Orange, Australia

Orange is a provincial city and Local Government Area of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Mitchell Highway about 250 kilometres west of Sydney. The population is approaching 40,000 and the city is a major provincial centre. Key industries include agriculture, mining, health services and education. A significant landmark nearby is Mount Canobolas at an altitude of 1,395 metres it gives commanding views of the district. Birthplace of Banjo Paterson.

History

In 1822 Captain Percy Simpson drove into the Wellington District and established a convict settlement which was called "Blackman's Swamp" after John Blackman. Percy had employed John Blackman as a guide because he had already accompanied an earlier explorer into that region.

Blackman's Swamp was proclaimed a village and named Orange by Major Thomas Mitchell in 1846 in honour of Prince William of Orange. At nearby Ophir the first discovery of gold in Australia was made in 1851 which led to the Australian Gold Rush. Subsequent discoveries of gold in nearby areas led to the establishment of Orange as a central trading centre for the gold.

The growth of Orange continued as the conditions were well suited for agriculture, and in 1860 it was proclaimed a municipality.

Industries

Orange is a well known fruit growing district, and produces apples, pears, and many stone fruits such as cherries, peaches, apricots and plums. Somewhat ironically, oranges are not grown in the area, as the climate is too cool. In recent years, a large number of vineyards have been planted in the area for a rapidly expanding wine production industry.

Other large industries include the Cadia gold mine and an Electrolux white goods factory. Orange is also the location of the New South Wales Department of Agriculture headquarters, and a campus of Charles Sturt University (formerly part of University of Sydney).