Parish of Houston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids HoustonNew South Wales |
|
|---|---|
Houston parish, Alectown
|
|
 Houston
Location in New South Wales
|
|
| Postcode(s) | 2870 |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Parkes Shire |
| County | Kennedy County |
| State electorate(s) | Dubbo |
| Federal Division(s) | Calare |
Houston Parish is a special kind of area in New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the Parkes Shire and Kennedy County. A "parish" here means a land division used for mapping and property records.
Houston Parish is found on the southern edge of a town called Alectown. One of its most famous sights is the huge Parkes radio telescope. This telescope helps scientists study space!
The parish is about 300 kilometers (186 miles) west-northwest of Sydney, which is the capital city of New South Wales. It also sits along the Goobang Creek.
A Glimpse into Houston Parish History
Before people from Europe settled in Australia, the land around Houston and Mcphail was home to the Wiradjuri people. They are one of Australia's First Nations groups.
Early Explorers and Gold Rush
In the early days, famous explorers like Major Thomas Mitchell and John Oxley traveled through this area. Later, in the 1800s, a big "gold rush" began in western New South Wales. This meant many people came looking for gold.
Both large mining companies and individual miners found a lot of gold near Mcphail. This gold rush lasted for about 20 years! A small village even grew up there because of all the mining activity.
Life After the Gold Rush
Today, there are no signs left of that old mining village. The main way people make a living in Houston Parish now is through farming. They grow crops like wheat and raise sheep.
