Profile of Dunedoo
Origins of the town name: most people agree that it is a derivation of an indigenous
word meaning "black swan", a native bird here in large numbers some years ago.
Dunedoo has embraced the back swan as its emblem and is planning a public
sculpture project for its park in the main street that will depict birds that are unique to
the area, to reinforce this connection.
Australian humor being what it is, the "dunny" connotation of the name has attached
itself to the town and at times has been the source of some controversy.
The town is a thriving and vibrant community with a population of around 840 with
another 600 in the area, serving a surrounding area devoted to farming – crops such
as wheat, lucerne and canola, as well as sheep, cattle and pigs.
Dunedoo has a
vineyard that produces grapes for fine wines and a thoroughbred stud that breeds
some of the finest race horses in Australia.
Dunedoo has one of the biggest privately owned stock selling yards in NSW.
We
believe Dunedoo offers a great lifestyle - it is a friendly town with every service and
amenity you could possibly ask for - a brand new state of the art hospital, aged
hostel, (MPS) two schools, preschool, TAFE, golf and bowls, swimming pool, tennis
courts, loads of good shops ... you name it, Dunedoo has it. Dunedoo is on the
Golden and Castlereagh highways midway between the major regional centres of
Dubbo and Newcastle and Coonabarabran and Mudgee with popular tourist
attractions, such as the Western Plains Zoo, the Warrumbungles and Wellington
Caves. Dunedoo is a favored stop for travellers going from inland from Sydney north
or Newcastle to Melbourne.
Dunedoo hosts a number of major events that are helping put the town on the map -
The Bush Poetry Festival each year attracts well known Bush Poets including
Australian Champions and hundreds of enthusiasts from all over
Australia. Art Unlimited, an art award and exhibition run by the local Lions Club,
this year attracted entries from around the world; and the annual agricultural show,
still considered the ‘Best one day show in the west’. Dunedoo also has Open Garden
Day that showcases some of the magnificent gardens in our region.
In 2003, the Coolah Shire (Of which Dunedoo was a part) was amalgamated with the
Coonabarabran Shire and is now the Warrumbungle Shire. Dunedoo is situated on
the Talbragar River, has a good water supply, an altitude of 400 metres and with a rail
freight line operational, airports one hour away and the gas pipeline through the edge
of town, Dunedoo is an ideal location for industry.
The slogan for Dunedoo is "Where People Make the Difference". Dunedoo is proud
of their community and like to think that visitors are offered the experience of a
genuine Australian country town, with friendly old fashioned hospitality combined
with every modern convenience. |
