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Manildra, New South Wales facts for kids

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Manildra
New South Wales
Manildra is located in New South Wales
Manildra
Manildra
Location in New South Wales
Postcode(s) 2865
Location
LGA(s) Cabonne Shire Council
State electorate(s) Orange
Federal Division(s) Calare

Manildra is a small, friendly town in New South Wales, Australia. It's located right in the middle of Orange and Parkes. This town is part of the Cabonne Shire. In 2021, about 529 people lived in Manildra. It's known for its important farming industries and a very special old cinema!

What Does Manildra Make?

Manildra sits by the Mandagery Creek, in the middle of a big farming area. It's home to the Manildra Flour Mill. This mill started in 1952. It has grown to be the biggest industrial wheat producer in Australia! It's also the largest flour mill in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Manildra Flour Mill is owned by the Manildra Group. They send their products all over the world. Manildra also has MSL Milling, which is a large factory that processes canola plants.

Manildra's Past: A Winding Story

The name Manildra comes from an Aboriginal word. It means 'winding river'. People say the town was named this because of Mandagery Creek. This creek winds around the east side of Manildra.

Australia's Oldest Cinema

Manildra is home to the Amusu Theatre. This cinema is pronounced 'amuse you'. It is the oldest cinema in Australia that has been open without stopping!

In 1923, a local businessman named Allan Tom started a traveling picture show. He used a special projector that he carried on the back of a truck. He showed silent films to many people in halls and tents around central-west New South Wales.

Later, Allan Tom used a record player to add sound to his movies. He changed his projector so it could show sound films, also called 'talkies'. In 1936, he built a permanent theatre building. It was right next to his family's car mechanic garage. Today, that garage is a museum filled with old movie posters!

Special Places in Manildra

Manildra has some places that are important to its history. These are called heritage-listed sites. One of them is:

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