Wellington, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wellington New South Wales
The Federal Hotel, Wellington (erected in 1894)
Wellington Location in New South Wales
Population	5,011 (2021 census)
Postcode(s)	2820
Elevation	305 m (1,001 ft)
Location	360 km (224 mi) WNW of Sydney 49 km (30 mi) SE of Dubbo 100 km (62 mi) N of Orange 92 km (57 mi) W of Mudgee
LGA(s)	Dubbo Regional Council
County	Wellington
State electorate(s)	Dubbo
Federal Division(s)	Parkes
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 24.4 °C 76 °F 9.4 °C 49 °F 620.1 mm 24.4 in

Wellington is a town in the Central Western Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. It sits where the Wambuul Macquarie and Bell Rivers meet. The town is part of the Dubbo Regional Council area.

Wellington is about 362 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Sydney. You can reach it by the Mitchell Highway or the Main Western Railway. It is also 50 kilometers (31 miles) southeast of Dubbo, which is a big town in the Central Western Slopes region. Wellington was the second place Europeans settled west of the Blue Mountains. It started as a place for convicts in 1823.

Exploring Wellington's Past

Aboriginal History of Wellington

The land where Wellington is today traditionally belongs to the Wiradjuri people. The 'Wambuul' (Macquarie River) was a very important food source for this large Aboriginal group. They were connected by family ties and spoke the same language.

You can still find signs of the Wiradjuri people living here before Europeans arrived. These include rock shelters, carved trees, and places where they camped. There are also grinding grooves and special ceremonial grounds called bora grounds.

Wellington still has a strong Aboriginal community. This is partly because early missionary settlements were set up there. Other Aboriginal campsites, like the Wellington Common, and the Nanima Aboriginal Reserve (from 1910), also kept local people in the area. In 2007, the Wiradjuri people won a Native Title claim for the Wellington Common. This land, where many Wiradjuri lived, was given back to its traditional owners.

European Discoveries in Wellington

Europeans first found the Wellington Valley in 1817. This happened when John Oxley and his group were returning from an expedition. They were crossing from the Bogan River to the Macquarie River. In August 1817, they found the Wellington Valley with the Bell River flowing through it.

Oxley thought the valley was "beautifully picturesque" and had "fine trees upon a soil which may be equalled, but can never be excelled." He named the Bell River after Major Bell and the Wellington Valley after the Duke of Wellington.

Wellington's Convict Outpost

In January 1823, Lieutenant Percy Simpson was asked to set up a settlement. This settlement was at the meeting point of the Bell and Macquarie rivers. Simpson arrived in February with soldiers and convicts. They brought cows, sheep, and wheat.

Simpson chose a spot for the settlement on high ground near the Bell River. This was about three kilometers south of the modern town. There were some early problems, like convicts running away. But they eventually grew wheat and other crops. By 1826, there were 85 men in Wellington. The convict outpost closed in 1831. For a while, the settlement was used as a government farm for livestock.

Missionary Settlement in Wellington

In 1831, the Church Missionary Society in England decided to send a mission to the Aboriginal people. They got permission to set up the mission at Wellington Valley. They could use the government buildings and land for grazing. The missionaries, Rev. William Watson and Rev. James Handt, arrived in 1832.

In 1835, two Quakers, Messrs. Backhouse and Walter, visited the Mission. Backhouse reported that about 30 Aboriginal people usually lived there. They were "attracted" by the food but "not disposed to work." A report in 1836 said that the native language vocabulary was improved. Services were held in the local language. Rev. Handt left in 1836, and Rev. James Gunther arrived in 1837.

Wellington Courthouse.

Wellington Becomes a Town

In 1840, a village called Montefiores was started. It was on the north side of the Macquarie River. The town of Wellington was officially recognized in 1846. It was on the south bank of the Macquarie River, across from Montefiores. On March 20, 1885, Wellington was declared a city.

The first local government for Wellington was formed in 1879. In 1950, it joined with other areas to become Wellington Shire. In 2016, Wellington Shire joined with Dubbo City. This created the Western Plains Regional Council.

Wellington is the second oldest European settlement west of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. One of its hotels, the Lion of Waterloo, opened in 1842. It is the oldest operating hotel west of the Blue Mountains. Near this hotel, the last recorded duel in Australia happened in 1854.

Wellington grew because of gold mining in the area from the 1850s. At first, people found gold in riverbeds. Later, they mined gold from rock. One mining area was Mitchells Creek, near Bodangora. In the early 1900s, gold mining started again. Gold dredges worked on the Macquarie River near Wellington.

The Main Western Railway line reached Wellington on June 1, 1880. It was later extended to Dubbo in February 1881.

Wellington's Heritage Sites

Wellington has several places listed for their historical importance. These include:

• 9 Amaroo Drive: John Fowler 7nhp Steam Road Locomotive
• Curtis Street: Wellington Convict and Mission Site
• 21 Maughan Street: Wellington Post Office
• University Road: Blacks Camp

Wellington's Economy and Jobs

Wellington is in a rich farming area. Farmers grow alfalfa and vegetables near the river. On surrounding lands, they raise wheat, wool, lambs, and beef cattle. The town is a business hub for the nearby farms.

In September 2008, the Wellington Correctional Centre opened. This is a prison that created new jobs. A Probation and Parole Office also opened in the town center. Wellington Council hopes these will help the local economy grow.

The local newspaper, The Wellington Times, is published three times a week. It sells about 1000 copies in the area. There is also a popular Community Radio Station on 91.5 MHz FM. A KFC restaurant was built in 2019.

Wellington's Climate and Weather

Wellington has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot summers and cool winters. The average high temperature in January is 33.0°C (91.4°F). In July, the average high is 15.3°C (59.5°F). The average low in January is 17.1°C (62.8°F). In July, it is 2.2°C (36.0°F).

The town gets a moderate amount of rain, about 620.1 mm (24.4 inches) each year. Rain falls on about 76 days a year. Wellington is quite sunny, with 138 clear days each year. The highest temperature ever recorded was 45.0°C (113.0°F) in February 2017. The lowest was -5.7°C (21.7°F) in June 1971 and July 1982.

Getting Around Wellington

Wellington railway station

Wellington has a railway station called Wellington station. A train service called XPT runs daily between Sydney and Dubbo.

The closest airport for commercial flights is Dubbo City Regional Airport. QantasLink and Rex Airlines fly to Dubbo from Sydney several times a day. For smaller planes, Bodangora Airport is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) east of Wellington. Ogden's Coaches also provides bus services to Dubbo.

Fun Places Near Wellington

Lake Burrendong is a large, man-made lake about 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Wellington. It can hold three and a half times the water of Sydney Harbour. This lake provides water for farms downstream. It's also a popular spot for fishing, sailing, and water skiing. The Burrendong Arboretum is a special place that protects rare Australian plants. It covers 1.60 square kilometers (0.62 square miles).

The nearby Wellington Caves are famous for the Cathedral Cave. This cave has a huge rock formation called Altar Rock. You can also see an underground river flowing at the bottom. East of Wellington is the Catombal Range. Here, you can find great bushwalking trails around Mount Arthur and Mount Wellesley.

The Wellington Boot is a country horse racing festival held every March and April. The Bell River Wine Estate is also nearby.

Famous People from Wellington

Many notable people have connections to Wellington, including:

• Ben Austin – A Paralympian who grew up in Wellington.
• Millicent Bryant – The first woman in Australia to get a pilot's license.
• Max Cullen – An actor.
• Silvanus Daniel – A politician.
• Terry Fahey – A former professional rugby league player.
• Blake Ferguson – A former NRL player.
• Nicolas Hyeronimus – A pioneering innkeeper and politician.
• Media stars John Laws, Laurie Oakes, and Ray Martin all lived in Wellington.
• Colleen McCullough – A famous author, born in Wellington.
• Brent Naden – An NRL player, born in Wellington.
• Ian O'Brien – An Olympic gold medalist in swimming.
• Tyrone Peachey – An NRL player.
• Trent Runciman – A former NRL player.
• Paul Shaw – A former professional rugby league player.
• Kotoni Staggs – An NRL player for the Brisbane Broncos.
• Tim Storrier – An award-winning artist.
• Jack Renshaw - Premier of NSW from 1964 to 1965, born in Wellington.