Narrabri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids NarrabriNew South Wales |
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Post Office
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 Narrabri
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 5,499 (2021 census) | ||||||||
| Established | 1860 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2390 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 212 m (696 ft) | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
| LGA(s) | Narrabri Shire | ||||||||
| County | Nandewar | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Barwon | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Parkes | ||||||||
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Narrabri (/ˈnærəbraɪ/ narr-Ə-bry) is a lively town in New South Wales, Australia. It's located on the Namoi River, about 521 kilometers (324 miles) northwest of Sydney. Narrabri is easy to find because it's right where the Kamilaroi Highway and the Newell Highway meet. In 2021, about 5,499 people lived in Narrabri.
This town is a big center for growing cotton. Other important farms in the area grow wheat and raise beef cattle and lamb. Narrabri is also close to some cool places like Mount Kaputar National Park and the Australia Telescope Compact Array. This telescope is a huge science facility run by the CSIRO. You can also find the Pilliga Forest nearby, which is the largest natural forest left in Eastern Australia. Narrabri also has a large entertainment venue called The Crossing Theatre, which has a 1,000-seat auditorium and cinema.
Because of its location, Narrabri used to have problems with floods and fires. But now, changes have been made to the river to make the town much safer.
Contents
History of Narrabri
Before Europeans arrived in the early 1800s, Narrabri was the home of the Gamilaroi people. Today, many Gamilaroi people still live in the area. The name Narrabri comes from an old property in the district called the Narrabri Run. The word "Narrabri" is Aboriginal and can mean a few things, like 'snake place', 'big creek', or 'Forked Sticks'. It might also mean "with a knot".
In 1860, Narrabri officially became a town. A year later, on June 1, 1861, the Narrabri Post Office opened. More buildings were built over time, including a hospital and the first courthouse (1864–65). A school opened in 1868, followed by a police station (1878–79) and a new post office (1879). In the 1880s, a jail and a second courthouse were built.
Historic Places in Narrabri
Narrabri has some special places that are protected because of their history. These include:
- Bowen Street: The Narrabri Gaol and Residence
- 138–140 Maitland Street: The Narrabri Post Office
Population Growth
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1921 | 2,382 | — |
| 1933 | 3,946 | +65.7% |
| 1947 | 3,329 | −15.6% |
| 1954 | 3,722 | +11.8% |
| 1961 | 5,423 | +45.7% |
| 1966 | 6,037 | +11.3% |
| 1971 | 6,893 | +14.2% |
| 1976 | 6,951 | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 7,926 | +14.0% |
| 1986 | 7,246 | −8.6% |
| 1991 | 6,694 | −7.6% |
| 1996 | 6,419 | −4.1% |
| 2001 | 6,234 | −2.9% |
| 2006 | 6,102 | −2.1% |
| 2011 | 5,890 | −3.5% |
| 2016 | 5,903 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 5,499 | −6.8% |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics data. | ||
The 2021 Australian census showed that 12,703 people lived in the wider Narrabri Shire area. In Narrabri town itself, there were 5,499 residents.
Here are some interesting facts about the people living in Narrabri:
- About 14.8% of the population are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Most people (84.0%) were born in Australia.
- A large majority (86.9%) spoke only English at home.
- For religion, the most common choices were No Religion (28.4%), Anglican (26.1%), and Catholic (22.3%).
Climate and Weather
Narrabri has a warm climate. Over the years, different weather stations have collected information about the weather here.
Narrabri West Post Office Weather Records (1962–2002)
| Climate data for Narrabri West Post Office (1962–2002) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 43.4 (110.1) |
42.3 (108.1) |
40.6 (105.1) |
37.9 (100.2) |
31.3 (88.3) |
26.9 (80.4) |
26.7 (80.1) |
32.1 (89.8) |
36.6 (97.9) |
40.7 (105.3) |
43.0 (109.4) |
43.3 (109.9) |
43.4 (110.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 33.8 (92.8) |
33.2 (91.8) |
31.2 (88.2) |
27.3 (81.1) |
22.5 (72.5) |
18.7 (65.7) |
18.0 (64.4) |
19.8 (67.6) |
23.4 (74.1) |
27.1 (80.8) |
30.1 (86.2) |
33.0 (91.4) |
26.5 (79.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19.3 (66.7) |
19.1 (66.4) |
16.4 (61.5) |
11.9 (53.4) |
8.3 (46.9) |
5.2 (41.4) |
3.7 (38.7) |
4.6 (40.3) |
7.6 (45.7) |
11.7 (53.1) |
14.8 (58.6) |
17.7 (63.9) |
11.7 (53.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 10.6 (51.1) |
7.8 (46.0) |
5.6 (42.1) |
0.7 (33.3) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
3.9 (39.0) |
6.0 (42.8) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 84.2 (3.31) |
63.6 (2.50) |
57.0 (2.24) |
39.1 (1.54) |
48.0 (1.89) |
48.1 (1.89) |
46.8 (1.84) |
40.7 (1.60) |
42.1 (1.66) |
52.5 (2.07) |
61.2 (2.41) |
77.8 (3.06) |
661.9 (26.06) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 5.9 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 63.7 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology | |||||||||||||
Narrabri Airport Weather Station (2001–2020)
| Climate data for Narrabri Airport AWS (2001–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 47.8 (118.0) |
46.5 (115.7) |
40.0 (104.0) |
34.8 (94.6) |
29.7 (85.5) |
26.0 (78.8) |
26.5 (79.7) |
31.7 (89.1) |
34.9 (94.8) |
40.8 (105.4) |
44.0 (111.2) |
44.4 (111.9) |
47.8 (118.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 34.9 (94.8) |
33.7 (92.7) |
31.0 (87.8) |
27.0 (80.6) |
22.4 (72.3) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.1 (64.6) |
20.0 (68.0) |
24.2 (75.6) |
28.3 (82.9) |
31.3 (88.3) |
33.2 (91.8) |
26.9 (80.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20.5 (68.9) |
19.6 (67.3) |
16.8 (62.2) |
12.5 (54.5) |
7.5 (45.5) |
5.8 (42.4) |
4.0 (39.2) |
4.5 (40.1) |
8.1 (46.6) |
12.3 (54.1) |
16.1 (61.0) |
18.6 (65.5) |
12.2 (54.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 8.4 (47.1) |
9.2 (48.6) |
4.1 (39.4) |
0.3 (32.5) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
2.1 (35.8) |
4.3 (39.7) |
6.9 (44.4) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 67.3 (2.65) |
58.3 (2.30) |
60.5 (2.38) |
28.2 (1.11) |
23.9 (0.94) |
48.4 (1.91) |
28.2 (1.11) |
29.4 (1.16) |
30.9 (1.22) |
39.2 (1.54) |
67.7 (2.67) |
69.7 (2.74) |
552.7 (21.76) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 6.9 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 8.2 | 6.6 | 5.0 | 5.6 | 6.8 | 7.9 | 8.7 | 80.0 |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Narrabri Airport AWS | |||||||||||||
The Narrabri West Post Office collected rainfall data from the late 1800s. From 1960 to 2002, it also recorded temperatures and wind. Now, it only reports rainfall. The main weather station for Narrabri is the Narrabri Airport Automatic Weather Station (AWS), which started recording in 2001.
Major Weather Events
On January 4, 1902, a very strong thunderstorm hit Narrabri. It brought large hail and powerful winds. Many buildings were damaged or destroyed in just five minutes. People described it as a 'cyclone'. Sadly, one person died after being struck by lightning, and two others were hurt. The storm caused about £3,000 in damage, which was a lot of money back then!
Local Media
Narrabri has its own newspaper called The Courier. It's published twice a week and is one of the few independent local newspapers left in Australia.
There's also a local community radio station called 2MAX FM. It's run by volunteers and broadcasts on 91.3 MHz FM. Because its antenna is on nearby Mt Dowe, it can reach a very large area. The station started in 2006 and often plays country music, appealing to older listeners.
Getting Around Narrabri
You can fly to Narrabri with Link Airways, which has scheduled flights to and from Brisbane and Sydney on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also arrange private charter flights. Narrabri is about the same distance from Brisbane and Sydney.
Train Travel
The Narrabri railway station is on the Mungindi railway line, about 569 kilometers (354 miles) from Sydney. The station opened in 1897. A single daily train, called the Xplorer diesel railmotor, travels between Sydney and Moree, stopping in Narrabri.
Narrabri is also an important place for moving goods by train. Since the mid-1990s, the train system here has been greatly improved.
Sports Teams in Narrabri
The most popular sport in Narrabri is Rugby league. The local team is called the Narrabri Blues. They were started in 1921 and play at Collins Park. They compete in the Group 4 Rugby League competition and have won five championships, with their last win in 1990.
Other sports teams in Narrabri include the Narrabri Eagles AFC (Australian Rules Football) and the Narrabri Blue Boars RUFC (Rugby Union).
Notable People from Narrabri
Many talented people have come from Narrabri, including:
- Peter Hall: An architect who helped finish the famous Sydney Opera House.
- Jeff Hardy: An Australian Paralympic swimmer.
- Chris Latham: A former player for the Australian Wallabies rugby union team.
- Sam Naismith: An Australian rules footballer.
- Ernest Riddle: A former Governor of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
- Jason Stoltenberg: A former international tennis player who was the world's number one junior player in 1987.
- Jamie Lyon: A former National Rugby League player for the Manly Sea Eagles and the New South Wales Origin team.
- Darrell Trindall: A rugby league footballer from the 1990s.
- Andrew Curry: A former Australian Olympic javelin athlete and a leading javelin specialist in the 1990s. Locals know him as Narrabri's most treasured local sports star.
- Dorothy Jenner (Andrea) (1891–1985): An actor, art director, journalist, scriptwriter, and war correspondent.
