Peak Hill, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peak HillNew South Wales |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peak Hill - Town with a Heart of Gold
|
|||||||||
 Peak Hill
Location in New South Wales
|
|||||||||
| Population | 768 (2021 census) | ||||||||
| Established | 1889 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2869 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 285 m (935 ft) | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
| LGA(s) | Parkes Shire | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Orange | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Calare | ||||||||
|
|||||||||
Peak Hill is a small town in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Parkes Shire area. In 2021, about 768 people lived there. You can find Peak Hill along the Newell Highway. It is also on the railway line that connects Parkes to Narromine.
Contents
History of Peak Hill
Before Europeans arrived, the land around Peak Hill belonged to the Wiradjuri people. In 1817, explorer John Oxley was one of the first Europeans to visit this region.
Gold Discovery and Town Founding
In 1889, gold was found in the area. This led to the official start of Peak Hill as a town in November 1889. The local Post Office opened its doors on November 7, 1889. Later, in 1965, a weather station was set up here.
Australia's First Wheat Silo
Peak Hill is famous for having Australia's first public wheat silo. It was built in 1918. This happened because surveys showed the area was great for growing wheat.
Farming in Peak Hill
The Peak Hill area is well-known for raising sheep. Many of these sheep are Merinos, which produce good quality wool.
Merino Sheep Studs
There are five special Merino sheep farms, called "studs," in the area. Their names are Cora Lynn, Genanegie, Towalba, Towonga, and Westray. These farms sell their young male sheep, called rams, to other farmers across Australia. This helps other farmers breed high-quality sheep too.
Climate in Peak Hill
| Climate data for Peak Hill Post Office | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 44.5 (112.1) |
46.0 (114.8) |
39.7 (103.5) |
36.0 (96.8) |
28.2 (82.8) |
24.7 (76.5) |
23.4 (74.1) |
28.4 (83.1) |
35.9 (96.6) |
39.0 (102.2) |
43.8 (110.8) |
42.9 (109.2) |
46.0 (114.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 33.4 (92.1) |
32.6 (90.7) |
29.5 (85.1) |
25.2 (77.4) |
20.1 (68.2) |
16.3 (61.3) |
15.4 (59.7) |
17.1 (62.8) |
20.7 (69.3) |
24.9 (76.8) |
28.4 (83.1) |
31.5 (88.7) |
24.6 (76.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19.4 (66.9) |
19.3 (66.7) |
16.5 (61.7) |
12.4 (54.3) |
8.7 (47.7) |
6.1 (43.0) |
4.8 (40.6) |
5.7 (42.3) |
7.9 (46.2) |
11.5 (52.7) |
14.6 (58.3) |
17.4 (63.3) |
12.0 (53.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 7.4 (45.3) |
7.8 (46.0) |
4.3 (39.7) |
1.5 (34.7) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
1.7 (35.1) |
3.8 (38.8) |
6.2 (43.2) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 58.9 (2.32) |
50.3 (1.98) |
50.5 (1.99) |
41.8 (1.65) |
44.3 (1.74) |
43.3 (1.70) |
44.4 (1.75) |
42.3 (1.67) |
39.1 (1.54) |
48.0 (1.89) |
47.4 (1.87) |
51.5 (2.03) |
561.4 (22.10) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2mm) | 5.2 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 5.8 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 6.9 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 70.3 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology | |||||||||||||
Peak Hill Open Cut Mine
The Peak Hill Open Cut Experience lets you walk around an old gold mine. You can follow marked paths and see information panels. The mine area is fenced for safety. There are also old mining tools on display. This site is very popular with visitors of all ages.
Facilities and Attractions
Peak Hill has a few schools, including St Joseph's Catholic primary school. There is also a public central school.
Places to Stay and Eat
For visitors, Peak Hill offers three motels, one hotel, and two caravan parks. You can find cafes and a butcher shop for food.
Shops and Clubs
The town has a post office, a newsagency, and a supermarket. You can also find antique shops, an art gallery, a book shop, and places for hairdressing and beauty. For fun, there's an RSL club, a bowling club, and a golf club.
Community and Events
The local showground hosts harness races and an annual agricultural show. Peak Hill also has its own volunteer radio station, PeakHillFM89.5, playing classic hits all day.
Tourist Attractions
Peak Hill has many interesting places to visit. These include the open cut gold mine and a nature walk in the flora and fauna reserve. You can also see the Bogan Weir and Australia's first upright wheat silo. The town has a heritage-listed hospital and a unique street style that feels like stepping back in time. Don't miss the Big Fish fossil hut!
The Town's Motto
Peak Hill calls itself 'The Town With a Heart of Gold'. This name comes from its history with the gold mine. The town is also a good base for exploring Wiradjuri Country.
Peak Hill Silos
Peak Hill was chosen for Australia's first upright bulk wheat silo in 1918. This was because it was in the middle of New South Wales' wheat-growing area.
Growth of the Silos
In 1927, more parts were added to the silo complex. This included six storage bins and a weighbridge. Even more bins were built in 1950, and a large storage area was finished in 1959. Today, the silos are much bigger to handle all the grain grown nearby. Some local grain also goes to the silos in Parkes. You can see the Peak Hill silo from Lindner Avenue, which is next to the railway line.
War Memorials
Peak Hill has several places that remember those who served in wars.
Memorial Locations
There is a war memorial at the Peak Hill Cemetery, located north of town. You can also find the AIF War Memorial School of Arts, the War Memorial park, and the War Memorial Pool.
Places to See in Peak Hill
- Post Office - built in 1899
- Peak Hill Railway Station - now at Lindner Oval
- Club House Hotel - built in 1910
- Carrington Hotel
- Peak Hill District Hospital - a heritage-listed Victorian-style building from 1904
- St James Catholic Church - a heritage-listed Catholic Church
- St Joseph's Primary School
- Sisters of Mercy Convent
- Masonic Hall
- AIF Memorial School of Arts
Recreation Areas
- War Memorial Park
- Lindner Oval and Recreational area
- Commercial Gardens
- Bogan River reserve
- War Memorial Pool
- Bowling Club
- Golf Club
Arts and Crafts
Many different types of arts and crafts are created by people in the Peak Hill community.
Notable People from Peak Hill
- Graham Murray - a rugby league player and coach
- Willie Tonga - a rugby league player
- Esi Tonga - a rugby league player and entrepreneur
- Kitty (Kate) Hanley (c. 1845–1917) - a respected Wiradjuri Elder and midwife
- Sergeant George Brayne (c. 1851-1906)
- William Yeo - a farmer and State president of the Returned Servicemen's League
- Charles Leslie Frost (1897–1971) - an Aboriginal leader
- Oswald Francis (Ossie) Mingay (1895–1973) - a radio engineer, soldier, and publisher
