Trundle, New South Wales

Trundle New South Wales
Trundle main street, with a view of the Trundle Hotel, as seen from the Post Office
Trundle
Coordinates	32°55′0″S 147°43′0″E / 32.91667°S 147.71667°E / -32.91667; 147.71667Coordinates: 32°55′0″S 147°43′0″E / 32.91667°S 147.71667°E / -32.91667; 147.71667
Population	666 (2011 census)^[1]
Postcode(s)	2875
Location	421 km (262 mi) W of Sydney 180 km (112 mi) SW of Dubbo 61 km (38 mi) NW of Parkes 68 km (42 mi) NE of Condobolin 37 km (23 mi) SSE of Tullamore
LGA(s)	Parkes Shire
State electorate(s)	Orange
Federal Division(s)	Calare

Trundle is a small town in Parkes Shire in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia. It and the surrounding area had a population of 666 in 2011 census, including 48 indigenous people (7.2%).^[1]

It lies in wheat-growing country and is on the Bogan Gate to Tottenham railway line, completed to Trundle in 1907.

History

Trundle Lagoon Post Office opened on 1 May 1889 and was renamed Trundle in 1892.^[2]

The (NSW) Geographical Names Board's only record of the origin of the name is a State Rail Authority's archives document on station names which indicates that the name probably originated from Trundle (hill-fort), about 24 km north-east of Portsmouth, England. ['trundle' is an old English word for 'circle'.] The archives document also said that it was the name of William Cumming's leased runs in 1859, which he called Trundle Lagoon; that the 1866 Gazetteer recorded that Trundle Lagoon was occupied by George and John Palmer; and that the school opened as Trundle Lagoon in 1883, then Trundle in 1885. Traditionally Trundle has been home of the mighty 'Boomers' Rugby League club, but hard times in the town has forced the boys to hang up the boots.

Today

The town is noted for its unusually wide main street. At 60 metres, it is one of the widest main streets in the country. It needed to be as wide as this to accommodate turning bullock-trains. The Trundle Hotel also claims the second longest hotel balcony in NSW at 86 metres (94 yards)^[3] (the longest belonging to Cobar).

Trundle is home to a pre-school, a Catholic primary school (St. Patricks) and a K-12 public school.

Health services are provided through the Trundle multi-purpose health centre (formerly the Trundle hospital).

The town also boasts a golf course with sand-oil greens, a 25 metre swimming pool, tennis courts, horse-racing facilities and a sporting oval named Berryman Park.

Since 2006 the town has hosted a B&S Ball annually.

In 2011, Trundle took part in "Country Town Rescue" for the ABC. Old farmhouses were rented out for a dollar per week to encourage new residents to the town. A TV documentary about the scheme was broadcast on 27 March 2012.^[4]

Bush Tucker Day

The town's annual festival called "Bush Tucker Day" is held every September, when Trundle's small population is usually increased 2 to 3 fold. The main event is a bush tucker cook off, where contestants strive to make the best tasting bush food. A panel of judges decides the winner. Other competitions during the day include damper throwing, billy boiling and there are also bush stalls to browse through. Bush music is a major part of the day.^[5]

Trundle ABBA Festival

In 2012, in the traditional of the Parkes Elvis Festival, Trundle launched its own tribute with the inaugural Trundle ABBA Festival ^[6] (Australia's first dedicated ABBA festival), which was held in the main street of Trundle, Trundle Memorial Hall, Trundle Hotel and Trundle Services Club in Forbes St, Trundle.

In 2013, it won 'Event of the Year 2013' honors at the Parkes Shire Australia Day Awards, and features in the ABC Documentary "ABBA: Bang A Boomerang"^[7] See: [51:50], [55:33].