Warrumbungle

Local History of Warrumbungle

Warrumbungle is a region located in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is named after the Warrumbungle Mountain Range, which is part of the Pilliga National Park. The area has a rich history dating back thousands of years.

The traditional owners of the land are the Gamilaraay people who have lived in the region for more than 20,000 years. They were expert hunters, gatherers and fishers who lived in harmony with the land. The Gamilaraay people believe that the Warrumbungle Mountains were created by a great serpent known as Warrumbungles, and thus the name of the area was born.

The first Europeans to visit the region were explorers John Oxley and Allan Cunningham in 1818. They mapped the region and named the nearby city of Dubbo after a local Wiradjuri word meaning "red ochre." In the following years, squatters arrived in the region and established large sheep stations, which led to conflict with the local Indigenous people.

In the late 1800s, the railway arrived in the nearby town of Coonabarabran, and the region began to see more development. The town of Coonabarabran became a major centre for agriculture and timber milling, and the Warrumbungle National Park was established in 1953.

The area is perhaps most well-known for the devastating bushfires that swept through the region in 2013. The fires destroyed over 50 homes, damaged the Warrumbungle National Park and claimed the lives of two firefighters. However, the local community banded together to rebuild and recover, and since then, the region has seen renewed growth and development.

Today, Warrumbungle remains a popular destination for tourists and nature lovers alike. The Warrumbungle National Park is a popular spot for camping, hiking and stargazing, and the nearby Siding Spring Observatory is one of the largest optical telescopes in the world.

The history of the region is a testament to the resilience and strength of the local community and the land itself. The area has been shaped by the natural forces of the land and the people who have lived there for thousands of years.