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Cootamundra is a town and Local Government Area in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Olympic Way at the point where it crosses the Muttama Creek, between Junee and Cowra, at a point 390 kilometres from Sydney and 161 km from Canberra. Although it is bypassed by the Hume Highway, its railway station is on the major Melbourne-to-Sydney line.
The land where Cootamundra now stands is a part of the Wiradjuri tribal lands, and the town was originally referred to as "Cootamundry" from the Aboriginal word for a marsh or lake-bed). Cootamundra was incorporated as a township on August 9, 1861, and the first settlers bought their lots in early 1862. Like many other towns in the Riverina, it was originally populated by those attracted by the gold rush of the 1860's, but became a quiet yet prosperous agricultural community after the local deposits were exhausted.
Today, Cootamundra has a population of about 6000 people, with another 2000 living on outlying farms, and is a popular tourist destination for weekend getaways from the larger cities.
Cootamundra is seat of the Cootamundra Shire Council, and is located in the Federal Electorate of Riverina and the state Electoral Division of Lachlan. Its postcode is 2590.
Cootamundra's most important contribution to society was perhaps hosting the birth of the world's greatest ever cricketer, Sir Donald George Bradman.
Timeline of Cootamundra
- 1847 - Cootamundra Run, a large stock run, is the first colonist settlement in the area.
- 1861 - The site of Cootamundry is published in the NSW Government Gazette
- 1862 - Gold mining commences at the nearby Muttama Reef mine.
- 1864 - The first church (Anglican0 and post office are established.
- 1875 - The first school in the district opens
- 1877 - Cootamundra's railway connection opens on November 1.
- 1884 - Cootamundra is first gazzetted as a municipality
- 1908 - Donald Bradman (later Sir Donald Bradman) is born in Cootamundra.
- 1942 - On December 3, the HMAS Cootamundra, named for the town, is launched.
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