Grenfell, New South Wales

Grenfell is a country town in the mid-west of New South Wales, Australia. It is 370 kilometres west of Sydney and five hours' drive from the city. It is close to Forbes, Cowra and Young.

Related Topics:
New South Wales - Australia - Sydney - Forbes - Cowra - Young

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The population is about 2000.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It is a historic goldmining town first known as Emu Creek and renamed in honour of John Grenfell, Gold Commissioner at Forbes, who had been killed in 1866 when bushrangers attacked a stagecoach he was travelling on.

Related Topics:
Bushranger - Stagecoach

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By 1870-71 it was producing more gold than any other town in NSW. However by the mid-1870s gold was in decline. Wheat was first grown in the district in 1871. The railway reached Grenfell in 1901.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The poet and story writer Henry Lawson was born on the nearby gold fields.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Unlike most Australian country towns Grenfell has a main street which bends. The picture of the street behind the portrait of Henry Lawson featured on the former paper Australian ten dollar note is in fact nearby Gulgong.

Related Topics:
Former paper Australian ten dollar note - Gulgong

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Prior to European settlement the Grenfell area was home to the Wiradjuri Aborigines.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~