Blayney, New South Wales

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Blayney
state = nsw


caption = Blayney Township
lga = Blayney Shire
postcode = 2799
est =
pop = 2,608 (2001 census)
elevation= 863.0
maxtemp = 18.3
mintemp = 4.4
rainfall = 765.9
stategov = Orange
fedgov = Calare
dist1 = 240
location1= Sydney
dist2 = 35
location2= Orange

Blayney is a farming town and administrative centre with a population of 2,608 in 2001, in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. Situated on the Mid-Western Highway about 240 km west of Sydney, 35 km west of Bathurst and 863 m above sea-level, Blayney is the seat of Blayney Shire Council.

History

Prior to European settlement the area was probably occupied by the Wiradjuri or Gundungura Aborigines.

The first European to travel through area was surveyor George Evans, in 1815 and unofficial occupation of the district began in 1821. The first land grant in the general area known as Coombing Park was issued to Thomas Icely in 1829.

The area that would become the town also boasted a mill, an inn and several houses by 1837, and then Governor Gipps proposed the creation of a village to be named "Blayney" in 1842. His proposed site however was about 9 km north-east of the present site in an area known as Kings Plains but once that spot proved unsuitable the Blayney village location was established on its present site in 1843.

The arrival of the railway in 1874 boosted development and Blayney replaced Carcoar as the major service centre to local farmlands. Blayney then became a municipality in 1882 and by 1900 a butter factory and freezing works employed many within the town. An abattoir opened in 1957 and this industry was later supplemented with tanneries and a pet food plant.

Transport

The town is served by the daily Countrylink XPT service between Sydney and Dubbo, as well as several Countrylink Coach and private company bus services connecting with Bathurst and Orange.