Galong, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Galong New South Wales
McMahon Street in Galong
Galong Location in New South Wales
Postcode(s)	2585
LGA(s)	Hilltops Council
County	Harden
State electorate(s)	Cootamundra
Federal Division(s)	Hume

Galong is a small village in New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the Hilltops Council area. Galong is about an hour's drive from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). It is a typical Australian village with a rich history.

Mining in Galong

The main industry in Galong is its limestone mine. This mine is an open-cut mine, which means minerals are dug from the ground. People first started mining limestone here in 1885. A lot of mining happened in the 1920s. Back then, they produced burnt lime or quicklime. This material is used to make cement.

The mine closed and then reopened several times. It started working again in the 1960s and then in 1994. In 2001, the mining area was made much bigger. This allowed them to find about 20 million tonnes of limestone. In 2003, a company called Boral took over the mine.

Today, the mine produces lime for farms. This agricultural lime helps farmers grow crops like canola and grains. It fixes soil that is too acidic, which is a big problem for farming in New South Wales. The mine produces about 300,000 tonnes of lime each year. This is about a quarter of what New South Wales needs.

Besides farming, the Port Kembla steel works also uses lime from Galong. A special oven called a kiln was built at the mine in 2003 and 2004. This kiln helps make quicklime for cement. The mine provides jobs for about 19 people in the area.

History of Galong

Galong has an interesting past. Around 1830, a person named 'Ned' Ryan settled in the area. He was a former Irish convict who became a squatter. He built a house called Galong House.

The Galong Post Office first opened on 15 April 1888.

St Clement's Monastery

A group of priests called the Redemptorists opened St Clement's monastery in 1918. Big new parts were added to the building in 1954. This monastery was a school for young men. About 2,000 men studied there before it closed in 1975. One famous student was the writer Greg Sheridan.

Today, St Clement's is a retreat centre. It is run by the Redemptorists and the Sisters of St Joseph from Goulburn. People go there for quiet reflection and spiritual events.

Population Changes

The number of people living in Galong has changed over time. In the 2006 census, there were 122 people. By the 2016 census, the population grew to 224. In the 2021 census, it increased slightly to 235 people.

Galong Uniting Church

The Galong Uniting Church is a well-known building in the village. It was built in 1922. The church was designed by architects Tate & Young. It was first a Methodist church. In 1977, it became a Uniting Church.

You can find many stories about Galong in the Galong Oral History Project. This project collected memories from people who lived there.

Galong Cemetery

Galong is also known for its cemetery. It has some unique monuments. Among them are angels made by Frank Rusconi. He was a famous stone sculptor from Gundagai.

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  This angel marks a child's grave.

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  These white marble monuments belong to the Ryan family.

Heritage-Listed Sites

This is an abandoned part of the Boorowa railway line cutting in Galong.

Galong has several places that are listed for their historical importance. These are called heritage-listed sites. One important site is:

• The Galong railway station on the Main Southern railway line.