Yarramalong, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids YarramalongCentral Coast, New South Wales |
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![]() Main street of Yarramalong c. 2009
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Population | 468 (2011 census) | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 17.73/km2 (45.9/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 2259 | ||||||||||||||
Elevation | 40 m (131 ft) | ||||||||||||||
Area | 26.4 km2 (10.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Location |
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LGA(s) | Central Coast Council | ||||||||||||||
Parish | Eglington | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Wyong | ||||||||||||||
Federal Division(s) | Dobell | ||||||||||||||
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Yarramalong is a small town and suburb located in the beautiful Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. Its name, "Yarramalong," means "cedar country" in an Aboriginal language, which tells us about the tall cedar trees that once grew here. It's about 20 kilometers (12 miles) upstream from Wyong along the Wyong River. Yarramalong is part of the Central Coast Council area.
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What You'll Find in Yarramalong
The small town of Yarramalong has a few important places. You can find a Rural Fire Station, which helps keep the community safe. There are also two cemeteries. The old public school, which closed in 2008, is now used for community activities. The town also has a general store and petrol station, a bottle shop that is also a guest house, and a community hall. This hall was once an art hall, but now it's used for many different community events.
Getting Around Yarramalong
Today, Busways operates a school bus service in Yarramalong. This bus service connects Yarramalong with Wyong, helping students get to and from school. Busways took over this service from Yarramalong Bus Lines in 2008.
Farms and Nature in the Valley
The Yarramalong Valley is a very green and productive area. It's home to many horse studs, which are places where horses are bred and trained. You'll also find turf farms, where grass is grown for lawns and sports fields. Farmers here grow citrus fruits and even macadamia nuts. There's also a special lavender farm, which smells wonderful!
The Great North Walk
If you love hiking, you might know about the Great North Walk. This long walking track passes right through Yarramalong. From here, you can follow the path north towards Cedar Brush Creek or south towards Kulnura. It's a great way to explore the natural beauty of the area.
History of Yarramalong
The land where Yarramalong is located belongs to the Darkinjung people. They are the traditional owners of this area. The name "Yarramalong" comes from Aboriginal words. "Yarraman" means horse, and "long" means place. So, Yarramalong means "horse place." The word "Yarraman" might have come from "yira" or "yera," which means "large teeth" in some Sydney Aboriginal languages.
Early Settlers and Timber
The first people to settle permanently in the Yarramalong Valley were the Stinson and Waters families. They arrived in 1856 from Maitland. Before the 1850s, the valley was mostly used by timber cutters. These workers would cut down trees and use teams of oxen to pull the logs from places like Wollombi and Maitland.
Yarramalong Public School
To help the growing community, Yarramalong Public School opened its doors in 1870. It served the children living in the Yarramalong Valley for many years. However, due to fewer students over time, the school stopped operating in 2008. As mentioned before, the building is now used for community activities.
St Barnabas Church
Yarramalong is also home to the former St Barnabas Church. This church was built around 1885, making it one of the oldest churches in the Central Coast Council area. It's now protected by a special conservation order, which means it's an important historical building that needs to be preserved. The church closed in 1977 and is now owned by the Central Coast Council.
Heritage Listings
Yarramalong has some important historical sites that are officially listed as heritage places. These sites are protected because they are significant to the area's history.
- Yarramalong Road: St Barnabas Anglican Church