FIFTY years after being officially opened, Coleambally is still one of the newest stand-alone towns in NSW, if not the newest.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While other “town centres” have been established since Coleambally, they are generally suburban extensions of developing areas.
The first five shops opened in the main street in 1969 – a supermarket and butchery; hardware, general store and petrol station; chemist; newsagency; and beauty salon. In 1970 there followed a solicitor’s office, Bank of NSW and Murrumbidgee Shire Council offices, and then in 1971 a menswear store, grocer and haberdashery.
A range of buildings and infrastructure were built prior to and following the opening in June 1968, including a rice aeration/drying shed (1967) the rice mill, sporting oval (1966-68), St Peter’s Primary School (January 26, 1970), post office (April 1, 1970), sheep sale yards (September 21, 1970), the Brolga Hotel (July 28, 1971) and public pool.
Population boom?
Two years after being established, the town’s population was over 350 (after an initial prediction of 44).
Forty years later in the 2011 census, Coleambally had a population of 632 people.
However, by the 2016 census there were 1331 people (319 families) in the Coleambally postcode area (2707). Either the population more than doubled in five years or the figures more accurately recorded the many farming properties of the area.
This advertising feature is supported by the following businesses and organisations:
- Southern Cotton
- Hutcheon & Pearce
- Member for Murray Austin Evans
- Coleambally Community Bank (Branch of Bendigo Bank)
- Coleambally Solar Pty Ltd
- Marylin's Pharmacy
- Lions Club of Coleambally
- Coly Hardware
- Claire's Picture Framing
- Murrumbidgee Shire Council
- Elders Ltd
- Tim's Meats
- Mannes Agencies
- Member for Farrer Sussan Ley
- Barry's Transport
- Catalyst Accountants and Financial Solutions
- DeMamiel Bros.
- Serafin Ag Pro
- CIA Tyres
- JLB Livestock and Property
- Coly Concrete
- Cater and Blumer
- Coleambally Automotive Centre
- Coleambally Country Womens Association
- Coleambally Golf Club
- Coleambally Irrigation
- Coleambally Newsagency
- Coly Built
- Hi Trac Equipment
- Mens Shed
- Ledwidge 4 Pty Ltd
- Owen Motor Group
- Stitch In Time
- Wilks Water
- Akazien Hof Grain & Fertilizers/Yenda Prods