Batlow, New South Wales

Batlow New South Wales
Entering Batlow
Batlow
Coordinates	35°31′0″S 148°09′0″E / 35.51667°S 148.15000°E / -35.51667; 148.15000Coordinates: 35°31′0″S 148°09′0″E / 35.51667°S 148.15000°E / -35.51667; 148.15000
Population	1,026 (2011 census)^[1]
Established	1850s
Postcode(s)	2730
Elevation	775 m (2,543 ft)
Location	438 km (272 mi) from Sydney 94 km (58 mi) from Canberra 112 km (70 mi) from Wagga Wagga
LGA(s)	Snowy Valleys Council
County	Wynyard
State electorate(s)	Wagga Wagga
Federal Division(s)	Riverina

Batlow is a town in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia, on the edge of the Great Dividing Range, 775 m above sea level.^[2]

Batlow is well known for its apples. About 50 growers in the district supply 1.6 million cases of apples, or 10% of the Australian apple crop, to the Australian market. The district also produces cherries and stone fruit. The town's main landmark, the "Big Apple", which stands on private land 5 km north of the town,^[3] stands testament to the orchards which have been vital to the town's economy for over 120 years.

History

Before European settlement the Wiradjuri people lived in the Batlow area. Hamilton Hume and William Hovell were the first Europeans to explore the area in 1824, en route to Port Phillip.

When gold was discovered in the area in 1854, a small settlement called Reedy Creek was established as a supply point and service centre for the mining area, and a Mr Batlow surveyed a townsite nearby.^[4] The gold deposits were quickly exhausted, but farmers found the area better suited to a variety of crops, so the mining supply point was moved and the current township established around 1855. Reedy Flat Post Office opened on 1 August 1873 and was renamed Batlow in 1889.^[5] Fruit trees and timber quickly became the main sources of income for the town, and in 1910 the townsite was gazetted.

In 1922, the first cool stores in New South Wales were constructed in the town. At the same time a railway was built from nearby Tumut. These developments facilitated the town's trade with Sydney and beyond. The district supplied troops with dehydrated fruit and vegetables during World War II.^[6] Many Land Army Girls were stationed in and around Batlow during the Second World War and a sizeable collection of memorabilia is held at the Historical Society Museum. There are two Soldier Settlements close to Batlow, Willigobung and Kunama.

Geography

Batlow is located 94 kilometres (58 mi) west of Canberra,^[7] though, by highway is approximately 225 kilometres (140 mi) due to the Great Dividing Range between them. The nearest city is Wagga, while three towns, Tumut in the northeast, Adelong in the northwest, and Tumbarumba are within 40 kilometres (25 mi) south.

The countryside around Batlow is a plateau of rolling hills, just under 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) in altitude. Being on the western edge of the Great Dividing Range, Batlow receives much of the precipitation that has not fallen further west, an average of 1,300 millimetres (51 in) per year. Little or no rain is received from ocean to the east, due to the large distances and the Great Dividing Range. The cold winters combined with the higher rainfall and good soils make an excellent apple growing climate. However, in 2006, Batlow experienced the most severe downturn in rainfall in New South Wales, receiving only 392 millimetres (15.4 in) of rain that year.^[8]

Present day

Batlow Literary Institute

Batlow is an agricultural town offering services and facilities to the surrounding area, including two primary schools and a high school, a library (with telecentre), a hall and several stores and small businesses. The Batlow Fruit Co-operative, trading since 1922, is based in the town.

Batlow was the home of the 'Mountain Maid' cannery until its closure in the early 2000s. The steel frame of the WWII Lend Lease–constructed building used in the production of food for the allied troops is still visible today.

Batlow's economy turns around the production of apples for the fresh food market. Some revenue is also obtained from other agricultural exploitations and timber from the large soft and hardwood plantations. There is a strong influx of seasonal labour for the harvesting of fruit from March to April. A smaller influx occurs at thinning time in December. There are a number of producers of cherries, nuts, honey and eucalyptus oil products.

Batlow is now the home to a truffery, a number of published authors and novice film makers.

The 43,000-hectare (110,000-acre) Bago State Forest between Batlow and Tumbarumba contains stands of alpine ash and radiata pine. Pilot Hill Arboretum (est. 1920's) and the Sugar Pine Walk- a beautiful avenue of Sugarpine resembling a cathedral.

On the third Saturday of May each year the Batlow Ciderfest is held in the main street showcasing locally produced cider and regional food. Many interesting stalls also attend the family friendly Ciderfest event.The Ciderfest recently came second in the NSW Event awards after only beginning three years ago. On the Friday preceding a Cider Industry Conference is held. On the third Saturday of October the Apple Blossom Festival is held. This re-invigorated festival begun in 1942 and the First Apple Blossom Queen was a Land army girl.

Farmers markets are held every two months on the first Sunday of month from 8am to 2pm at Memorial Park.

Politics

Batlow is in the Snowy Valleys Council. Batlow was moved to the bellwether federal Division of Eden-Monaro for the 2007 federal election. With Batlow usually voting overwhelmingly conservative, the vote swung to the centre left Australian Labor Party member Mike Kelly by 26%.^[9] Batlow is now in federal seat of Riverina.

References

↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Batlow (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
↑ http://www.exploroz.com/Places/21660/NSW/Batlow.aspx
↑ Batlow: Big Apple, Big Trip.
↑ "MnKqvqZTSX". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 2009-06-11.
↑ Sydney Morning Herald. "Travel - Batlow". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2006-10-30.
↑ "Great Circle Distance between BATLOW and CANBERRA". Geoscience Australia. March 2004. Archived from the original on 2012-10-10.
↑ Sydney Morning Herald (2007-01-08). "Crunch Time for Apple Growers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
↑ "Polling Place Results". Australian Electoral Commission. 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2007.

External links

Media related to Batlow, New South Wales at Wikimedia Commons

Towns and localities in Snowy Valleys Council local government area

Adelong Argalong Bangadang Batlow Bimberi Black Creek Blowering Bogong Peaks Wilderness Bombowlee Bombowlee Creek Brindabella Bringenbrong Brungle Brungle Creek Buddong Burra Cabramurra Califat Cooleman Cooleys Creek Courabyra Couragago Darlow Ellerslie Gadara Geehi Gilmore Glenroy Gocup Goobarragandra Grahamstown Green Hills Greg Greg Indi Jagumba Jagungal Wilderness Jingellic Jones Bridge Khancoban Killimicat Kosciuszko Kunama Lacmalac Laurel Hill Little River Long Plain Lower Bago Mannus Maragle Minjary Mount Adrah Mount Horeb Munderoo Mundongo Murray Gorge Nurenmerenmong Ournie Paddys River Pilot Wilderness Pinbeyan Red Hill Rosewood Sandy Gully Sharps Creek Talbingo Taradale Tooma Tumbarumba Tumorrama Tumut Tumut Plains Welaregang Wereboldera Wermatong Westdale Westwood Willigobung Windowie Wondalga Wyangle Yarrangobilly Yaven Creek

Main Article: Local government areas of New South Wales

Riverina – New South Wales

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Towns / Communities	Adelong Adjungbilly Alfredtown Alma Park Ardlethan Ariah Park Ballbank Balldale Balranald Barellan Barham Barnes Barooga Batlow Beckom Bectric Beelbangera Beggan Beggan Berrigan Bethungra Bidgeemia Bilbul Binya Birrego Blighty Book Book Bookham Booligal Booroorban Borambola Boree Creek Bowna Brawlin Brocklesby Brookdale Brungle Brushwood Bulgandry Bullenbung Bundure Bungowannah Bunnaloo Buraja Burraboi Burrandana Burrinjuck Burrumbuttock Caldwell Carabost Carrathool Cavan Coleambally Collingullie Colinroobie Combaning Conargo Condoulpe Cookardinia Coolac Coolamon Cootamundra Coree Coreen Corobimilla Corowa Cowabbie Culcairn Cunninyeuk Currawarna Darbalara Darlington Point Daysdale Deniliquin Dilpurra Dirnaseer Downside Euberta Eurongilly Euston Ferndale Finley Frampton French Park Galore Ganmain Gidginbung Gerogery Gobarralong Gocup Gogeldrie Goolgowi Goorawin Grahamstown Greenvale Grong Grong Gulpa Gunbar Gundagai Hanwood Harefield Hay Henty Hillston Holbrook Hopefield Howlong Humula Illabo Illilliwa Jerilderie Jindera Jingellic Jugiong Junee Junee Reefs Kamarah Khancoban Koraleigh Kyalite Kyeamba Kywong Lacmalac Ladysmith Langtree Lankeys Creek Laurel Hill Leeton Little Billabong Lockhart Lowesdale Mairjimmy Malebo Mangoplah Mannus Marinna Marrar Mathoura Matong Maude Mayrung Merriwagga Merungle Hill Methul Milbrulong Millwood Mirrool Mitta Mitta Moama Moira Moolpa Moombooldool Morago Morundah Morven Moulamein Mullengandra Mulwala Mundarlo Munderoo Murrami Muttama Nangus Narrandera Niemur Nyora Oaklands Oberne Old Junee One Tree Osborne Oura Ournie Oxley Penarie Perekerten Pleasant Hills Pretty Pine Pulletop Rand Rankins Springs Rannock Rennie Rosewood Ryan Sandigo Sangar Savernake Sebastopol Speewa Springdale Stanbridge Stockinbingal Stony Crossing Stony Point Tabbita Table Top Talbingo Talmalmo Talmo Tantonan Tarcutta Temora The Rock Tocumwal Tooleybuc Tooma Tootool Tullakool Tumbarumba Tumblong Tumut Tuppal Urana Urangeline Urangeline East Uranquinty Waddi Wakool Walbundrie Walla Walla Wallendbeen Walleroobie Wamoon Wanganella Wantabadgery Warburn Warragoon Wee Jasper Welaregang Westby Whitton Widgelli Widgiewa Willbriggie Womboota Wondalga Woodend Woolgarlo Woomargama Wymah Yalgogrin South Yallakool Yanco Yenda Yerong Creek Yoogali Yuluma

National parks	Cocoparra Lachlan Valley Livingstone Murray Valley Murrumbidgee Valley Oolambeyan Woomargama Yanga

Rivers, Water and irrigation entities Other watercourses	Darling Edward Goodradigbee Lachlan Little Murray Murray Murrumbidgee Niemur Paddys Rufus Tooma Tumut Wakool Yass Murray Irrigation Area Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area Murrumbidgee Irrigation Limited Riverina Water County Council Adelong Adjungbilly Back Barmedman Bendy Berthong Billabong Black Joes Bland Bowning Broadway Brooks Bulls Head Bungendore Burkes Cohen Dairy Derringullen Gum Flat Hell Hole Little Jerra Jerra Kindra Mannus Maragle Mirrool Mulwala Canal Murrumbateman Peelwood Pugilistic Reedy Sandy (Mirrool) Spring Tarcutta Taylors Tumbarumba Yellow Bog

Landmarks	Charles Sturt University Ettamogah Pub Hume Dam Hume Power Station Hume and Hovell Track Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area Wyangala Dam

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