home to many koalas. You might see them on local farms. They also live in the woodlands and even in the village itself.
