Lake Cargelligo, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake CargelligoNew South Wales |
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Main street
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 Lake Cargelligo
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 1,430 (2021 census) |
| Postcode(s) | 2672 |
| Elevation | 168 m (551 ft) |
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Lachlan Shire |
| State electorate(s) | Barwon |
| Federal Division(s) | Parkes |
Lake Cargelligo is a town in the Central West area of New South Wales, Australia. It is located right on the shores of Lake Cargelligo. The town is part of the Lachlan Shire.
The name 'Cargelligo' comes from an Aboriginal word. Some say it's from kartjellakoo, meaning 'he had a coolamon' (a type of carrying dish). Others believe it comes from the Wiradjuri and Ngiyambaa word "gajal" for water container. In 2021, about 1,430 people lived in Lake Cargelligo.
Contents
History of Lake Cargelligo
The land around Lake Cargelligo has a long history. It is the traditional home of the Wiradjuri people.
In 1817, explorers John Oxley and George Evans traveled along the Lachlan River to Lake Cargelligo. The town was first known as Cudgelligo in the 1800s. Its name officially changed to Lake Cargelligo when the railway arrived in 1917.
After European settlers arrived, many Aboriginal people were moved from their traditional homes. They were sent to other areas under the control of the Aboriginal Protection Board. In 1949, about 240 Wiradjuri, Ngiyampaa, and Paakantyi people were moved to Murrin Bridge. This camp was about 15 kilometers from Lake Cargelligo.
Culture and Sports
Lake Cargelligo is known for its fun watersports on the lake.
The town has a strong love for sports. It shares a rugby league team, the Sharks, with nearby Tullibigeal. They play in the Group 20 Rugby League competition.
Lake Cargelligo also has its own Australian rules football team. They are called the Tigers and play in the Northern Riverina Football League.
Transport Connections
The railway line reached Lake Cargelligo in 1917. It connected the town to places like Cootamundra and Wyalong. The railway station was first called 'Cargelligo' and then 'Lake Cargelligo' in 1919.
Passenger trains stopped running in 1983. Now, the railway is mainly used for carrying goods. It is especially important for moving grain from local farms. The town also has a strong connection to World War I history and ANZAC traditions.
Mining in the Area
The land around Lake Cargelligo has many valuable minerals. Several mines operate in the area. These mines dig for different types of resources.
Some of the mines include:
- Bevs Gossanous Mine
- Fosters Reef Gold Mine
- The Whitton Road Mine, which digs for magnesite
- Allys Zone Mine
- Browns Reef Mine, which digs for copper, lead, silver, and zinc
- Bevs Gossanous Zone Mine
- Billys Lead Zone Mine
Solar Power Station
Lake Cargelligo is home to a special power plant. It is called the Lake Cargelligo Thermal Power Station. This plant uses the sun's energy to make electricity.
The plant has many mirrors called heliostats. These mirrors follow the sun and reflect its light onto tall towers. The towers have special parts that get very hot from the sunlight. This heat is then used to power a steam turbine. The turbine creates electricity for the town.
The plant started working in May 2011. It was built with help from the Australian Government. By 2014, the plant had been running for over 25,000 hours. In 2016, the owners decided to take the plant apart. They plan to build a new site for research and development. This new site will help improve solar power technology.
The Lake Itself
As the town's name suggests, Lake Cargelligo sits right on a lake. The Lachlan River feeds water into this lake through Lake Curlew. Explorer John Oxley first named it Regent's Lake.
The lake has always been very important for the town. It provides water for the people of Lake Cargelligo. It also supplies water to other users along the lower Lachlan River. Today, the lake is also a popular spot for fun activities.
Many people visit the lake for bird watching. There are many different kinds of waterfowl and rare birds in the area. Boating, fishing, and water skiing are also popular. These activities help the town's tourism industry.
The lake is natural, but it wasn't always full of water. In the late 1800s, people built a levee bank and made parts of the lake deeper. This helped the lake stay full for longer periods. However, after many years of dry weather, the lake dried up in early 2010. This was the first time it had happened since 1902.
Climate
Lake Cargelligo has a climate that is mostly dry. It has long, hot summers and cool winters. Rain falls fairly evenly throughout the year. The town gets a lot of sunshine, with over 128 clear days each year.
| Climate data for Lake Cargelligo Airport (1907–2023, rainfall 1881–2024); 169 m AMSL; 33.28 °S, 146.37 °E | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 47.7 (117.9) |
46.8 (116.2) |
41.5 (106.7) |
36.2 (97.2) |
30.6 (87.1) |
26.4 (79.5) |
27.2 (81.0) |
30.6 (87.1) |
37.1 (98.8) |
39.1 (102.4) |
43.9 (111.0) |
45.4 (113.7) |
47.7 (117.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 34.2 (93.6) |
33.4 (92.1) |
30.2 (86.4) |
25.2 (77.4) |
20.1 (68.2) |
16.1 (61.0) |
15.5 (59.9) |
17.5 (63.5) |
21.5 (70.7) |
25.5 (77.9) |
29.4 (84.9) |
32.4 (90.3) |
25.1 (77.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.6 (65.5) |
18.3 (64.9) |
15.3 (59.5) |
10.8 (51.4) |
7.1 (44.8) |
4.6 (40.3) |
3.4 (38.1) |
4.6 (40.3) |
7.1 (44.8) |
10.6 (51.1) |
14.2 (57.6) |
16.8 (62.2) |
10.9 (51.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 7.8 (46.0) |
8.0 (46.4) |
6.7 (44.1) |
0.6 (33.1) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
1.5 (34.7) |
3.8 (38.8) |
3.9 (39.0) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 41.4 (1.63) |
34.9 (1.37) |
37.2 (1.46) |
30.5 (1.20) |
36.4 (1.43) |
37.4 (1.47) |
33.1 (1.30) |
33.0 (1.30) |
31.9 (1.26) |
39.8 (1.57) |
33.9 (1.33) |
36.7 (1.44) |
426.5 (16.79) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 5.6 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 60.9 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 31 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 49 | 60 | 59 | 54 | 45 | 38 | 34 | 31 | 43 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology | |||||||||||||
Gallery
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Lake Cargelligo Anglican Church
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Lake Cargelligo Uniting Church
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Lake Cargelligo – signal box and gantry crane
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Lake Cargelligo water tower and turntable
