Gilgandra
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Gilgandra New South Wales |
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The main street of Gilgandra
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 Gilgandra
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| Coordinates | 31°42′0″S 148°40′0″E / 31.70000°S 148.66667°ECoordinates: 31°42′0″S 148°40′0″E / 31.70000°S 148.66667°E | ||||||
| Population | 4,368 (2011 census) | ||||||
| Established | 1888 | ||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2827 | ||||||
| Elevation | 282 m (925 ft) | ||||||
| Location | |||||||
| LGA(s) | Gilgandra Shire | ||||||
| State electorate(s) | Barwon | ||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Parkes | ||||||
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Gilgandra is a town located in the central west region of New South Wales, Australia. The town is located on the junction of the Newell, Oxley and Castlereagh highways and can be reached in about six hours by car from Sydney. The town is the administrative seat for the Gilgandra Shire.
Like Coonabarabran, Gilgandra can be considered to be a gateway to the Warrumbungles National Park. At the 2011 census the population of the Gilgandra "statistical area" was 4,368 people. The name Gilgandra is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning "long waterhole" and may be related to fact that town stands on the Castlereagh River.
The town was proclaimed in 1888, and the first town blocks were sold in 1889. The area had been previously settled and Gilgandra’s Post Office was established in 1867 and in 1881 a local school opened, and the first court hearing in the Gilgandra court house was in 1884. The shire was constituted in 1906.
During World War I, a recruitment march to Sydney began in Gilgandra. The march was known as the Coo-ee March, after the distinct call of "cooee" they shouted at each town along their journey to attract recruits. Twenty-six men left Gilgandra on 10 October 1915. They were feted at each town on the route and recruitment meetings were held. By the time they reached Sydney just over one month later on 12 November, the numbers had swelled to 263 recruits.
There is a hospital, pharmacy, and medical centres. In 2009, a Supa IGA supermarket was opened. various clothes stores including Target Country and several hotels. Two clubs have bowling greens (bowling club and RSL club) and the golf club has a full sized golf course surrounded by a racecourse.
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