Nymagee
Nymagee is a small town in the north west of New South Wales, 618 kilometres (384 mi) north west of Sydney, 130 kilometres (81 mi) south west of Nyngan and 89 kilometres (55 mi) south of Cobar. It is in the Shire of Cobar, The State Government area of Barwon and the Federal Government area of Parkes. At the 2016 census, Nymagee had a population of 101.[1]
| Nymagee New South Wales | |
|---|---|
 Nymagee, with the Metropolitan Hotel on the right | |
  Nymagee | |
| Coordinates | 32°07′S 146°32′E |
| Population | 100 (2016 census)[1] |
| Postcode(s) | 2831 |
| Elevation | 260 m (853 ft) |
| Location | 618 km (384 mi) from Sydney |
| LGA(s) | Cobar Shire Council |
| State electorate(s) | Barwon |
| Federal division(s) | Parkes |
An area, COP4, of 2,070,061 hectares (5,115,230 acres) around Nymagee has also been designated as an IBRA biogeographic subregion of the Cobar Peneplain biogeographic region.[2]
History
Indigenous origins[edit source] The Cobar area is part of the traditional territory of the Wongaibon people (within the Ngiyampaa language group associated with the arid plains and rocky hill country of the Central West area of NSW bordered by the Lachlan, Darling-Barwon and Bogan rivers). The name ‘Cobar’ is derived from a Ngiyampaa word – variously transcribed as kubbur, kuparr, gubarr or cuburra – for a water-hole and quarry where pigments of ochre, kaolin and blue and green copper minerals were mined for ceremonial use.[4][5] Other sources claim the Aboriginal word means ‘red earth’ or ‘burnt earth’ (the ochre used for ceremonial body paint).[6][7]
The Mount Grenfell Historic Site located north-west of Cobar is an important traditional meeting place with ceremonial significance. Extensive rock art at the site contains ochre and kaolin paintings of human and animal figures as well as hand stencils.[8]
Nymagee was originally a copper mining town and in its peak supported a population of over 2200, half of those being Chinese migrants.[3][4] However, when the mine closed in 1917 most of the residents left. By 1949, the inhabitants were thinking of Nymagee as a 'ghost town', even though it still possessed a hall, racecourse and social and sports clubs.[5]
In 1999 local residents started an outback music festival to increase tourism and residents in the town. The first festival was visited by 600 tourists and the festival has since increased Nymagee's tourism by 60% and significantly increased the number of permanent residents[6][7]
Nymagee is also home to "Clancy of the Overflow" a poem written by the famous bush poet Banjo Paterson. The sheep station, "The Overflow" featured in the poem is situated about 32 kilometres (20 mi) south east of Nymagee.[3]
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Nymagee (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- "Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA7) subregions" (PDF). Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Commonwealth of Australia. 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- "Nymagee, NSW - declan.tv". www.yamasa.org. Archived from the original on 7 February 2005.
- "In and Around Nymagee". Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1907). 19 May 1888. p. 24. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
- "NYMAGEE–GHOST TOWN". Forbes Advocate (NSW : 1911 - 1954). 25 November 1949. p. 14. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- "About | Nymagee Outback Music Festival 2009". Archived from the original on 24 October 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
- "communitybuilders.nsw: ARRAY(0x8797394): Nymagee's Story". www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 27 July 2003.
- "Mining approvals secure around 750 regional jobs". 3 March 2023.
- https://www.nswnationals.org.au/mining-approvals-secure-around-750-regional-jobs/
