Grenfell NSW
Grenfell (Weddin Shire) which is in the Central West Region of New South Wales within 2 hours drive of Orange, Canberra, Wagga Wagga and Dubbo. The Council has a strong service emphasis and is held in high regard by the community. Council supports its strong agricultural base by providing for large-lot residential development and assisting light industrial developments.
With significant growth in many sectors of the town, Grenfell is experiencing a revival as a regional destination. Grenfell’s strength lies in education, agriculture, retail and professional services. These industry sectors employ a significant portion of the labour force and position Grenfell as a knowledge based regional service centre. The expanding heritage tourism sector as well as the professional business sector is considered of major importance. Grenfell has attracted more professionals to the town over the last few years than at any other time in its history.
The Grenfell District offers a high quality, low stress lifestyle at an affordable price and people are friendly here. Traffic jams do not exist in Grenfell. The road network is more than adequate and the town is well laid with the highway bypassing Main Street so there are no traffic choke points. You can live some kilometres out of town and still be at work in 10 minutes. The town now has a population of approximatley 4,100 in the shire. See Map
History
In 1866 Grenfell was the richest district in the Colonies. A total of 26 registered claims with 'Homeward Bound', O'Brien Mine were the richest Grenfell NSW paying and most famous. Later came Star Gully and Oriental Reef which was northeast of O'Brien's Hill. Stones from the reefs had to be carted to the Pinnacle's crusher 40 km away until a 1867. The first battery Stamper arrived, but the output was only 35 tons per week.
In the dry summer of a 1866/67 water was carted in from 15km away, this problem was solved with the development of the Company's Dam which is still in existence today just 2km from the center of town. Prior to European settlement the Grenfell area was home to the Wiradjuri Aborigines whose lands stretched from Bathurst to the Victorian border. Small efficient groups roamed this area hunting and gathering and occasionally coming together to celebrate particular events and to socialize.
The first European to settle in the district was John Wood whose huge 'run', which he called 'Brundah', included the present township. Wood arrived in 1833 but it took 33 years, and the sharp eye of Cornelius O'Brien (a shepherd working for Wood) to realize there were rich gold deposits on the property. Miners flocked to the area in 1866 and although it was know as Emu Creek it was subsequently renamed Grenfell to honour the late John Grenfell, Gold Commissioner at Forbes.
On December 7th 1866 Grenfell was travelling from Bourke to Dubbo when John Grenfell two masked bushrangers tried to hold up the coach. At the time Grenfell was holding the reins and refused their demands. He drew his pistol and fired at the outlaws, who returned his fire and badly wounded Grenfell in the thigh. Although doctors treated him as soon as help could be obtained, he died twenty four hours after being shot. He was buried at the Church of England Cemetery, Dubbo. The gold had attracted bushrangers to the district. They were particularly attracted to the rugged Weddin Mountains where famous bushrangers, including Bell Hall, John Gilbert and Frank Gardiner, spent much of their time.
For the next decade gold dominated the town's economy. By 1870-71 it was producing more gold than any other town in NSW. However by the mid-1870s gold was in decline and agriculture was in the ascendancy.
Wheat was first grown in the district in 1871 and by 1875 the Grenfell Pastoral, Agricultural & Horticultural Association had been formed. By the early 1880s wheat dominated the local economy. It also helped speed the construction of the railway which arrived in 1901.
