Coonabarabran is a town and shire in central New South Wales. Nestled in the foothills of the majestic Warrumbungle Mountain Range, upon the Newell Highway, Coonabarabran acts as a major commercial and service centre for the surrounding region. It is increasingly becoming a tourist centre of some significance, due to its proximity to the awesome Warrumbungles, the Siding Spring Observatory and other such attractions. Coonabarabran locals refer to their town as "the Jewel of the Newell".

The region was inhabited by the Kamilaroi people at the time of colonisation. The town's name is a corruption of a Kamilaroi word, with as many variations offered in its spelling, as in its meaning. The translations considered most probable are "stinking water" or "an inquisitive person".

The first recorded European sighting of the region was in 1818, by an expedition party led by the explorer John Oxley. The earliest recording of European occupation of the region appears in 1839. George and Henry Cox, the sons of the Blue Mountains road forger, William Cox are noted as occupying a squatting run in that year, entitled "Cooleburbarun". In 1848 James Weston is recorded as leasing the "Coolabarabyan Run", which occupied 25 square miles of land to the south of the Castlereagh River, reaching back into the Warrumbungle Mountains. Soon after, William Field occupied a lease to the north of the Castlereagh.

By 1850, it was evident that the region would prosper as it sat upon the main route from the coast to the inland, frequently traversed by teamsters and travellers. The ordeal of crossing the Castlereagh rendered Coonabarabran a stopping site. Field and Weston recognised the potential of this, and each set up an inn and store upon their respective northern and southern runs. Both enjoyed a roaring trade.

A wooden Court House and Lock Up were erected within the settlement in 1848. By the following year, the services of a post office were deemed necessary. Although the population of the settlement was not vast, the congregational factor of the town assisted with the success of the request. Weston was appointed Postmaster and commenced duties in January 1850. A small force of three police constables were appointed to maintain order in 1853. Subsequent to petitioning by settlers, the government instructed Surveyor Lewis Gordon to survey the settlement. The first sale of land in the new town occurred in April 1860. The following month, the Government Gazette proclaimed the establishment of the village of Coonabarabran.

By the close of the 1870s, the infant Coonabarabran boasted a new sandstone court house, a public school, postal and telegraph offices, four churches, several stores, a flour mill, doctors surgery, five hotels, and a local publication "The Bligh Watchman". Although its success was never doubted, Coonabarabran had convincingly established itself as a permanent community.

The cathedral-like spires jutting majestically upon the western horizon, announce the Warrumbungle Mountains within the Warrumbungle National Park. This range of peaks and valleys were formed from volcanic eruptions over thirteen million years ago. Treading one of the many walking tracks is one of the best ways to experience this 21,000 hectare expanse of nature reserve. It also provides the closest possible contact with the array of native flora and fauna.

Coonabarabran is the nation's capital of Optical Astronomical research, due to the Siding Spring Observatory complex at Siding Spring Mountain, at the edge of the National Park. Founded in 1964 by the Australian National University, the observatory houses one of the largest optical telescopes in Australia. A 3.9 metre telescope is housed in a 17 storey building which rises 610 metres high upon the elevation of the mountain side. Coonabarabran was chosen due to its consistently clear dark skies.

The Skywatch Observatory, 2 km west of Coonabarabran's Clock Tower, is an exciting new project designed and built to compliment the nearby cluster of professional observatories at Siding Spring.

Also of interest in the region are the mineral displays at Crystal Kingdom, the giant animated dinosaur display and museum at Miniland, and the Pilliga State Forest.


Natural Attractions

Coonabarabran, set at the foot of the majestic Warrumbungle Mountains, offers a wealth of picturesque drives with the rugged Mountain area providing a stunning backdrop to the cultivated fields and natural pastures. The Mountains are of volcanic origin and support an abundance of native bush, wildflower, animals and birdlife. They are ideal for bushwalking and sightseeing and have both gentle, easily accessible walking trails and more adventurous mountain walks. The Warrumbungle Mountains cover an area of 21,004 ha, and scenic flights which operate out of Coonabarabran offer visitors a spectacular opportunity to see key attractions of the Mountain, such as the Breadknife, Needle Mountain and Tonduron Spire, from an outstanding vantage point.

Just off the Newell Highway on the way to Narrabri is another of Coonabarabran's natural attractions, a large sandstone outcrop which has been eroded over the years to form a maze of intricate and colourful caves. Some of the caves are quite large, and their unusual shapes and colours and the designs within make them superbly dramatic. In spring and early summer the beauty of the caves is enhanced by a variety of native shrubs and flowers.

The Coonabarabran district is also famous for its picturesque rural scenes including grazing stock, and rolling plains dotted with ramshackle sheds, huge shearing sheds and shearers quarters. The huge sunflower plantations common in the area are not only a spectacular sight but the processing of the seeds has made sunflowers one of Coonabarabran's growing industries.

The Pilliga is the largest individual State Forest area in NSW and extends over 400,000 hectares, covering the flat plains to the north of Coonabarabran. The forests of the Pilliga are mainly Cypress pine, and other forest species such as Narrowleaf ironbark. Not only providing timber for railway sleepers, flooring and house framing, the region's beautiful landscape offers an ideal picnic and bushwalking site.

Museums

Crystal Kingdom is the first single locality mineral museum in Australia. The museum features mineral preservations, the result of volcanic activity around 200 million years ago. The displays are unequalled to any other in Australia, and include a spectacular crystal cave with two meters of sparkling colourful crystals as well as a variety of mineral and fossil displays. Visitors also have the opportunity to dig for minerals and wander through displays of silver set gemstone jewellery.

One of Coonabarabran's more popular museum attractions is the award winning Miniland, a Dinosaur Theme Park and Pioneer Museum designed for all ages. 8km from Coonabarabran within the Warrumbungle National Park, Miniland has fantasy features that combine with the natural beauty of the National Park to form a unique tourist attraction.

The gateway to Miniland is unmistakable - guarded by a fierce looking Tyrannosaurus Rex - and inside the park, visitors are thrilled by the sights of animated life sized dinosaurs including Brontosaurus and Triceratops. The park also has picnic and BBQ facilities, dinosaur paddleboats and a native animal reserve.

The Pioneer Museum has a Diorama of the Ages of Man display featuring a study of man through the ages, as well as a display of local interest items including a giant mural of the Warrumbungle Ranges. Visitors can also enjoy light meals and refreshments at the Miniland Restaurant and a browse through the gallery gift shop.

Other Attractions

Coonabarabran is home to one of the largest and best equipped optical observatories in the world. The Siding Spring Observatory was founded by the Australian National University in 1964, the site chosen because of its exceptionally dark clear skies and elevation above the surrounding countryside.

Located on top of Siding Spring Mountain in the Warrumbungle Ranges, the 50.3 metre high concrete building topped by a rotating steel dome has become a prominent landmark in the Coonabarabran area. The observatory building has six separate floors including a technical library, darkrooms and a visitors gallery. Here visitors can overlook the National Park seeing the dramatic beauty of the country unfold for miles around them. While there are five telescopes in use at the observatory, the 3.9 m Anglo Australian Telescope has become a focal point of international interest; visitors can view the operations of the main telescope and see an exhibition of 'Exploring the Universe' as well as a range of films and 'hands on' exhibits.

A privately operated Observatory named Skywatch is also open to the public.

Heritage Attractions

Volcanic eruptions, Kamilaroi Tribal lands and European settlement all contribute to the heritage of Coonabarabran. Many of the first settlement buildings can be seen in the area today including the 1878 built sandstone courthouse, the Post and Telegraph Office, Public School and four churches. Many of the town's early hotels and stores also remain.

Arts

Coonabarabran has a selection of interesting galleries and craft stores including hand crafted gifts in Busy Fingers and a collection of old wares, art and collectables to be found at the Old Timers Gallery.

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