Drake, New South Wales

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Fairfield Creek, Drake, NSW

Drake is a small rural community on the Bruxner Highway approximately 44 Km east of Tenterfield and about 800km north of Sydney. It is in Drake County which is part of the New England area of New South Wales.

[edit] History

In 1858 gold was discovered near Newman’s Pinch on the western side of Fairfield (now Drake) and quite a few years later copper was also mined in the vicinity.

During the 1860s the first sale of Drake allotments took place with 16 of the 40 lots being sold. The Public School opened in November 1887

Between 1870 and 1890 Drake was a thriving mining and timber town with 12 hotels, a town band, and many private dwellings, plus a number of businesses including blacksmith, post office and stores. The town also served as a stopping point for bullock teams, drovers and settlers passing between inland and coastal regions.

The original Police Station and house is near the cemetery, but is privately owned. There is a new Rural Transaction & Resource Centre (next to the park and toilet facilities). There are about 30 dwellings in the village proper, and the population including children is about 110. St Peter the Apostle Anglican Church (former) has been placed on the Register of the National Estate.

Drake has an area population of about 700. The community is agricultural, timber and tourist based providing hiking, fishing and fossicking etc.