Crookwell, New South Wales

Crookwell New South Wales
File:Crookwell 1.jpg Crookwell
Crookwell
Coordinates
Population	2,507 (2011 census)
Postcode(s)	2583
LGA(s)	Upper Lachlan Shire
State electorate(s)	Goulburn
Federal Division(s)	Hume

Crookwell is a small town located in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, in the Upper Lachlan Shire. At the 2011 census, Crookwell had a population of 2,507 people. The town is at a relatively high altitude in Australian terms (980 metres) and there are occasional snowfalls during the winter months. The nearest major centre is the city of Goulburn which is about a half hour drive to the south of the town. Crookwell is easily accessible to the state capital of Sydney and also the federal capital of Canberra.

Most employment is based on rural industries, and the district is renowned for potato farming. Crookwell is also home to what was NSW's first wind farm, which consists of 8 turbines, and is located a few kilometres out of town on the road towards Goulburn.

A railway once connected Goulburn and Crookwell, which opened in 1902, but passenger services to Crookwell station ceased in 1974, and the last goods train ran in 1985. The line is technically not closed, but has been listed as out of use, although in some locations is now impassable.

History

Prior to white settlement the area was inhabited by the Gundungura Aborigines. The first Europeans known to be in the area were the exploratory party of surveyor James Meehan which camped 1 km south of present-day Grabben Gullen (12 km south-west of Crookwell). John Oxley passed to the north and east later that same year. Crookwell was originally known as 'Kiama'.http://www.smh.com.au/news/New-South-Wales/Crookwell/2005/02/17/1108500193431.html The area around Crookwell was first settled in the 1820s, and had received its current name by the 1860s. After this, selection of blocks occurred; and the population of was over 100 by midway through that decade. The first allotments were sold at the end of the decade. By the mid-1870s the population had already reached 1000 people.

Governance

Crookwell is the seat of the Upper Lachlan Shire Council local government area (LGA) of New South Wales, Australia, formed in 2004.

Transport

Crookwell is approximately 2.5 hours drive from Sydney via the Goulburn. Or a 1.5 hours drive from Canberra. Other than the main road to Goulburn, minor roads link Crookwell with Bathurst, Boorowa, Grabben Gullen, Laggan, and Taralga.

Crookwell railway station is the terminus of the now disused Crookwell railway line.

Crookwell has a small unpaved airstrip.

Media

Radio stations

Radio stations with transmitters located in Crookwell include-

• Triple J 91.7 FM (2JJJ)
• 2GN 106.1 FM (commercial)
• ABC Local Radio 106.9 FM (2ABCRR)
• ABC Radio National 107.7 FM (2ABCRN)

Depending on location some Goulburn, Illawarra, and/or Canberra based radio stations can also heard.

Television

Crookwell has a low powered transmitter broadcasting ABC Television in analog only, located on Wades Hill. This is expected to be upgraded to digital before the analog turn-off at the end of 2013.

Residents wishing to receive a wider range of channels and in digital can attempt to receive signals from either Canberra (Black Mountain), or Orange (Mount Canobolas), although Crookwell is located in the fringe area of both transmitters.

Another option is to use the VAST free-to-view satellite service, which offers a similar range of channels.

Photo gallery

• Crookwell Town Entry West.jpg

  Town entry sign

• Crookwell Scout Hall.jpg

  Scout Hall

• Crookwell Bluestone.jpg

  Bluestone building

• Crookwell Railway Station.jpg

  Disused railway station

• Crookwell Sunburst.jpg

  Sunburst façade

• Crookwell Trompe l'oeil.jpg

  Trompe l'oeil on shop wall

See also

• Crookwell railway line