North Star, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North StarNew South Wales |
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 North Star
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 214 (2021 census) |
| Established | 1888 |
| Postcode(s) | 2408 |
| Elevation | 419 m (1,375 ft) |
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| LGA(s) | Gwydir Shire |
| State electorate(s) | Northern Tablelands |
| Federal Division(s) | Parkes |
North Star is a small village in the Gwydir Shire. It is located in northern New South Wales, very close to the Queensland border. In 2021, about 214 people lived in the area around North Star. Around 50 people lived right in the village itself.
Contents
A Look at North Star's History
European settlers first came to North Star around 1888. Five brothers from the Sutton family were among the first to claim land here. The land was used for raising sheep. By 1910, the Wilby Woolshed was open. This brought a lot of business from nearby areas. The first wheat crops were planted in 1908.
A post office opened in 1916. The Boggabilla railway line arrived in 1932. This brought new services and chances for the town to grow. Large storage buildings for grain, called silos, were built in 1955. They were made even bigger in 1965. North Star's population grew a lot during this time. It was biggest in the 1970s. More recently, fewer people live there due to changes in farming and new machines.
Places and Services in North Star
North Star has several important places and services for its community:
- Grain Storage: Big storage places for grain are owned by a company called Grain Corp. They have easy access to the train tracks.
- North Star Public School: This school has 32 students and 2 full-time teachers.
- North Star Sporting Club: A place for sports and community events.
- Polo Ground: A field used for playing polo.
- Golf Course: Where people can play golf.
- Tennis Courts: Four concrete courts for playing tennis.
- North Star Pub (Cleveland Hotel): This hotel offers rooms and meals every day.
- The Vicarage Cafe: Opened in 2021, it offers meals and coffee.
- North Star General Store: The shop part is not currently open. It also works as the post office.
- Caravan Park: A place for caravans and campers to stay.
- CWA Hall: A community hall often used by the Country Women's Association.
- Bookcase: A place where you can find books.
The Railway and North Star
The railway arrived in North Star on June 20, 1932. This was when the train line to Boggabilla opened. In the 1980s, only grain trains used the line. So, the line was shortened to end at North Star. North Star has the last silo on this train line.
The Australian Government looked into building a new train line in 2008. This new line, called the Inland Railway, would connect Melbourne and Brisbane. The chosen path for this new line would see trains running north of North Star again. It would follow a new path towards Toowoomba.
Nearby Train Stations
- Boggabilla - the end of the line
- Croppa Creek
- Camurra
- Moree - where lines connect
North Star's Community Website
The website www.northstarnsw.com was launched in November 2011. It was built and run by the community. The website had a calendar of events. It also had a "Speakers Corner" where people could talk about community topics. You could also find information about local fundraising events from groups like the P & C and CWA. The CWA helped create the website.
