O'Connell (O’Connell)
O’Connell is a village in New South Wales, Australia. The village, classified by the National Trust of Australia, is 23 kilometres from Oberon on the O'Connell Road. At the 2006 census, O'Connell and the surrounding area had a population of 355.
The village has a long history, being situated on the original road between Bathurst and Sydney, which was in use until 1836. By the end of 1836 the road, now the Great Western Highway, was diverted and traffic proceeded via Rydal and Yetholme.
In 1813 George Evans crossed the Blue Mountains to confirm the findings of the exploration party of Blaxland, Lawson, and Wentworth. Evans and his party reached the end of the explorers' route at a point which Evans named Mount Blaxland, near the present locality of South Bowenfels. The party then moved further west and, near the junction of the Fish and Campbells Rivers, Evans described two plains in his view, the O'Connell Plains, which he named after the Lieutenant-Governor, Maurice Charles O'Connell, and the Macquarie Plains, named after Governor Lachlan Macquarie.
Evans wrote of O'Connell Plains: "...this Morning had a better appearance; the river now forms large ponds; at the Space of about a Mile I came on a fine Plain of rich Land, the handsomest Country I ever saw; it surpasseth Port Dalrymple; this place is worth speaking of as good and beautiful; the Track of clear land occupies about a Mile on each side of the River; I have named it after the Lieut. Governor, O'Connell Plains.'"
The Fish River is crossed at O'Connell on the Bathurst to Oberon Road. From that point, the Fish flows generally to the north-west to its confluence with Campbells River, to form the Macquarie River, which flows through Bathurst. The existing hotel at O'Connell was built in 1865 and today is a popular meeting place in pleasant surroundings.
The historic former Catholic Church of St Francis of Assisi, built in the 1860s, has been restored as a dwelling. The attached cemetery has been closed for a considerable time. The Anglican Church of St Thomas is still in use. The cemetery attached to the church contains memorials as early as 1835.
O'Connell Post Office opened on 14 August 1834 and closed in 1980.
In 1890 a telephone line was constructed between O'Connell and Bathurst and O'Connell and Brewongle. Prior to this all communications to other centres were by the Morse Telegraph.
The village has a long history, being situated on the original road between Bathurst and Sydney, which was in use until 1836. By the end of 1836 the road, now the Great Western Highway, was diverted and traffic proceeded via Rydal and Yetholme.
In 1813 George Evans crossed the Blue Mountains to confirm the findings of the exploration party of Blaxland, Lawson, and Wentworth. Evans and his party reached the end of the explorers' route at a point which Evans named Mount Blaxland, near the present locality of South Bowenfels. The party then moved further west and, near the junction of the Fish and Campbells Rivers, Evans described two plains in his view, the O'Connell Plains, which he named after the Lieutenant-Governor, Maurice Charles O'Connell, and the Macquarie Plains, named after Governor Lachlan Macquarie.
Evans wrote of O'Connell Plains: "...this Morning had a better appearance; the river now forms large ponds; at the Space of about a Mile I came on a fine Plain of rich Land, the handsomest Country I ever saw; it surpasseth Port Dalrymple; this place is worth speaking of as good and beautiful; the Track of clear land occupies about a Mile on each side of the River; I have named it after the Lieut. Governor, O'Connell Plains.'"
The Fish River is crossed at O'Connell on the Bathurst to Oberon Road. From that point, the Fish flows generally to the north-west to its confluence with Campbells River, to form the Macquarie River, which flows through Bathurst. The existing hotel at O'Connell was built in 1865 and today is a popular meeting place in pleasant surroundings.
The historic former Catholic Church of St Francis of Assisi, built in the 1860s, has been restored as a dwelling. The attached cemetery has been closed for a considerable time. The Anglican Church of St Thomas is still in use. The cemetery attached to the church contains memorials as early as 1835.
O'Connell Post Office opened on 14 August 1834 and closed in 1980.
In 1890 a telephone line was constructed between O'Connell and Bathurst and O'Connell and Brewongle. Prior to this all communications to other centres were by the Morse Telegraph.
Map - O'Connell (O’Connell)
Map
Country - Australia
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The ancestors of Aboriginal Australians began arriving from south east Asia approximately 65,000 years ago, during the last ice age. Arriving by sea, they settled the continent and had formed approximately 250 distinct language groups by the time of European settlement, maintaining some of the longest known continuing artistic and religious traditions in the world. Australia's written history commenced with the European maritime exploration of Australia. The Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon was the first known European to reach Australia, in 1606. In 1770, the British explorer James Cook mapped and claimed the east coast of Australia for Great Britain, and the First Fleet of British ships arrived at Sydney in 1788 to establish the penal colony of New South Wales. The European population grew in subsequent decades, and by the end of the 1850s gold rush, most of the continent had been explored by European settlers and an additional five self-governing British colonies established. Democratic parliaments were gradually established through the 19th century, culminating with a vote for the federation of the six colonies and foundation of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901. Australia has since maintained a stable liberal democratic political system and wealthy market economy.
Currency / Language
| ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUD | Australian dollar | $ | 2 |
| ISO | Language |
|---|---|
| EN | English language |