Warren, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WarrenNew South Wales |
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Warren, NSW.
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 Warren
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 1,365 (2021 census) | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2824 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 198 m (650 ft) | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
| LGA(s) | Warren Shire | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Barwon | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Parkes | ||||||||
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Warren is a friendly town located in the Orana Region of New South Wales, Australia. You can find it off the Mitchell Highway, about 120 kilometres north-west of Dubbo. Warren is also the main town for the Warren Shire local government area.
In 2021, about 1,365 people lived in Warren. The town is part of the Central West Slopes and Plains area, which is where the Bureau of Meteorology gives its weather forecasts.
Contents
A Look Back: Warren's History
Before European settlers arrived, the land around Warren was home to the Ngiyambaa Aboriginal people.
Early Explorers and Settlement
In 1818, explorer John Oxley camped right where Warren is today. He was exploring the Macquarie River and saw lots of kangaroos and emus. Later, in 1828-29, Charles Sturt explored the area further. By the late 1830s, cattle farmers started bringing their animals to graze here.
The "Warren station" was set up in 1845 by Thomas Readford and William Lawson. William Lawson was the son of another famous explorer, William Lawson, who was one of the first Europeans to cross the Blue Mountains in 1813.
Where Did the Name "Warren" Come From?
There are a couple of ideas about how Warren got its name:
- Some people think it comes from a local Aboriginal word meaning "strong" or "substantial."
- Another idea is that it comes from an old English word, "warren," which means a game park. This might be because the area by the river was very pretty and had lots of wildlife.
Growing into a Town
A small police station was built nearby to keep the new settlers safe. But since there were no problems, the police soon moved on. The first hut was built near a river crossing, which was a popular spot for stockmen to camp. They would wait by the "Warren Hole," a natural waterhole, before crossing the river when the water was low.
Some people decided to stay, and in 1860, a plan for a town was made. Land started to be sold in 1861. Over the next few years, more things were built:
- A post office opened in 1861.
- A bootmaker's shop (made of bark!) opened in 1863.
- A store in 1866.
- A school in 1867.
- An Anglican church in 1873.
- The first courthouse in 1874.
- The first bridge in 1875.
However, the town didn't really start to grow a lot until the late 1880s.
Warren's Development and Challenges
Warren officially became a municipality (its own local government area) in 1895. A weir (a small dam) was built in 1896 to help manage the river's water. The town really benefited when the railway arrived in 1898. This made Warren a key transport hub for a huge area.
Warren's success often depended on the price of wool. In the 1920s, the town grew quite a bit. But during the Great Depression, the economy slowed down. Things picked up again after World War II. A big problem for Warren was always having enough water. This changed a lot when the Burrendong Dam opened in 1967. This dam helped farmers grow crops like cotton and other produce.
Warren's Economy
Warren is a very important centre for the wool and cotton farming industries in New South Wales. It's especially known for breeding Merino sheep, with famous farms like Haddon Rig and Egelabra nearby.
Population Changes in Warren
The number of people living in Warren has changed over the years. Here's a quick look:
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1921 | 1,143 | — |
| 1933 | 1,567 | +37.1% |
| 1947 | 1,746 | +11.4% |
| 1954 | 1,828 | +4.7% |
| 1961 | 1,502 | −17.8% |
| 1966 | 1,678 | +11.7% |
| 1971 | 2,047 | +22.0% |
| 1976 | 2,077 | +1.5% |
| 1981 | 2,153 | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 2,030 | −5.7% |
| 1991 | 2,036 | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 1,909 | −6.2% |
| 2001 | 1,779 | −6.8% |
| 2006 | 1,654 | −7.0% |
| 2011 | 1,523 | −7.9% |
| 2016 | 1,530 | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 1,365 | −10.8% |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics data. | ||
According to the 2021 census:
- 1,365 people lived in Warren.
- About 21.2% of the population were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Most people (76.8%) were born in Australia.
- Most people (81.8%) spoke only English at home.
- The most common religions were Anglican (27%), Catholic (25.3%), and No Religion (19%).
Warren's Geography and Climate
The Macquarie River flows right through the town of Warren, which is a key part of its landscape.
What's Warren's Climate Like?
Warren has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot summers and cool winters.
| Climate data for Warren (Auscott), New South Wales, Australia (1968–1985 normals and extremes); 198 m AMSL | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 45.2 (113.4) |
43.4 (110.1) |
38.9 (102.0) |
33.6 (92.5) |
28.0 (82.4) |
24.9 (76.8) |
24.0 (75.2) |
28.2 (82.8) |
36.0 (96.8) |
37.2 (99.0) |
41.0 (105.8) |
45.0 (113.0) |
45.2 (113.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 33.5 (92.3) |
32.3 (90.1) |
30.0 (86.0) |
25.7 (78.3) |
20.4 (68.7) |
16.7 (62.1) |
16.3 (61.3) |
18.3 (64.9) |
21.2 (70.2) |
25.8 (78.4) |
29.8 (85.6) |
33.3 (91.9) |
25.3 (77.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.8 (65.8) |
18.4 (65.1) |
15.1 (59.2) |
10.3 (50.5) |
6.6 (43.9) |
3.9 (39.0) |
2.3 (36.1) |
3.3 (37.9) |
6.4 (43.5) |
10.1 (50.2) |
13.0 (55.4) |
16.3 (61.3) |
10.4 (50.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 8.7 (47.7) |
7.1 (44.8) |
5.1 (41.2) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
2.4 (36.3) |
2.9 (37.2) |
7.1 (44.8) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 79.1 (3.11) |
61.6 (2.43) |
34.2 (1.35) |
32.5 (1.28) |
45.5 (1.79) |
30.4 (1.20) |
35.0 (1.38) |
25.4 (1.00) |
36.8 (1.45) |
60.8 (2.39) |
38.7 (1.52) |
29.7 (1.17) |
509.7 (20.07) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 5.4 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 49.2 |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (temperature, precipitation- 1968–1985 normals and extremes) | |||||||||||||
Local News: The Warren Star
Warren has its own weekly newspaper called The Warren Star. It keeps everyone up to date on local news and events.
Sports and Fun in Warren
Warren offers a variety of sports and recreational activities for its residents.
- The Warren Pumas Rugby Club plays in the Western Plains competition.
- The Warren Bulldogs are a rugby league team that used to play in the Castlereagh Cup, but they are not currently active.
- The Warren Jockey Club hosts four big horse race meetings each year at the local racecourse.
- The Far West Academy of Sport is based in Warren. Its job is to find talented young athletes across a huge part of New South Wales.
- The Warren Gun Club has been around since 1898. It holds many shooting events throughout the year, attracting shooters from all over the state.
Famous People from Warren
Some notable people have come from Warren:
- Warren Bardsley: A former captain of the Australian test cricket team.
- Sharan Burrow: She was the president of the Australian Education Union and also the president of the ACTU.
- Ben McCalman: A former player for the Wallabies (Australia's national rugby union team) and the Western Force.
- Greg Storer: A country music singer.
