Cootamundra

Updated on Dec 24, 2023

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Population 5,579 (2011 census) Postcode(s) 2590 County Harden Postal code 2590		Established 1861 LGA(s) Gundagai Council Elevation 318 m

Location 390 km (242 mi) from Sydney 161 km (100 mi) from Canberra Weather 23°C, Wind E at 18 km/h, 34% Humidity Points of interest Bradmans Birthplace, Captains Walk, Ulandra Nature Reserve

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Cootamundra is a town in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia and within the Riverina. It is within the Gundagai Council. At the 2011 census, Cootamundra had a population of 5,579. It is located on the Olympic Highway at the point where it crosses the Muttama Creek, between Junee and Cowra. Although it is bypassed by the Hume Highway, its railway station is on the Main Southern line, part of the Melbourne-to-Sydney line.

Map of Cootamundra NSW 2590, Australia

Cootamundra is the birthplace of Sir Donald Bradman AC, an Australian cricketer universally regarded as the greatest batsman of all time. The town features the Sir Donald Bradman Birthplace Museum, a fully restored visitors' site, the home where "The Don" was born, featuring cricketing memorabilia and artifacts.

Cootamundra is the home of the Cootamundra wattle. Every year there is a large 'Wattle Time' Festival held at the time the wattle starts to bloom, with an art show and festivities.

Nulon nationals 2015 round 4 cootamundra airport

History

The earliest people to live in the area where present day Cootamundra exists are considered to be the tribe of Wiradjuri, with the name probably deriving from their word guudhamang for "turtle".

Cootamundra was incorporated as a township on 9 August 1861, and the first settlers bought their lots in early 1862. Like many other towns in the Riverina, it was originally populated by those attracted by the gold rush of the 1860s, but became a quiet yet prosperous agricultural community after the local deposits were exhausted.

The town's rugby league team competed in the Maher Cup.

Timeline

1847 - Cootamundra Run, a large stock run, is the first colonist settlement in the area.

1861 - The site of Cootamundry is published in the NSW Government Gazette

1862 - Gold mining commences at the nearby Muttama Reef mine.

1864 - The first church (Anglican) and post office are established.

1875 - The first school in the district opens

1877 - Cootamundra's railway connection opens on 1 November.

1884 - Cootamundra is first gazetted as a municipality

1896 - Cootamundra Cycling Club. It is probably the oldest continual club in NSW, although as was the case with most clubs it went into recess during the war years.

1908 - Donald Bradman (later Sir Donald Bradman) is born in Cootamundra.

1911 to 1968 - Cootamundra Domestic Training Home for Aboriginal Girls forcibly taken from their families

1942 - On 3 December, the corvette HMAS Cootamundra, named for the town, is launched.

1952 - Name of Cootamundry officially changed to Cootamundra

1955 - The first Cootamundra Annual Classic cycling handicap race, one of the oldest open races in NSW.

1956 - Cootamundra's rugby league football club's Bill Marsh is first selected to play for the Australian national team.

1960 - Cootamundra's Australian Football club is established.

1982 - In November 1982, the aviation company Masling Industries was formed. This was restructured in June 1993 after the unfortunate death of the owner.

1986 - Popular Australian singer/songwriter/bush poet John R Williamson released his song 'Cootamundra Wattle'.

2015 - Australian youth radio station Triple jjj featured the 'Cootamundra bonus weather rap'

2000 - The first annual beach volleyball competition begins. Truckloads of sand are trucked into the main street for Coota Beach (play on words for Kuta Beach in Bali, Indonesia).

Australian rugby league Kangaroos player Lee Ryde grew up representing the Group 9 Cootamundra Bulldogs local team.

2015 - Luke Barry Donnellan becomes the first Syrian national to win the prestigious Best Dressed award at the annual Cootamundra Cup.

In popular culture

Leonard Hubbard recorded the song "Cootamundra" in 1924.

Ethelbert Ambrook Southee (1890-1968), college principal

Hubert Leslie Primrose (1880-1942), solicitor and politician

Transport

Cootamundra railway station is located on the Main Southern railway line, with passengers served in each direction by twice daily NSW TrainLink XPT railway services between Sydney and Melbourne, and the weekly Xplorer railway services to Griffith. Cootamundra is hub for NSW Trainlink cross country coach services to Orange. Regional Rail Logistics operates a containerised freight service from Junee to Sydney stopping in the town, with interstate freight trains also passing through.

References

Cootamundra Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA