kids encyclopedia robot

Crookwell, New South Wales facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Crookwell
New South Wales
Crookwell 1.jpg
Crookwell
Crookwell is located in New South Wales
Crookwell
Crookwell
Location in New South Wales
Population 2,641 (2016 census)
Postcode(s) 2583
Elevation 887 m (2,910 ft)
Location
LGA(s) Upper Lachlan Shire
Region Southern Tablelands
County King
Parish Crookwell
State electorate(s) Goulburn
Federal Division(s) Hume
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
18.2 °C
65 °F
5.0 °C
41 °F
861.2 mm
33.9 in
Localities around Crookwell:
Binda Laggan Laggan
Lost River Crookwell Roslyn
Grabben Gullen Bannister Pejar

Crookwell is a small town located in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, in the Upper Lachlan Shire. At the 2016 census, Crookwell had a population of 2,641. The town is at a relatively high altitude of 887 metres and there are several snowfalls annually, especially during the winter months. The nearest major centre is the city of Goulburn which is about a half-hour drive to the south-east 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, and 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.

Transport

Crookwell is approximately 2.5 hours drive from Sydney via Goulburn, and 1.5 hours 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 approximately 5 km south of the town.

Photo gallery

Notable people

Notable people include Kellie White and Emily Smith (Hockeyroos Captain), who both played for the Hockeyroos in international competition, Mary Douven, a notable community volunteer who gave her time to help the local sporting communities and church groups, who unfortunately died in 2020 one year to the day after her husband Theo Douven, who was a long term employee of the local Upper Lachlan Shire Council.

kids search engine
Crookwell, New South Wales Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.