Lake Cargelligo, New South Wales

Lake Cargelligo New South Wales
Main street
Lake Cargelligo
Coordinates	33°18′0″S 146°22′0″E / 33.30000°S 146.36667°ECoordinates: 33°18′0″S 146°22′0″E / 33.30000°S 146.36667°E
Population	1,380 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	2672
Location	564 km (350 mi) W of Sydney 113 km (70 mi) N of Griffith 93 km (58 mi) SW of Condobolin
LGA(s)	Lachlan Shire
State electorate(s)	Barwon
Federal Division(s)	Parkes

Lake Cargelligo (/ˌleɪk kɑːrˈdʒɛlᵻɡoʊ/, locally [ˌlæɪk kaːˈdʒeləɡəʉ])^[2] is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia, on Lake Cargelligo. It is in Lachlan Shire. At the 2011 census, Lake Cargelligo had a population of 1,380 people.^[1] Its name is said to be a corruption of the Aboriginal word 'Kartjellakoo' meaning 'he had a coolamon'. A coolamon is a shallow wooden dish. Alternatively it is derived from Wiradhuri and Ngiyambaa "gajal" for water container with suffix "lugu" for "her" or "his".^[3] In 2011 it had an indigenous population of 236 (17.1%) and an Australian born population of 1,241 (89.7%).^[1]

History

The explorers, John Oxley and George Evans, followed the Lachlan River down to Lake Cargelligo in 1817. Lake Cargelligo was known as Cudgelligo^[4] (or sometimes Cudgellico) in the 1800s and was officially changed when the railway arrived in 1917.

Transport

The railway from Cootamundra to Wyalong was extended to Lake Cargelligo in 1917.^[5] The railway station opened as 'Cargelligo' in 1917 and was renamed 'Lake Cargelligo' in 1919. Rail-motor passenger services operated to the town until 1983.^[6] Since then the railway link has been used for cargo transport, especially for bulk grain which the surrounding farms cultivate. It also has a strong World War I background and ANZAC heritage.

Mining

Rich mineral deposites are found in the area around the township. Mines include:

• Bevs Gossanous Mine
• Fosters Reef Gold Mine
• The Whitton Road Mine is an open cut magnesite mine.^[7]
• Allys Zone Mine^[8]
• Browns Reef Mine an open cut and underground copper, lead, silver and zinc mine.^[9]
• Bevs Gossanous Zone Mine^[10]
• Billys Lead Zone Mine^[11]

The lake

As its name would suggest, the town of Lake Cargelligo is situated on a lake fed by the Lachlan River through Lake Curlew. The lake was originally named Regent's Lake by the explorer John Oxley after the prince regent of England at the time. The lake was the primary water source for the early mining town, and has continued to remain an integral source of water for Lake Cargelligo's inhabitants and for all users along the lower Lachlan. These days the lake serves recreational uses as well, bird watchers are by far the largest group of visitors to the lake and surrounds due to the incredible diversity of waterfowl and other rare birds in the district. Boating, fishing and water skiing, also contribute to the town's tourism industry.

After many years of drought, it was reported in early 2010 that the lake ran dry for the first time since 1902.^[12]

Gallery

• 

  Lake Cargelligo Anglican Church

• 

  Lake Cargelligo Uniting Church

• 

  Lake Cargelligo - signal box & gantry crane

• 

  Lake Cargelligo water tower & turntable

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Lake Cargelligo (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
2. Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
3. "Lake Cargelligo". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
4. "To Fencers". Advertisement. Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal. 11 Jan 1860. p. 3. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
5. Lake Cargelligi Railway Station. NSWrail.net. Accessed 4 April 2008.
6. Banger, C. The Intercapital Daylight, 1956-1991 Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, Vol 52 No. 764. June 2001
7. Downes, P. NSW Metallic Mineral Occurrence Database. (NSW Department Of Mineral Resources, 1997).
8. Downes, P., NSW Metallic Mineral Occurrence Database. (NSW Department Of Mineral Resources , 1997).
9. Heugh, J., Mirlis/Metallogenic Mine Data Sheets - Cargelligo-Narrandera 1:250k Sheet Area. Geological Survey Of NSW, (Department Of Mineral Resources, 1980).
10. Downes, P., NSW Metallic Mineral Occurrence Database. (NSW Department Of Mineral Resources , 1997).
11. Downes, P., NSW Metallic Mineral Occurrence Database. (NSW Department Of Mineral Resources , 1997).
12. http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s2801903.htm ABC 7.30 Report 26 Jan 2010

External links

Media related to Lake Cargelligo at Wikimedia Commons

• "Lachlan River catchment" (map). Office of Environment and Heritage. Government of New South Wales.