Ourimbah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids OurimbahCentral Coast, New South Wales |
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Aerial shot of Ourimbah in April 2019
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 Ourimbah
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 3,951 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2258 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 37 m (121 ft) | ||||||||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Central Coast Council | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Ourimbah | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) |
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| Federal Division(s) | Dobell | ||||||||||||||
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Ourimbah is a small town in the Central Coast area of New South Wales, Australia. It is about 78 kilometres (48 miles) north of Sydney, the state capital. Ourimbah is located roughly halfway between Sydney and Newcastle.
Today, Ourimbah has many local shops and businesses along the Pacific Highway. It is also home to the Central Coast campus of the University of Newcastle. In 2016, Ourimbah had a population of 3,951 people.
Contents
Ourimbah's Past
The name "Ourimbah" comes from an Aboriginal word. "Oorin" means "Belt of manhood," which was a belt used to carry a stone axe during hunting. "Oorinbah" refers to a special ceremonial ground where young men would go through an initiation ceremony to receive this "belt of manhood."
Ourimbah was also known as 'Blue Gum Flats' because of the many blue gum trees in the area. This was the original name of the local school. Later, in the late 1800s, the name Ourimbah was used for the school, post office, railway, and the town itself. It was also given to Ourimbah Creek, which flows near the northern part of the town.
Many places around Ourimbah show that Aboriginal people lived there a long time ago. You can find axe grinding grooves, old campfires, and cave art. Many stone tools found here are now in museums or private collections.
Early Buildings and Transport
The first Blue Gum Flat Public School (now Ourimbah Public School) was built in 1863. It was located where the railway station is today. In 1886, the school moved to the other side of the road into a new wooden building.
Ourimbah railway station was built in the same year and opened on August 15, 1887. At that time, it was one of only two stations between Gosford and Wyong. The new school and railway helped the town grow. Land was divided into smaller blocks, and Ourimbah started to look more like a town.
Timber and Farming
Ourimbah was a great place for cutting timber because it had many types of trees like blue gums and blackbutts. From 1840 to 1870, a lot of timber was needed for building in Sydney. Many young couples moved to the Central Coast to work in the timber industry. They slowly formed settlements and started to build their lives there.
When the timber supply started to run low, people in Ourimbah found new ways to make a living. They started growing citrus fruits and dairy farming. However, by the 1950s, it became hard for local dairy and citrus farmers to compete with bigger farms elsewhere.
Modern Ourimbah
In January 1970, Ourimbah hosted Australia's first big rock festival, called "Pilgrimage For Pop." About 11,000 fans came to the event.
In the early 1970s, land prices went up, and many large farms were divided into smaller properties. This made it difficult for farming to support families in Ourimbah. The land was then used for new homes and for people to enjoy leisure activities, rather than for agriculture.
In recent years, Ourimbah has changed from a small rural town into a suburban town where many people live and travel to work in nearby cities.
Education in Ourimbah
Ourimbah Public School is the oldest school on the Central Coast. It first opened in 1863 as Blue Gum Flat School. The school continues to grow as Ourimbah changes from a quiet rural area to a busy urban one.
The University of Newcastle has a campus in Ourimbah. This campus is special because it works with TAFE NSW – Hunter Institute. This means students can study university, TAFE (technical and further education), and community college courses all in one place. This makes it easier for students to move between different levels of education and training. The University of Newcastle started teaching at the Ourimbah Campus in 1989.
Campus Central is the student group for the Ourimbah Campus. It has been helping students since 1994. Campus Central offers many services to students and the campus community.
Historical Sites
Ourimbah has several buildings and sites that are important to its history. These include:
- Sawmill (R. Brownlee & Co.) – Brownlee Street
- Utility Structure – No. 1A Jaques Street
- Dwelling – No. 23 Chittaway Road
- Dwelling (Former Post Office) – Ourimbah Creek Road
- Primary School – No. 121 Pacific Highway
- Railway Station – Pacific Highway
- Shop – No. 21 Pacific Highway
- World War 1 Monument – Pacific Highway
- Post Office and Residence – Station Street
- Dwelling – No. 100 Shirley Street
You can find more information and photos about these sites on the Central Coast Council website here.
Transport
Ourimbah railway station is on the Main Northern railway line, which connects many towns. The Pacific Highway runs right through the middle of Ourimbah. The town is part of the Central Coast Council area.
Major improvements were made to the Pacific Highway in 2007 by Roads & Maritime Services. These upgrades helped improve traffic flow and safety in the area.
Ourimbah's Symbol
The magpie bird is often used as a symbol for Ourimbah. This black and white bird is part of the Ourimbah Public School's logo. The school song even mentions the magpie in its first verse: "Here lies Ourimbah nestled in a valley,/ Home of the magpie and blue gum tree." The chorus also says, "home of the magpie colours black and white," which refers to the school uniform colours.
The magpie symbol is also used by many local sports teams, such as:
- Ourimbah Rugby League Football Club
- Lisarow Ourimbah Cricket Club
- Ourimbah Netball Club
- Ourimbah Lisarow RSL Bowling Club
