Quirindi
Quirindi (/kwəˈrɪndaɪ/ or /kəˈrɪndaɪ/)[3] is a small town on the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia, in Liverpool Plains Shire. At the 2011 census, Quirindi had a population of 2,580.[1] It is the nearest link to Gunnedah to the west and Tamworth to the north. The local economy is based on agriculture, with broadacre farming dominant on the black soil plains to the west and livestock grazing in the hilly eastern part of the district.
| Quirindi New South Wales | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 View over Quirindi from a nearby lookout | |||||||||
  Quirindi Location in New South Wales | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 31°30′29″S 150°40′48″E | ||||||||
| Population | 2,580 (2011 census)[1] | ||||||||
| Established | 1856[2] | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2343 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 390 m (1,280 ft) | ||||||||
| Location |
| ||||||||
| LGA(s) | Liverpool Plains Shire | ||||||||
| County | Buckland | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Upper Hunter | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | New England | ||||||||
| |||||||||
The town is on the Kamilaroi Highway 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) northwest of its junction with the New England Highway at Willow Tree.
History
The indigenous Gamilaroi people lived in the area for many thousands of years. The name Quirindi comes from the Gamilaraay language, with a number of meanings having been attributed it, which include "nest in the hills", "place where fish breed" and "dead tree on mountain top".[2][4] Early spellings of the name included "Cuerindi" and "Kuwherindi".[4]
Quirindi Post Office opened on 1 January 1858.[5] The town was gazetted on 19 February 1884.[4]
Heritage listings
Quirindi has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- Main Northern railway: Quirindi railway station[6]
Climate
| Climate data for Quirindi Post Office | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 42.9 (109.2) |
43.4 (110.1) |
39.3 (102.7) |
36.0 (96.8) |
27.8 (82.0) |
26.4 (79.5) |
24.0 (75.2) |
28.0 (82.4) |
33.3 (91.9) |
37.4 (99.3) |
42.2 (108.0) |
41.8 (107.2) |
43.4 (110.1) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 32.2 (90.0) |
31.3 (88.3) |
29.3 (84.7) |
24.9 (76.8) |
20.4 (68.7) |
16.6 (61.9) |
15.9 (60.6) |
17.9 (64.2) |
21.5 (70.7) |
25.2 (77.4) |
28.5 (83.3) |
31.1 (88.0) |
24.6 (76.3) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 16.4 (61.5) |
16.1 (61.0) |
13.5 (56.3) |
8.9 (48.0) |
5.0 (41.0) |
2.8 (37.0) |
1.6 (34.9) |
2.4 (36.3) |
5.0 (41.0) |
8.7 (47.7) |
12.0 (53.6) |
14.7 (58.5) |
8.9 (48.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 5.0 (41.0) |
7.2 (45.0) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
2.0 (35.6) |
4.5 (40.1) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 81.1 (3.19) |
65.9 (2.59) |
53.3 (2.10) |
41.9 (1.65) |
44.5 (1.75) |
50.9 (2.00) |
48.4 (1.91) |
45.1 (1.78) |
46.5 (1.83) |
60.1 (2.37) |
65.4 (2.57) |
80.5 (3.17) |
684.1 (26.93) |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology[7] | |||||||||||||
Sport
Quirindi sporting facilities include several sporting ovals catering for athletics, cricket (Falcons), Rugby League (Quirindi Grasshoppers), Rugby Union (Quirindi Lions), soccer (Qurindi Football Club- QFC formed in 2011), basketball and netball. Other sporting complexes include the racecourse, polo grounds, rodeo, campdrafting, a 9-hole golf course, two tennis clubs, three bowling greens, gun club and swimming complex.
Quirindi Jockey Club plays host to seven race meetings each year including the Boxing Day Races which attracts thousands of people each year.
A motorcycle club is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north-east of Quirindi on the Borah Creek Road, with a 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) motorcross track named Stu Johnson Park.
Quirindi annual events
- Quirindi Rural Heritage Festival- 1st weekend in May
- Quirindi Show- September
- Boxing Day Races- December
- Prime Stock Show / Hook and Hoof- August
- ANZAC Day Services- Dawn Service and Day time Service 25 April
- Nick Tooth Memorial Rugby Tens Tournament
Surrounding towns
Werris Creek is 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Quirindi, following the path of the explorer Thomas Mitchell.
Wallabadah is located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) east of Quirindi on the New England Highway.
Spring Ridge is about 50 kilometres (30 mi) west of Quirindi.
Transport
Quirindi railway station is located on the Main North railway line, 392 kilometres (244 mi) from Sydney. The station opened in 1877,[8] and continues to be served by daily rail services operated by a NSW TrainLink Xplorer train to and from Sydney and Armidale/Moree.
Quirindi Airport is the local airfield, though most commercial flights in the region use Tamworth Regional Airport.
Notable people
- Ellen Savage, sole surviving nurse from the sinking of the AHS Centaur, advocate for career nursing
- Sir John Oscar Cramer, Australian politician and founding member of Liberal Party
- Andy Saunders NRL player
References
- "2011 Census QuickStats - Quirindi (Urban Centre)". Australian Bureau of Statistics. October 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- "Quirindi". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
- "Quirindi". Historical Towns Directory. Australian Heritage. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- "Quirindi Railway Station group". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01227. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- "Quirindi Post Office". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. April 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- Quirindi Railway Station. NSWrail.net. Accessed 1 April 2008.
