Greenethorpe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids GreenethorpeNew South Wales |
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War memorial hall
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 Greenethorpe
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 320 (2011 census) |
| Established | 1908 |
| Postcode(s) | 2809 |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Weddin Shire |
| State electorate(s) | Cootamundra |
| Federal Division(s) | Riverina |
Greenethorpe is a small town in the Central West part of New South Wales, Australia. It's located in the Weddin Shire area. The town is about 345 kilometres (214 miles) west of Sydney, which is the capital city of New South Wales.
In 2011, about 320 people lived in Greenethorpe and the areas around it. The town is quite special because it was built around a large farm called "Mount Oriel" homestead, also known as Iandra Castle. This setup is a rare example in Australia of an old farming system where one large estate owned much of the land.
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History of Greenethorpe
Greenethorpe was a town built for a special purpose. It was started in 1908 to provide homes for "sharefarmers" who worked on the large pastoral station called Iandra. Sharefarmers are people who farm land owned by someone else and share the crops they grow with the owner.
The owner of Iandra was George Henry Greene. The village was built next to a train track, which was called a "rail siding." Because of this, the town was first named Iandra Siding. To avoid confusion with the Iandra farm itself, the Post Office changed the name to Greenthorpe. Soon after, the spelling was changed again to Greenethorpe, using the Greene family's name.
The Greenethorpe Public School first opened in 1903 as a temporary school and was also named Iandra Siding. It was renamed in 1909. The Iandra Siding Post Office opened on January 20, 1908, and was renamed Greenethorpe in September of the same year.
The Iandra Farming System
The way the village was set up was based on an old English system called "manorialism." In this system, tenant farmers rented land, usually about 640 acres (259 hectares) each, around a main homestead. This sharefarming system began in 1892. A train track was built in 1903 to help transport goods.
In the early 1900s, Iandra farm set a record for growing the most wheat from a single property. By 1911, there were 50 sharefarmers working on over 18,000 acres (7,284 hectares) of land there. The farmers provided their own machines and did the work, while Mr. Greene provided the seeds and cleared the land for farming. Around 1914, the large property started to be divided up. Most of the tenant farmers were given the chance to buy the land they had been farming.
Iandra Castle: The Main Homestead
The main house on the Iandra homestead is a very fancy mansion. It was built from strong concrete in a style called "Federation Romanesque," with some features from Tudor buildings. It has 57 rooms spread over two floors. People in the area call it "The Castle" because of its amazing design and its important role in the community, almost like a castle in old times.
The homestead was built by a skilled engineer named Edward Giles Stone. Besides the main house, the homestead also included a blacksmith's shop, a home for the manager, stables for horses, and a small Gothic-style chapel.
Heritage-Listed Sites
Greenethorpe has some places that are protected because they are important to history. These are called "heritage-listed sites." One of these special places is Iandra Castle, located on Iandra Road.
Greenethorpe Today
Today, Greenethorpe has several useful places for its residents. These include a Post Office and General Store, a hotel called The Shamrock, a Public School, and a Police Station. There is also a Cafe and Bed & Breakfast called CIRCA 1935, which is located in the old Bank of NSW building, a building with its own history.
The town also has an art gallery called Blue Sky. The owner of this gallery also builds unique gypsy caravans and tiny homes. Greenethorpe does not have a mail delivery service, so people need to pick up their mail from the post office.
The Greenethorpe Public School still uses its original building from 1903 for two classrooms, a library, and a computer lab. Other school activities, like art and cooking, happen in separate buildings nearby. The school is fully air-conditioned.
Soldiers Memorial Hall
The Soldiers Memorial Hall is a very important building in the village. It is currently being restored and improved. Inside the building, you can find photographs and information about local people who served in World War I and World War II. The hall is used for many community events like dances, concerts, school functions, and yoga classes. It can also be rented for private parties. A new building has recently been added next to the hall to house the Greenethorpe History Group and their collection of historical items. A new outdoor War Memorial is planned for 2021.
Rail Service
There is no longer a train service to Greenethorpe. The train service stopped in 2009. People have asked both local and state governments to reopen the train line for transporting grain and for tourism. However, so far, this has not happened.
