White Cliffs, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White CliffsNew South Wales |
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 White Cliffs
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 156 (2021 census) | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2836 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 151.0 m (495 ft) | ||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Central Darling Shire | ||||||||
| County | Yungnulgra | ||||||||
| Parish | Kirk | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Barwon | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Parkes | ||||||||
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White Cliffs is a small town located in the outback of New South Wales, Australia. It's part of the Central Darling Shire. White Cliffs is about 255 kilometers northeast of Broken Hill and 93 kilometers north of Wilcannia. In 2021, the town had 156 people living there.
The local primary school first opened in 1895 and has been teaching kids ever since. White Cliffs was also visited by the famous writer Bill Bryson when he was researching his book Down Under.
Contents
Discovering White Cliffs: A History of Opal
The town of White Cliffs started in the late 1800s. This happened after a special gemstone called opal was found there. People have been mining for opal in White Cliffs ever since.
The very first Australian opal was actually found in Queensland in 1872. About 20 years later, some kangaroo hunters were in the White Cliffs area. One hunter was tracking a kangaroo and found a beautiful, shiny stone. He showed it to his friends, and they thought it might be opal. A local jeweler confirmed it was indeed opal. He told them to find as much as they could, as it would be more valuable than hunting kangaroos. When they officially claimed the land, opal wasn't yet listed as a gemstone. So, they had to claim it under the "Gold Mining Act."
Life Underground: Homes and Hotels
Many people who live in White Cliffs have built their homes underground. They use mining tools to dig large spaces into the hillsides. This helps them escape the very hot temperatures outside.
There are also two underground motels for visitors. These are called The White Cliffs Underground and PJ's Bed And Breakfast. The town is becoming more popular for tourism. Inside these underground homes and motels, the temperature stays cool, usually around 20 to 22 degrees Celsius.
A famous Australian cricketer, Bill O'Reilly, was born in White Cliffs. His father was the town's first school teacher.
Powering the Future: Solar Energy
White Cliffs is home to Australia's very first solar power station. The White Cliffs Solar Power Station was built in 1981. It first produced 25 kilowatts of electricity. In 1996, it was updated to produce 45 kilowatts. It used the same large solar dishes but with newer, better technology.
White Cliffs Climate
White Cliffs has very hot summers and mild, pleasant winters. Summer temperatures often go above 36 degrees Celsius. In winter, temperatures are usually around 17 degrees Celsius. The town gets about 249.7 millimeters of rain each year. Even with this rain, White Cliffs has a desert climate because of how quickly water evaporates.
