Koorawatha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids KoorawathaNew South Wales |
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Old shops at Koorawatha
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 Koorawatha
Location in New South Wales
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| Postcode(s) | 2807 |
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| LGA(s) | Hilltops Council |
| State electorate(s) | Cootamundra |
| Federal Division(s) | Riverina |
Koorawatha is a small town in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. You can find it on the Olympic Highway. This highway connects the towns of Cowra and Young. Koorawatha was once a busy and lively place. Today, it has a hotel and a cafe.
The Koorawatha Hotel has a long, narrow bar. If you look closely, you might spot a long-looking wombat on top of the fridge!
In 2016, Koorawatha had 427 people living there. By 2021, the population had grown to 450. The town's name comes from an Aboriginal word. It means "pine trees."
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Nature and Wildlife
Koorawatha is close to the Illunie Range. This area includes the Koorawatha Nature Reserve. This reserve is an important piece of untouched bushland.
Bird Watching at Koorawatha Falls
If you love watching birds, the Koorawatha Falls area is perfect. It is located within the Nature Reserve. Many different birds can be seen there.
Local Connections
For several years, Koorawatha had its own newsletter. It was called the "Koora Chat." You could pick it up from the Triple J cafe.
Famous People Connected to Koorawatha
A German activist named Petra Kelly once owned land in the village. She never actually visited it. The famous photographer Olive Cotton (1911–2003) lived near Koorawatha. She lived on a farm there for over fifty years.
A Bushranger Story
Koorawatha is famous for a gun battle. It happened between police and the bushranger Ben Hall. Bushrangers were like outlaws in Australia's past.
The Bang Bang Hotel Incident
On May 20, 1864, Ben Hall and his friends, Tom Gordon and Jimmy Dunleavy, tried to rob the Bang Bang Hotel. This hotel was later taken down in the 1940s. Instead of an easy robbery, they found themselves in a gunfight. Two policemen were there. Hall and his friends had to run away.
After this, they went to the Bang Bang hotel. They told everyone on the front porch to stay put. Two police officers, Constables Scott and McNamara, were at the stables. They saw what was happening and pulled out their pistols. John Gilbert, another famous bushranger in Hall's gang, started shooting. He fired three shots at the constables.
The constables shot back. They moved closer to the bushrangers on their horses. This made Gilbert and another bushranger, Mount, retreat. Constable McNamara kept Mount and Gilbert busy. Constable Scott carefully aimed at Hall as he rode away. He fired, and the bullet hit Hall's hat, knocking it off his head. Gilbert and Mount rode after Hall, giving up on the robbery.
Where the Battle Happened
Today, there is a sign where the old Bang Bang Hotel used to be. It's hidden by a peppercorn tree in the town. You can find it about half a kilometer west of the Olympic Highway.
Koorawatha in Poetry
A poem called "The Decline of the North" mentions Koorawatha. It was written by the poet Peter Porter. He visited the area in the mid-1970s with his two daughters.
The poem talks about "armoured lizards." This refers to a type of lizard called the Eastern shingleback. They are calm, native lizards that are easy to catch.
Notable Residents
- Olive Cotton, a well-known photographer and teacher.
