Yerrinbool, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids YerrinboolNew South Wales |
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Yerrinbool station
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 Yerrinbool
Location in New South Wales
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| Established | 1919 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2575 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 488 m (1,601 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Wingecarribee Shire | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Southern Highlands | ||||||||||||||
| County | Camden | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Colo | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Wollondilly | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Hume | ||||||||||||||
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Yerrinbool is a small village located in the beautiful Southern Highlands region of New South Wales, Australia. It's part of the Wingecarribee Shire and is easy to reach from the Hume Highway. Yerrinbool is about a 12-kilometer drive from the town of Mittagong. It sits on the edge of the Upper Nepean Nature Reserve, which is a huge area of forests, lakes, and dams. This reserve stretches between Yerrinbool and the coastal towns near Wollongong. Yerrinbool was once officially called the Town of Yerrinbool and is found along the old Old Hume Highway.
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What Can You Do in Yerrinbool?
Yerrinbool has several useful and fun places for residents and visitors.
Getting Around: Yerrinbool Railway Station
The Yerrinbool railway station is a key spot in the village. It's served by the NSW TrainLink Southern Highlands Line, connecting Yerrinbool to other towns. In 2018, local volunteers created the Railway Garden. This garden is a nice place for travelers to rest and for locals to meet up.
Community Hubs and Local Produce
While the Yerrinbool General Store closed in 2014, the village still has important community buildings. These include a community hall, a fire station, and an Anzac memorial. There's also a sporting field and a skate park for everyone to enjoy. On the edge of town, you'll find the Tennessee Orchard. This orchard mainly grows apples, and you can buy fresh local produce there when it's in season.
Sports and Community Fun
Yerrinbool is home to the Yerrinbool-Bargo soccer team, known as the Yerrinbool-Bargo Bushrangers. Their home games are played at Yerrinbool's sporting field. The Bushrangers are part of the Highlands Soccer Association and compete in the local Highlands Competition.
The Baháʼí Centre of Learning
The village is also home to the Yerrinbool Baháʼí Centre of Learning. This center is a special place for people who follow the Baháʼí Faith. It has a library, a hall for meetings, classrooms, and places to eat. There are also small buildings where people can stay when they are studying or attending meetings. It's also used as a place for pilgrims to stay.
Yerrinbool's Special Spots
Yerrinbool has a couple of unique features that make it stand out.
Welcome to the Southern Highlands
If you're driving on the Hume Highway from Sydney, Yerrinbool is the first town you reach in the Southern Highlands. You'll see a special sign that says "Welcome to the Southern Highlands" as you arrive.
The Big Red Apple Sign
Another way to recognize Yerrinbool is by the Tennessee Orchard Sign. This sign has a large, bright red apple on it. It's easy to spot when you're driving past the village on the Hume Highway.
A Look Back: Yerrinbool's History
Yerrinbool has an interesting past, from its name to the arrival of the railway.
How Yerrinbool Got Its Name
The name Yerrinbool comes from an Aboriginal word. It means "Wood Duck," which is a type of duck often seen around the ponds in the area. Before the village was settled, this area was known as "Little Forest."
The Railway Arrives
A big change for Yerrinbool happened on July 13, 1919. On this day, the Yerrinbool railway station officially opened. It was part of a new train line built between Mittagong and Picton. This new line helped trains avoid a very steep section of the old track. With the station open, the village began to grow. Land sales for the Yerrinbool Station Estate started in late 1919 and early 1920.
Growing Up: Early Buildings and School
The Yerrinbool Post Office opened on December 1, 1919, right when the railway arrived. It stayed open until 1977. The Yerrinbool General Store was built in 1921, along with a saw-mill that is no longer there. A school opened in Yerrinbool on August 20, 1922, with 30 students. Sadly, the school building burned down in the 1970s and was not rebuilt. The community hall, which is still used today, was built in March 1938 by local volunteers.
The Baháʼí School's Beginning
The Yerrinbool Baháʼí School first opened in May 1937. It started as a summer school, offering a place for people who follow the Baháʼí Faith to read and relax. Today, it is known as the Yerrinbool Baháʼí Centre of Learning.
Who Lives in Yerrinbool?
The number of people living in Yerrinbool has changed over the years. In 1954, there were about 150 people living in 50 homes. By the 2016 census, Yerrinbool had a population of 1,164 people. More recently, the 2021 census recorded 1,196 people living in the village.
Important Places: Heritage Sites
Yerrinbool has some places that are important for their history. These are called heritage-listed sites. One such site is the Nepean Dam (a large water reservoir), which can be accessed via Avon Dam Road or fire trails.
