Crookwell, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Crookwell is a small town located in the Southern Tablelands
of New South Wales
, Australia
, in the Upper Lachlan Shire. At the 2006 census
, Crookwell had a population of 1,993 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.
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.
, Australia
, formed in 2004.
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.
Depending on location some Goulburn, Illawarra, and/or Canberra based radio stations can also heard.
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-air satellite service, which offers a similar range of channels.
Southern Tablelands
The Southern Tablelands is a geographic area of the State of New South Wales, Australia. This area is located west of the Great Dividing Range.The area is characterised by flat country which has generally been extensively cleared and used for grazing purposes...
of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, in the Upper Lachlan Shire. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Crookwell had a population of 1,993 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
Goulburn, New South Wales
Goulburn is a provincial city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Goulburn Mulwaree Council Local Government Area. It is located south-west of Sydney on the Hume Highway and above sea-level. On Census night 2006, Goulburn had a population of 20,127 people...
which is about a half hour drive to the south of the town. Crookwell is easily accessible to the state capital of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and also the Federal
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
capital of Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
Most employment is based on rural industries, and the district is renowned for potato farming. Crookwell is also home to what was NSW
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
's first wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
, which consists of 8 turbines, and is located a few kilometres out of town on the road towards Goulburn.
A railway
Crookwell railway line, New South Wales
The Crookwell railway line is a disused branch railway line in the south of New South Wales, Australia. It has never officially been closed. It branched from the Main South line at North Goulburn and passed north through the localities of Kenmore and Roslyn to the town of Crookwell.-History:The...
once connected Goulburn and Crookwell, which opened in 1902, but passenger services to Crookwell station
Crookwell railway station, New South Wales
Crookwell was the terminal railway station of the Crookwell branch railway line located in Crookwell, New South Wales, Australia. The station opened in 1902 with the opening of the line, and consisted of a 100 ft platform with wooden station building on the down side of the line, a stock siding,...
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
The area around Crookwell was first settled in the 1820s, and had received its current name by the 1860s. After this, selectionSelection (Australian history)
Selection referred to "free selection before survey" of crown land in some Australian colonies under land legislation introduced in the 1860s. These acts were similar to the United States Homestead Act and were intended to encourage closer settlement, based on intensive agriculture, such as...
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 WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, formed in 2004.
Transport
Crookwell is approximately 2.5 hours drive from SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
via the Goulburn. Or a 1.5 hours drive from Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. Other than the main road to Goulburn, minor roads link Crookwell with Bathurst
Bathurst
-Places:In Australia:* Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia and the following things associated with the city** Bathurst Regional Council, the local government area for the Bathurst urban area and rural surrounds...
, Boorowa, Grabben Gullen, Laggan
Laggan
Laggan is the name of numerous places in Scotland, including:*Laggan, Badenoch*Laggan Dam on the River Spean south west of Loch Laggan*Laggan, Great Glen*Laggan, Islay*Loch Laggan, Highland*River Laggan, Islayalso:...
, and Taralga.
Crookwell railway station is the terminus of the now disused Crookwell railway line.
Crookwell has a small unpaved airstrip.
Radio stations
Radio stations with transmitters located in Crookwell include-- Triple JTriple Jtriple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
91.7 FM (2JJJ) - 2GN2GN2GN is an Australian radio station serving the Goulburn region, co-owned by the Capital Radio Network and Grant Broadcasters. Broadcasting on 1368 KHz, it was opened in January 1933. The station carries a Classic Hits format and Forever Classic branding similar to its Canberra sister station,...
106.1 FM (commercial) - ABC Local RadioABC Local RadioABC Local Radio is a network of publicly owned radio stations in Australia, operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.ABC Local Radio stations broadcast across the continent using terrestrial transmitters and satellites...
106.9 FM (2ABCRR) - ABC Radio NationalRadio NationalABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
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 TelevisionABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
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
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
(Black Mountain
Black Mountain (Australian Capital Territory)
Black Mountain is situated close to the central business district of Australia's capital city Canberra. Like all major hills in Canberra it is protected from development by the Canberra Nature Park. It is covered in native bushland and is a haven to native wildlife.With its peak at 811.987m AHD,...
), or Orange
Orange, New South Wales
Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
(Mount Canobolas
Mount Canobolas
Mount Canobolas, at an altitude of above sea level, is the highest mountain in the central tablelands district of New South Wales, Australia.The mountain is of volcanic origin...
), although Crookwell is located in the fringe area of both transmitters.
Another option is to use the VAST
Viewer Access Satellite Television
The Viewer Access Satellite Television service, or VAST, is a satellite television platform in Australia, providing digital television and radio services to remote and black spot areas using the Optus C1 satellite. It is partly funded by the Australian Government and managed through a joint-venture...
free-to-air satellite service, which offers a similar range of channels.