Ootha facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ootha New South Wales
Presbyterian church
Ootha Location in New South Wales
Population	94 (2006 census)
Postcode(s)	2875
Location	430 km (267 mi) W of Sydney 73 km (45 mi) W of Parkes 30 km (19 mi) E of Condobolin
LGA(s)	Forbes Shire
State electorate(s)	Dubbo
Federal Division(s)	Calare

Ootha is a small village in the Central West part of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the Forbes Shire area. Ootha is about 430 kilometres (270 mi) west of Sydney, the state capital.

In 2006, Ootha and the areas around it had a population of 94 people. The name 'Ootha' comes from an Aboriginal word that means 'ear'. The village is also close to Mount Derriwong, which is an important survey point for New South Wales.

History of Ootha

Ootha has a rich history, especially linked to its railway and local businesses.

Early Services and School

The Ootha Post Office opened on 15 December 1914. It served the community for many years before closing in 1980. A primary school also opened in Ootha in 1933. This school was a single-teacher school. It taught a small number of students, sometimes as few as one or two, and at other times up to nearly thirty.

One of the teachers at this school was Eric Woodward. He later became the Minister for Education in the New South Wales government. Many students at the school were children of railway workers. These workers often moved around to maintain the railway lines.

Local Businesses and Community Life

The village's general store was a very important place. In 1951, Jonnie and Isabelle Hamer took over the store. Sadly, Jonnie passed away soon after. His son Jack Hamer and his wife Molly came from Sydney to help Isabelle. They ended up staying until 1975.

In 1975, the store was destroyed by a fire. After the fire, a new shop was set up in the old Ootha Motors building. In the 1950s and 1960s, Ootha was a busy place. The garage (Ootha Motors) and the general store served customers from a wide area.

Ootha also had active sports teams. The village had a cricket team and a tennis team. Both teams competed well in local competitions. However, as roads to larger towns like Condobolin and Parkes were improved, people started shopping in bigger towns. This made it harder for Ootha's small businesses to survive.

Many people in Ootha and the surrounding areas in those years were part of the Plymouth Brethren faith. They had a meeting hall in the village, which is now a home. There was also a Presbyterian church, which still stands today.

The Railway's Role

The railway line through Ootha was part of the main line from Sydney to Broken Hill. The Silver City Comet was a famous train that ran on this line from 1937 to 1989. In 1970, the first Indian Pacific train traveled between Sydney and Perth. Before its first trip, the railway siding in Ootha had to be moved slightly. This was because a test train carriage touched the siding.

Besides passenger trains, the railway was very important for moving goods. A lot of wheat was transported from the silos near Ootha. Each year, trucks would line up for a long distance to unload their wheat. In the early 1960s, a local shopkeeper named Jack Hamer helped farmers. He introduced mesh bins, which allowed farmers to store their wheat on their farms more easily. This helped to reduce the long lines at the silos.

Modern Ootha

A large farming property near Ootha, called Burrawang West, was once bought by a Japanese group. They planned to turn it into a resort for visitors. Today, Burrawang West is back to being a working farm. It is known for its White Dorper sheep stud. The property also raises lambs and has a private retreat for groups.

The roads from Ootha to Burrawang West also lead to a unique local attraction. It is known as "Utes in the Paddock" [1]. This is an outdoor art display featuring old utility vehicles.

Like many small villages in New South Wales, Ootha has changed over time. It is now mainly a residential area. There are no longer any shops or services available for its residents within the village itself.