Lockhart, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids LockhartNew South Wales |
|
|---|---|
Looking east in the main street of Lockhart
|
|
 Lockhart
Location in New South Wales
|
|
| Population | 818 (2016 census) |
| Postcode(s) | 2656 |
| Elevation | 157 m (515 ft) |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Lockhart Shire |
| County | Urana |
| State electorate(s) | Wagga Wagga |
| Federal Division(s) | Riverina |
Lockhart is a small town in the Riverina area of New South Wales, Australia. It's where the main offices for the Lockhart Shire Council are located. In 2016, about 818 people lived in Lockhart.
Contents
Discovering Lockhart's Past
Lockhart got its name from C.G.N. Lockhart. He was a government official in charge of Crown Lands (land owned by the government) in the Murrumbidgee River region back in the 1850s.
How Lockhart Got Its Name
The town was first called Greens Gunyah. This name came from Mr. Green, who was one of the first people to settle there. He ran a small shop that sold drinks along the old stagecoach route between Urana and Wagga Wagga. Later, in 1897, the town's name was changed to Lockhart.
Post Office and Local Heroes
The local post office first opened on May 16, 1882, under the name Ferriers Post Office. It was renamed Lockhart in 1898. In 1915, a special list called the Lockhart – Roll of Honour was revealed. It showed that 86 people from the area had joined the national service.
Trains and Famous Faces
A railway station served Lockhart from 1901 to 1975. Today, this old station has been fixed up and is now used by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. Trains still visit the town to carry grain from the silos.
A very important person, Tim Fischer, was born in Lockhart. He was a leader of the National Party from 1990 to 1999. He also served as the 10th Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, which is a very high-ranking government job.
Fun Things to See in Lockhart
Lockhart has some cool attractions that show off its history and art.
Amazing Water Tower Mural
In October 2018, a huge mural was painted on the water tower in Lockhart. Artists Scott Nagy and Janne Birkner (Krimsone) created this artwork in just three weeks. The mural shows a beautiful waterfall with local plants and animals all around it. It covers a massive area of over 600 square metres! Since the tower was painted, many more visitors have come to Lockhart.
Spirit of the Land Festival
Every year, Lockhart hosts the Spirit of the Land Festival. This festival celebrates the strength and spirit of people who live and work on the land. It happens on the second weekend in October. A popular part of the festival is a competition where artists create sculptures from recycled farm materials. You can see many of these amazing sculptures from past festivals in the park near the water tower mural. They are also part of the Lockhart Sculpture and Heritage trail.
Well-Known People from Lockhart
Some famous Australians used to live in Lockhart:
- Trevor Carrodus (an Australian rules footballer)
- Tim Fischer (a well-known Australian politician)
- Stan Livingstone (an Australian rules footballer)
- Bill Peach (an Australian journalist)
- Josh Wooden (an Australian rules footballer)
Images for kids
-
Entrance sign for Lockhart, New South Wales, Australia
-
Greens Gunyah Museum
-
Rusty Cockatoo at Spirit of the Land Festival
-
Emu Family Sculpture at Spirit of the Land Festival
-
Horse Power Statue at Spirit of the Land Festival
-
Good Old Days at Spirit of the Land Festival
-
Bonnie Dog at Spirit of the Land Festival
-
Tower Mural
Museum.jpg)
