Baan Baa Explained

Type:town
Baan Baa
State:nsw
Coordinates:-30.6°N 205°W
Pushpin Label Position:right
Lga:Narrabri Shire
Parish:Baan Baa
County:Pottinger
Postcode:2390
Pop:163
Elevation:236
Elevation Footnotes:[1]
Stategov:Barwon, Tamworth
Fedgov:Parkes
Dist1:19
Dir1:NNW
Location1:Boggabri
Dist2:38
Dir2:SE
Location2:Narrabri
Dist3:58
Dir3:NW
Location3:Gunnedah

Baan Baa, pronounced "barn-bar", is a village located in northern inland New South Wales, Australia in Narrabri Shire local government area and Pottinger County. It is approximately 38 kilometres south-east of Narrabri and 58 km north-west of Gunnedah on the Kamilaroi Highway. In the, Baan Baa had a population of 211.

History

Baan Baa is named after a local property of the same name, and is aboriginal for "swim away".[2] The railway line between Boggabri and Narrabri South Junction (which included the future township of Baan Baa) was opened on 1 October 1882.[3] The railway station at Baan Baa opened in 1883.[4] The Baan Baa Post Office opened on 9 February 1885 and closed on 19 March 1988.[5] The Baan Baa Literary Institute building which is constructed of local cypress pine timber, was erected in 1923, and is now the local community hall. Baan Baa was once a bustling railway village, which once had its own bakery, butchery and service station. The village now serves primarily as a grain rail terminal.[6] Baan Baa once had the longest railway platform in country New South Wales.[7]

Industry

It is a central delivery point for wheat and barley grown in the surrounding districts including Harparary, Maules Creek, and Turrawan. Beef cattle and prime lamb raising together with cotton growing are other important agricultural products of the district.[6] Coal mining is becoming a major industry in the Baan Baa area, with gas exploration also expanding in the nearby Pilliga Scrub.[6]

Recreation

The town has a strong tradition of sport, fielding a strong combined team with Maules Creek in the Boggabri Cricket Competition and also tennis competitions.

A focal point of the community is the Railway Hotel, particularly during the harvest period in November and December each year. Church services are regularly conducted in the local church.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Climatological Station Metadata - Baan Baa. Bureau of Meteorology. 30 November 2011.
  2. Web site: Irish. C. A. Names of Railway Stations in New South Wales. With their Meaning and Origin. 1 December 2011. 1927.
  3. Web site: Bozier. Rolfe. Mungindi Line. NSWrail.net. 1 December 2011.
  4. Web site: Bozier. Rolfe. Baan Baa Station. NSWrail.net. 1 December 2011.
  5. Web site: Premier Postal History. Post Office List. Premier Postal Auctions. 1 December 2011.
  6. Web site: Introducing Narrabri Shire . Narrabri Shire Council . 2008-12-29.
  7. Narrabri Shire - Big Sky Country, Narrabri Shire Tourism, 2006.