Rathmines, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids RathminesLake Macquarie, New South Wales |
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 Rathmines
Location in the Hunter-Central Coast Region
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| Population | 2,076 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1840 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2283 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 7 m (23 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | City of Lake Macquarie | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Awaba | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Lake Macquarie | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Hunter | ||||||||||||||
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Rathmines is a suburb in New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the western side of Lake Macquarie. This area is part of the City of Lake Macquarie. Rathmines sits between the towns of Toronto and Morisset.
Contents
History of Rathmines
Early Days and Naming
The first people to live in this area were the Awabakal Aboriginal people. They have lived on this land for thousands of years.
European settlers first arrived in Rathmines around 1840. The suburb was named after a town called Rathmines in Ireland. In the early days, people here grew fruit in orchards and grapes in vineyards. They also raised cattle.
RAAF Base and Local Life
A school first opened in Rathmines in 1941. From 1939 to 1963, Rathmines was home to a RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) base. This base was important during World War II. A famous artist named Sir William Dobell even helped with the camouflage for the base. Camouflage helps to hide things from being seen, especially from above.
Today, Rathmines is known for its sports. Many local teams play here, including the Westlakes Wildcats FC soccer team, who play at Rathmines Oval. Rathmines also has Lake Macquarie's first disc golf course. You can find it in the park lands at Styles Point.
Heritage Sites in Rathmines
Rathmines has some special places that are protected because of their history. These are called heritage-listed sites.
- Dorrington Road: RAAF Base Rathmines is one of these important historical sites.
