Town History and Industries
WHATS IN A NAME? 'CONDOBOLIN'
There has been widespread confusion about the spelling and meaning of Condobolin over the years with many variations and purported meanings.
The debate was that the early name attributed to the area was Cundabullen, an Aboriginal word for 'shallow crossing'.
Condobolin was made official when a change was posted in the New South Wales Government Gazette in 1949.
Town History
The region around Condobolin is home of the Wiradjuri people. Evidence of their presence over the centuries and cultural heritage can be found at sites and in craft centres throughout Condobolin and out lying areas.
Surveyor George Evans, who named the Lachlan River, was the first European to visit the area in 1815.
Explorers John Oxley (in 1817) and Thomas Mitchell (in 1836) were the first recorded European presence in the region.
Squatters soon arrived and by 1844 the 'Condoublin' run had been established.
The town was gazetted in 1859 but for over 20 years it was essentially a stopover and river-crossing for drovers moving stock from the north and west of New South Wales to Victoria, hence there were a few permanent residents in what remained a pastoral area characterised by large holdings.
Since the early settlers paved the way and established large holdings so far from the population centres on the coastal side of the Great Dividing Range, the Condobolin district has become a prime cropping and sheep and beef producing area.
A major copper discovery was made north at Melrose in 1885 and the town benefited from the subsequent traffic. A municipality was declared in 1890.
Gold was found north-west at Overflow station, immortalised in Banjo Paterson's poem 'Clancy of the Overflow' in 1896 and a major copper and gold mine was in operation at Condobolin from 1898 until around 1910.
The railway arrived in 1898 and Condobolin was the railhead for the Central West until the line to Broken Hill was completed in 1927.
Agricultural production was further expanded when the Wyangala Dam was established on the Lachlan in 1935.
The pioneers suffered droughts and floods in the same way as the present day residents, but it did not diminish their desire to build a strong community.
Condobolin continues to be a busy country town, with small industrial services and business, excellent medical services, a modern hospital and retirement village, banking services along with a variety of sporting and recreation facilities and the life blood of the town, the Lachlan River with all its natural beauty, fishing and wildlife.
Condobolin & District Hostorical Society.
President: Kevin Brady (02 6895 2271)
Secretary: Fay Boys (02 6895 4018)
