Grenfell, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids GrenfellNew South Wales |
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Main Street, Grenfell, during the 2011 Henry Lawson Festival
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 Grenfell
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 2,573 (2016 census) | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2810 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 410 m (1,345 ft) | ||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Weddin Shire | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Cootamundra | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Riverina | ||||||||
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Grenfell is a town located in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of Weddin Shire. The town is about 370 kilometres (230 miles) west of Sydney. It is also close to other towns like Forbes, Cowra, and Young.
In 2016, Grenfell had a population of 2,573 people. You can travel to Grenfell from Sydney using NSW TrainLink services. The journey takes about 4.75 hours from Sydney and 2.5 hours from Canberra. Grenfell is known for its rich history, especially its gold mining past.
Contents
Discovering Grenfell's Past
The Gold Rush Story
Grenfell began as a gold mining town. In 1866, a shepherd named Cornelius O’Brien found gold. Soon, many miners arrived from other goldfields. They set up tents and huts along Emu Creek. This area quickly grew into a busy town.
On January 1, 1867, the town was officially named Grenfell. It was named after John Granville Grenfell. He was a Gold Commissioner who was hurt by bushrangers in 1866. Between 1867 and 1869, the Grenfell goldfields were very rich. They produced over 40,000 ounces of gold each year. This made them the richest goldfields in New South Wales at that time.
From Gold to Wheat
By the mid-1870s, gold mining started to slow down. Farmers then began growing wheat in the area. The first wheat crops were planted in 1871. In 1901, a railway line was opened, connecting Grenfell to Koorawatha. This helped transport the wheat to other places.
Grenfell's main street is quite unique because it bends. Most Australian country towns have straight main streets.
Modern History and Art
In 2007, a big music event called the Spirit of the Bush Concert was held in Grenfell. Famous Australian musicians like Lee Kernaghan performed there.
In 2019, a large mural was painted on the old grain silos in Grenfell. An artist named Heesco Khosnaran created this amazing artwork. It took him five weeks and a lot of paint to finish it.
Who Lives in Grenfell?
In the 2016 Census, 2,573 people lived in Grenfell. Most people, about 86.5%, were born in Australia. Also, 91.7% of people spoke only English at home. The main religions reported were Anglican, Catholic, and Uniting Church. Some people also reported having no religion.
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1921 | 1,192 | — |
| 1933 | 2,488 | +108.7% |
| 1947 | 2,425 | −2.5% |
| 1954 | 2,584 | +6.6% |
| 1961 | 2,360 | −8.7% |
| 1966 | 2,377 | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 2,193 | −7.7% |
| 1976 | 2,156 | −1.7% |
| 1981 | 2,070 | −4.0% |
| 1986 | 1,986 | −4.1% |
| 1991 | 2,037 | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 1,956 | −4.0% |
| 2001 | 1,922 | −1.7% |
| 2006 | 1,994 | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 1,996 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 1,973 | −1.2% |
| 2021 | 2,022 | +2.5% |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics data. | ||
Grenfell Railway Station
The Grenfell railway station is a very old and important building. It was built in 1901 and is now a heritage-listed site. This means it is protected because of its historical value.
Fun Things to See and Do
Grenfell has many interesting places to visit. You can explore its history or enjoy nature.
- Chrysler Car Museum: See a collection of classic Chrysler cars.
- Iandra Castle: Visit a historic castle built between 1886 and 1908.
- Ben Halls Cave: Explore a cave linked to the famous bushranger Ben Hall.
- Weddin Mountains National Park: Enjoy hiking and nature in this beautiful park.
- Grenfell Art Gallery: Discover local art and exhibitions.
- Grenfell Museum: Learn more about the town's past.
- Henry Lawson Birthplace: Visit the home of the famous Australian poet, Henry Lawson.
- The Big Gold Pick and Pan: See a large sculpture celebrating Grenfell's gold mining history.
Major Events in Grenfell
Grenfell hosts several exciting events throughout the year.
- Australia Day: Celebrated in January.
- Grenfell Rodeo: Held in March.
- ANZAC Day Commemorations: Remembered in April.
- Henry Lawson Festival of Arts: A popular festival in June, celebrating the poet Henry Lawson.
- Grenfell Show: Takes place in August or September.
- Weddin Mountain Muster: An event held in September or October.
Grenfell's Weather
Grenfell has distinct seasons. Summers are hot and dry, often with sunny days and sometimes thunderstorms. Winters are cool and rainy, with many cloudy days. Sometimes, you might even see sleet or a rare snowfall in winter. Grenfell gets a bit more rain in winter compared to nearby towns like Cowra.
The weather records for Grenfell come from Manganese Road. Rainfall has been recorded since 1885. Temperature records started in 1907, and extreme temperatures have been noted since 1965.
| Climate data for Grenfell (Manganese Rd, 1907–2022, rainfall to 1885); 390 m AMSL; 33.89° S, 148.15° E | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 44.0 (111.2) |
43.8 (110.8) |
38.9 (102.0) |
35.3 (95.5) |
26.5 (79.7) |
23.3 (73.9) |
22.5 (72.5) |
26.5 (79.7) |
32.5 (90.5) |
35.6 (96.1) |
42.1 (107.8) |
44.0 (111.2) |
44.0 (111.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.8 (89.2) |
30.9 (87.6) |
27.8 (82.0) |
22.7 (72.9) |
17.8 (64.0) |
13.9 (57.0) |
12.9 (55.2) |
14.8 (58.6) |
18.4 (65.1) |
22.7 (72.9) |
26.7 (80.1) |
29.9 (85.8) |
22.5 (72.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 16.3 (61.3) |
16.1 (61.0) |
13.4 (56.1) |
9.3 (48.7) |
6.2 (43.2) |
4.1 (39.4) |
3.1 (37.6) |
3.9 (39.0) |
6.1 (43.0) |
8.9 (48.0) |
11.8 (53.2) |
14.4 (57.9) |
9.5 (49.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 6.0 (42.8) |
5.9 (42.6) |
3.5 (38.3) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
2.1 (35.8) |
3.5 (38.3) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 51.9 (2.04) |
48.1 (1.89) |
48.9 (1.93) |
47.0 (1.85) |
49.4 (1.94) |
58.5 (2.30) |
56.7 (2.23) |
55.7 (2.19) |
51.2 (2.02) |
54.2 (2.13) |
50.4 (1.98) |
55.0 (2.17) |
621.9 (24.48) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 5.8 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 7.4 | 10.1 | 11.1 | 10.2 | 8.2 | 7.7 | 6.5 | 5.9 | 88.6 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 32 | 36 | 37 | 43 | 53 | 64 | 64 | 56 | 51 | 41 | 36 | 32 | 45 |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology | |||||||||||||
Nearby Villages in Weddin Shire
The Weddin Shire includes several small villages, each with its own story.
- Greenethorpe: This village grew around Iandra Castle. George Greene, who built the castle, also started Australia's first share farming system here.
- Caragabal: This town was once a stop for coaches and horses. It has an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, and a bowling club.
- Quandialla: The name Quandialla means "spiny anteater" in the local Aboriginal language. It was founded in 1914 as a railway town.
Ancient Fossils
Grenfell is an important place for finding fossils. Many fossils from the Devonian period have been discovered in the rocks around the area. These fossils give us clues about ancient life.
Sports in Grenfell
The local rugby league team is called the Grenfell Goannas. They play their home games at Henry Lawson Park. The team competes in the Woodbridge Cup competition.
Famous People from Grenfell
Several notable people have come from or lived in Grenfell.
- Sam Myers: A professional Rugby Sevens player.
- Henry Lawson: A very famous Australian poet.
- Jan Lehane: A talented tennis player.
- Stan McCabe: A well-known cricketer.
- Reggie McNamara: A famous cyclist.
- Clare Hunt: A soccer player.
Learning in Grenfell
Grenfell has several schools and learning centres for students of all ages.
- Grenfell Preschool & Long Day Care Centre
- Grenfell Public School
- St Joseph's Primary School – Grenfell
- Henry Lawson High School
- TAFE NSW – Grenfell Campus
