Coolah

History

Coolah was initially the lands of the Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi People. It is said the valley was often used as a meeting ground between peoples of the two nations. The area was also the home to King Togee a legendary leader of his people. His gravesite is on the Neilrex Road to the west of Coolah. The Coolah area was first colonised by British pastoralists in the late 1830s. A Border Police barracks was established at Coolah around 1840 under Graham Douglas Hunter who was the Commissioner for Crown Lands for the Bligh District. Coolah Post Office opened on 1 January 1849. The town was served by the Coolah railway line from March 1920 until May 1975. Cadbury Schweppes introduced a citrus-flavoured energy drink in the US in 2006 named Coolah Energy. The text on the packaging for this product refers to the Australian Cadbury Schweppes product Solo as its inspiration, along with the lifestyle of the inhabitants of the town of Coolah. Coolah is the location of the first Australian memorial commemorating The Battle of Long Tan. A total of 18 trees were planted along Coolah's Vietnam Memorial Avenue, one for each Australian soldier killed during the battle.

Geography

On the northeastern side of the area is the Liverpool Range with the Coolah Tops National Park. Most of the region is agricultural with sheep and cattle raising and crops grown along the Talbragar River and Coolaburragundy River valleys.

Most-observed species

• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  64
• Perforate St John's-wort

  Hypericum perforatum L. · Magnoliopsida
  59
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

  Cacatua galerita (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  56
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  52
• Willie-wagtail

  Rhipidura leucophrys (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  44
• Noisy Miner

  Manorina melanocephala (Latham, 1801) · Aves
  42
• Common Myna

  Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  42
• Eastern Rosella

  Platycercus eximius (Shaw, 1792) · Aves
  37