Oberon is a town located within the
Oberon Council
Oberon Council is a local government area in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia.
The Mayor of Oberon Council is Cr. Mark Kellam, an independent politician.
Localities
Oberon Council includes the towns / villages of Ober ...
local government area
A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a State (administrative division), state, province, divi ...
, in the
central tablelands
The Central Tablelands in New South Wales is a geographic area that lies between the Sydney Metropolitan Area and the Central Western Slopes and Plains. The Great Dividing Range passes in a north–south direction through the Central Tablelands ...
region of
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. The main industries are farming, forestry and wood products. The town usually receives
snowfall
Snow comprises individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere—usually within clouds—and then fall, accumulating on the ground where they undergo further changes.
It consists of frozen crystalline water throughout ...
during the winter months, owing to its high elevation. At the 2021 census, Oberon had a population of 3,319 people.
It is the birthplace of
Greens politician
Bob Brown
Robert James Brown (born 27 December 1944) is a former Australian politician, medical doctor and environmentalist. He was a senator and the parliamentary leader of the Australian Greens. Brown was elected to the Australian Senate on the Tasman ...
,
Ken Sutcliffe
Ken Sutcliffe (born 15 November 1947) is an Australian sporting journalist and radio and television personality.
Career
Sutcliffe was born in Oberon, New South Wales and grew up in Mudgee. He started his radio career in 1966 in Mudgee, followe ...
, supermotard rider Scott Saul, former Penrith Panthers players
Ray Blacklock, Mark Booth, Dr Therese Wales and DJ Tallis O’Neill. Oberon is located near
Jenolan Caves
The Jenolan Caves (Tharawal language, Tharawal: ''Binoomea'', ''Bindo'', ''Binda'') are limestone cave, limestone caves located within the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve in the Central Tablelands region, west of the Blue Mountains (New South ...
and the
Kanangra-Boyd National Park
The Kanangra-Boyd National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Central Tablelands region, west of the Southern Highlands and Macarthur regions, in New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The national park is situated approx ...
.
Australian pub rock band
Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel are an Australian pub rock band, which formed in Adelaide in 1973 by mainstay members Ian Moss on guitar and vocals, Steve Prestwich on drums and Don Walker on piano and keyboards. They were soon joined by Jimmy Barnes (at the ...
filmed the music video to their hit song "
Flame Trees
"Flame Trees" is a song by Australian pub rock band Cold Chisel from their 1984 album ''Twentieth Century''. One of their best known songs, it was written by drummer Steve Prestwich and keyboardist Don Walker. On its release it reached No.&nbs ...
" in and around Oberon. The song's lyrics (written by Cold Chisel keyboardist
Don Walker) present the story of a young man returning to his hometown, where he reminisces about the past and his former girlfriend from the region.
History
The town was permanently settled in 1839, originally named Bullock Flat, until it was renamed to Oberon in 1863.
Gold was discovered on the Fish River in 1823, leading to a population boost in the area.
The Oberon Council was formed in 1906.
The Fish River Creek Post Office opened on 1 January 1855 and was renamed Oberon in 1866.
Heritage listings
Oberon has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
* Blue Mountains National Park:
Blue Mountains walking tracks
The Blue Mountains walking tracks are heritage-listed picnic areas, walking tracks and rest areas located in the Blue Mountains National Park, in the City of Blue Mountains local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built from ...
* 124 Oberon Street:
Malachi Gilmore Memorial Hall
The Malachi Gilmore Memorial Hall is a heritage-listed former cinema and dance hall and now multi-use arts space at 124 Oberon Street, Oberon, Oberon Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Virgil Cizzio or Bolton Millane from ...
* Tarana-Oberon railway:
Oberon railway station
The Oberon railway station is a heritage-listed railway station and now museum located on the Oberon railway line in Oberon, in the Oberon Shire local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The site is also known as the Oberon Railwa ...
* Caves Road:
Jenolan Caves
The Jenolan Caves (Tharawal language, Tharawal: ''Binoomea'', ''Bindo'', ''Binda'') are limestone cave, limestone caves located within the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve in the Central Tablelands region, west of the Blue Mountains (New South ...
Commercial area
Oberon's main streets are Carrington Avenue–Oberon Street and Ross Street. The town has several parks and sports facilities. Such parks include the Oberon Showground, Cunynghame Oval, and Apex Park. Oberon also has a museum on North Street. Oberon has a caravan park on Cunynghame Street off North Street, a hospital on North Street, a camping ground adjacent to the caravan park and a wood gallery on Oberon Street. Rotary Lookout is located on Abercrombie Road and to the east of the town is the Blenheim State Forest which includes walking tracks.
Culture
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...
is a pastime possible at Lake Oberon and The Reef Reserve. Oberon also has a
golf club
A golf club is a club used to hit a golf ball in a game of golf. Each club is composed of a shaft with a grip and a club head. Wood (golf), Woods are mainly used for long-distance fairway or tee shots; iron (golf), irons, the most versatile class ...
off Hume Street.
Oberon is known for its two inns, the Big Trout Motor Inn and the Highlands Motor Inn.
South of the town is Lake Oberon, Oberon Dam and the Fish River. There is a picnic area at the dam and a reserve with walking tracks near the lake.
Rugby league football coach
Craig Bellamy
Craig Douglas Bellamy (born 13 July 1979) is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a forward and is current assistant manager at EFL Championship side Burnley. Born in Cardiff, Bellamy began his senior playing career with Norw ...
started his playing career with
Oberon Tigers
Oberon Tigers is an Australian rugby league football team based in the Central West town of Oberon. The Tigers first played in the Country Rugby League-controlled Group 10 Rugby League in the competition's inaugural season in 1947, before dropp ...
team in the 1970s.
Mayfield Garden
Mayfield Garden is a cool climate garden situated in Oberon in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. Located approximately west of Sydney, the garden is one of the world's largest privately owned cool climate gardens, ...
is a popular
botanical garden
A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens, an ...
that covers 16 hectares (40 acres) of land. It is open daily, except on
public holiday
A public holiday, national holiday, or legal holiday is a holiday generally established by law and is usually a non-working day during the year.
Sovereign nations and territories observe holidays based on events of significance to their history, ...
s and there is an entry fee.
Jillaroo turned interior designer, fashionista and active wear entrepreneur Rachael Challinor spent her formative years in Oberon before moving to Sydney. Known for her sometimes abrasive and outspoken views, she credits the town's
Big Trout as a key source of influence on her prolific artistic and creative works in her later years.
Transport
From 1923 to 1979, Oberon was served by a
branch railway line noted for its very steep 4% gradients and very sharp 100 m radius curves. Following closure, that line was allowed to fall into disrepair, but has been under restoration by the volunteer organisation
Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway since 2005.
Road access
* From
Bathurst it is around southeast, along the sealed
O'Connell Road.
* From
Great Western Highway
Great Western Highway (also known as Broadway from to , Parramatta Road from Chippendale to , and Church Street through Parramatta) is a state highway in New South Wales, Australia. From east to west, the highway links Sydney with Bathurst, ...
near
Hartley
Hartley may refer to:
Places Australia
*Hartley, New South Wales
*Hartley, South Australia
**Electoral district of Hartley, a state electoral district
Canada
*Hartley Bay, British Columbia
United Kingdom
*Hartley, Cumbria
*Hartley, Plymou ...
it is around south-west, along the sealed
Jenolan Caves
The Jenolan Caves (Tharawal language, Tharawal: ''Binoomea'', ''Bindo'', ''Binda'') are limestone cave, limestone caves located within the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve in the Central Tablelands region, west of the Blue Mountains (New South ...
and
Duckmaloi Roads.
* From
Goulburn
Goulburn ( ) is a regional city in the Southern Tablelands of the Australian state of New South Wales, approximately south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Canberra. It was proclaimed as Australia's first inland city through letters pate ...
it is around north, along the sealed
Goulburn-Oberon Road
Goulburn-Oberon Road is a New South Wales country road linking Goulburn near Hume Highway to Oberon. This name is not widely known to most drivers, as the entire allocation is still best known as by the names of its constituent parts: Taralga R ...
.
* Relief maps of the area are provided by NSW Central Ranges Weather.
Bus connection
From 1 June 2020, there is a Monday to Friday morning bus service to station where it connects with the
Bathurst Bullet
The Bathurst Bullet is an express passenger train on the Blue Mountains Line operated by NSW TrainLink between Sydney and Bathurst. The service operates from Bathurst towards Sydney in the morning, and returns in the afternoon.
History
At the ...
train to Sydney with an afternoon return connection. This replaced the previous three days a week coach service to
New Tarana bus service connects Oberon residents with Bathurst Bullet
Transport for NSW 26 May 2020
Climate
Oberon has an oceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ( ...
('' Cfb''); with mild to warm summers, cool to cold winters averaging 0° to 9 °C and evenly-spread precipitation throughout the year. Frost
Frost is a thin layer of ice on a solid surface, which forms from water vapor in an above-freezing atmosphere coming in contact with a solid surface whose temperature is below freezing, and resulting in a phase change from water vapor (a gas) ...
s occur regularly during autumn, winter and spring. Because of its elevation and windward
Windward () and leeward () are terms used to describe the direction of the wind. Windward is ''upwind'' from the point of reference, i.e. towards the direction from which the wind is coming; leeward is ''downwind'' from the point of reference ...
position on the dividing range, moderate to occasionally heavy snowfalls can be expected each year.
See also
* Oberon Correctional Centre
Oberon Correctional Centre is an Australian minimum security prison for young male offenders located in Gurnang, from Oberon, New South Wales. The centre is operated by Corrective Services NSW an agency of the Department of Attorney General ...
* Mount Trickett
* Mount Bindo
* Shooters Hill
Shooter's Hill (or Shooters Hill) is a district in South East London within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It borders the London Borough of Bexley. It lies north of Eltham and south of Woolwich. With a height of , it is the highest point in t ...
References
External links
Oberon Council website
VISITNSW.com - Oberon
{{Authority control
Towns in New South Wales
Central Tablelands
Oberon Council