Werris Creek, New South Wales

Werris Creek is a city in the northeast of the Australian state of New South Wales. It is located 20 km north of Quirindi and 39 km south-west of Tamworth. It belongs to the Local Government Area Liverpool Plains Shire and at the 2006 census, 1,490 inhabitants were counted.

History

The area of present-day Werris Creek was inhabited by the Kamilaroi Aboriginesstamm. The city's name is derived from a word in their language, that is Weia Weia. However, one meaning is not known. A similar word in that language, Werai means ' lookout ' and could also have to do with the name of the city, since there are higher hill in the area. Earlier you wrote ' Werris ' in various ways. Known spellings are Werres, Werries or Weery 's.

The first European settlers arrived in the 1830s in the area and the pastor Francis Vidal founded the sheep station Weia Weia Creek. In the 1870s, there were already 20 families, the stockbreeding and the valley inhabited. To the east of the present town there was the sheep station Summer Hill, John was single, after the present main road was named by Werris Creek.

The first post office was opened on January 1, 1878 and 1880, the station was built according to plans of the railway engineer John Whitton.

Geography and climate

Werris Creek is dominated by Mount Terrible, who is called by the inhabitants Terrible Billy. The city is located 380 m high, and the average annual rainfall reached 685 mm. On July 18, 1965 fell for the first and so far only time snow in Werris Creek. He was 75 mm high.

The city can be reached by road in four hours from Sydney and is located midway between the famous wine region Hunter Valley and the cooler wine-growing area in the northern tablelands of New England. In three hours you can reach the beach resorts Forster, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour from here the beaches around Newcastle and in four hours.

Traffic

Werris Creek is a railway junction. There the railway line branches off to Moree and Mungindi of the Main Northern Railway Line from Sydney to Armidale. The train station is 411 rail kilometers north of Sydney and made Werris Creek became the first railway settlement of Australia.

The station was opened in 1878 and in 1880 moved to its present location. The 1880 is designed by John Whitton station building is listed in the list of monuments of New South Wales. The Australian Railway Monument was recently opened near the railway station and part of the station building houses a railway museum. A historical exhibition shows the way of Werris Creek as a railway settlement from the age of steam locomotives on to today's diesel locomotives.

Werris Creek is still approached by Countrylink Xplorer, an upcoming diesel train from Sydney, which is divided into Werris Creek. One part goes to Armidale and the other over Moree to Mungindi. The train from Sydney comes every day at 15.34 clock. Every day at 11.29 clock the train parts that come from Armidale and Moree, for the trip to Sydney to be connected.

Economy

In the city there are large grain silos and 2005, coal mining was ascended. The largest employer is the railway company Pacific National. A larger part of the working population commutes to the nearby Tamworth.

Public institutions

Werris Creek has a public school, the Werris Creek Public School, which was founded in the 1880s. Previously, there were two schools. The St. Joseph's Catholic School was opened in 1915 but closed on April 9, 2009.

The city has an outdoor swimming pool ( opened in 1968 ), tennis courts, a bowling alley and a golf club. There is a team in the Rugby League, Group 4, the Werris Creek Magpies. 1996 won the Magpies to Clayton 's Cup as the best team of New South Wales.

Country Music

The American country and Rockabillysänger and song author Jason Lee Wilson recalls in his song Werris Creek to the city, which is included in its 2007 debut album come out High Country.