Orange, New South Wales

Orange New South Wales
The main street of Orange, Summer Street, as viewed from the vicinity of McNamara Street looking west in May 2008
Orange
Coordinates	33°17′0″S 149°06′0″E / 33.28333°S 149.10000°E / -33.28333; 149.10000Coordinates: 33°17′0″S 149°06′0″E / 33.28333°S 149.10000°E / -33.28333; 149.10000
Population	40,075 (2015)
Established	1846
Postcode(s)	2800
Elevation	863.2 m (2,832 ft)
Location	254 km (158 mi) from Sydney 1,010 km (628 mi) from Brisbane 777 km (483 mi) from Melbourne 280 km (174 mi) from Canberra
LGA(s)	City of Orange
County	Wellington, Bathurst
State electorate(s)	Orange
Federal Division(s)	Calare
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 17.6 °C 64 °F 6.2 °C 43 °F 895.1 mm 35.2 in

Orange /ˈɒrɪndʒ/ is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is 254 kilometres (158 mi) west of the state capital, Sydney [206 kilometres (128 mi) on a great circle], at an altitude of 862 metres (2,828 ft). Orange had an estimated urban population of 40,075 as of June 2015 making the city a significant regional centre. According to the 2011 census, the key employment sectors within the City of Orange local government area include health care & social assistance, retail and the education & training sector. A significant nearby landmark is Mount Canobolas. With a peak elevation of 1,395 metres (4,577 ft) it gives commanding views of the district.

Orange is the birthplace of world champion tenpin bowler, Jason Belmonte and of poets Banjo Paterson and Kenneth Slessor, although Paterson lived in Orange for only a short time as an infant. Walter W. Stone, book publisher (Wentworth Books) and passionate supporter of Australian literature, was also born in Orange. The first Australian Touring Car Championship, known today as V8 Supercar Championship Series, was held at the Gnoo Blas Motor Racing Circuit in 1960.

In 1822 Captain Percy Simpson marched into the Wellington District and established a convict settlement which was called "Blackman's Swamp" after James Blackman; Simpson had employed James Blackman as a guide because he had already accompanied an earlier explorer, John Oxley into that region.