Tahmoor, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Tahmoor is a small town in the Macarthur Region of New South Wales
, Australia
, in Wollondilly Shire.
and Gundungurra peoples.
Originally named Myrtle Creek, it was a farming area on the Great Southern Road, later named the Hume Highway
.
When the new Main Southern Railway line opened in 1919, it included a railway station named Tahmoor. This name was contested by a local businessman, who wished to establish a town called Bronzewing Park, but his claim was rejected. The town had recently been named "Tahmoor", a local Aboriginal word for the Common Bronzewing
, (Phaps chalcoptera) a native pigeon often seen in the area.
The Bargo River
passes just south of the town; the Bargo River Crossing on the Great South Road was so notoriously difficult for travellers, causing many delays and accidents,19th century grafitti
cut into the stone bed of the river, perhaps by waiting travellers, can still be seen at this location. that it has even passed into Australian folklore, in the form of the song Stringybark and Greenhide
The scrub on the opposite bank was known as the Bargo Brush, and was much feared as the haunt of escaped convicts turned bushranger
. In time, increasing numbers of orchardists and dairy farmers needed to send their produce more safely to local railhead
s. These factors all hastened the construction of a road bridge (1898) and diversion of the Main South Line
from further westwards (1919), to pass through this area.
, an independent school serving students from Kindergarten to Year 12. Secondary students also attend the nearby Picton High School and other schools in the adjacent Campbelltown
and Southern Highlands regions.
The town is serviced by CityRail
's Tahmoor railway station
. Bus services are operated by a local coach line.
, and a Rural Fire Service. The original location of the Bushfire Brigade (as it was then known) was an old hay shed, which was donated to the brigade. Donations have helped the Brigade to upgrade its facilities to the present standard.
The official soccer team of Tahmoor is the Tahmoor Taipans which compete in the Macarthur District Soccer Football Association League. The team's home ground is Tahmoor Oval.
, Seventh-day Adventist
and Anglican
churches. To the south of the town is the Kiah Ridge Conference Centre, operated by the Baptist Church.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, in Wollondilly Shire.
History
Tahmoor is in the lands of the TharawalTharawal people
The Tharawal people were the Aboriginal inhabitants of southern Sydney and the Illawarra region in 1788, when the first European colonists arrived. The Tharawal people lived in the areas from south side of Botany Bay, around Port Hacking to north of the Shoalhaven River and inland to Campbelltown...
and Gundungurra peoples.
Originally named Myrtle Creek, it was a farming area on the Great Southern Road, later named the Hume Highway
Hume Highway
The Hume Highway/Hume Freeway is one of Australia's major inter-city highways, running for 880 km between Sydney and Melbourne. It is part of the Auslink National Network and is a vital link for road freight to transport goods to and from the two cities as well as serving Albury-Wodonga and...
.
When the new Main Southern Railway line opened in 1919, it included a railway station named Tahmoor. This name was contested by a local businessman, who wished to establish a town called Bronzewing Park, but his claim was rejected. The town had recently been named "Tahmoor", a local Aboriginal word for the Common Bronzewing
Common Bronzewing
The Common Bronzewing is a species of medium-sized, heavily built pigeon. Native to Australia and one of the country's most common pigeons, the Common Bronzewing is able to live in almost any habitat, with the possible exception of very barren areas and dense rainforests.- Description :Males of...
, (Phaps chalcoptera) a native pigeon often seen in the area.
The Bargo River
Bargo River
The Bargo River is a river of the state of New South Wales in Australia. The Bargo River is a tributary of the Nepean River.-References:...
passes just south of the town; the Bargo River Crossing on the Great South Road was so notoriously difficult for travellers, causing many delays and accidents,19th century grafitti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
cut into the stone bed of the river, perhaps by waiting travellers, can still be seen at this location. that it has even passed into Australian folklore, in the form of the song Stringybark and Greenhide
'If you travel on the road, and chance to stick in Bargo,
To avoid a bad capsize, you must unload your cargo;
For to pull a dray about, I do not see the force on,
Take a bit of green hide, and hook another horse on.'
The scrub on the opposite bank was known as the Bargo Brush, and was much feared as the haunt of escaped convicts turned bushranger
Bushranger
Bushrangers, or bush rangers, originally referred to runaway convicts in the early years of the British settlement of Australia who had the survival skills necessary to use the Australian bush as a refuge to hide from the authorities...
. In time, increasing numbers of orchardists and dairy farmers needed to send their produce more safely to local railhead
Railhead
The word railhead is a railway term with two distinct meanings, depending upon its context.Sometimes, particularly in the context of modern freight terminals, the word is used to denote a terminus of a railway line, especially if the line is not yet finished, or if the terminus interfaces with...
s. These factors all hastened the construction of a road bridge (1898) and diversion of the Main South Line
Main Southern railway line, New South Wales
The Main Southern Railway is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs through the Southern Highlands, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes and the Riverina regions.- Description of route :...
from further westwards (1919), to pass through this area.
The Town Today
Tahmoor has a population of 4,339, including 120 (2.8%) indigenous persons and 3,494 (81.3%) Australian-born persons..Commerce
As part of its town and community planning strategies, determined to make Tahmoor-Picton the principal shopping precinct 'hub' and service centre for the Shire. Thus, the present town has three major supermarkets, shopping malls with a variety of small businesses, medical and dental centres, and several fast-food outlets.Education
Schools include Tahmoor Public School, and Wollondilly Anglican CollegeWollondilly Anglican College
Wollondilly Anglican College is an independent, co-educational Transition to Year 12 school, operated under the Sydney Anglican Schools corporation. It is located in Tahmoor, New South Wales, Australia...
, an independent school serving students from Kindergarten to Year 12. Secondary students also attend the nearby Picton High School and other schools in the adjacent Campbelltown
Campbelltown, New South Wales
Campbelltown is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Campbelltown is located 51 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Campbelltown.- History :Campbelltown...
and Southern Highlands regions.
Industry, Employment, Transport
The Tahmoor Colliery, located to the south in North Bargo, is an important employer in the town and surrounding area, as is Ingham's Enterprises, who operate a poultry processing plant. The supermarkets and small retail businesses also provide considerable employment, especially for part-time and casual staff.The town is serviced by CityRail
CityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
's Tahmoor railway station
Tahmoor railway station, New South Wales
-Neighbouring stations:-References:...
. Bus services are operated by a local coach line.
Community Organisations
Tahmoor has sporting fields, a skate and BMX park, a community function centre owned by the Country Women's AssociationCountry Women's Association
The Country Women’s Association of Australia is the largest women's organisation in Australia. It has 44,000 members across 1855 branches. Its aims are to improve the conditions for country women and children and to try to make life better for women and their families, especially those women...
, and a Rural Fire Service. The original location of the Bushfire Brigade (as it was then known) was an old hay shed, which was donated to the brigade. Donations have helped the Brigade to upgrade its facilities to the present standard.
The official soccer team of Tahmoor is the Tahmoor Taipans which compete in the Macarthur District Soccer Football Association League. The team's home ground is Tahmoor Oval.
Religious Organisations
Tahmoor has Catholic, UnitingUniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
, Seventh-day Adventist
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
and Anglican
Anglican Church of Australia
The Anglican Church of Australia is a member church of the Anglican Communion. It was previously officially known as the Church of England in Australia and Tasmania...
churches. To the south of the town is the Kiah Ridge Conference Centre, operated by the Baptist Church.