Gilgandra New South Wales

Gilgandra is a country town located in the central west of New South Wales, about 430 kilometres north west of Sydney. Situated along the banks of the Castlereagh River, the town serves as an important service centre for surrounding farming districts. The region is primarily devoted to agriculture, particularly sheep and cattle grazing, along with grain production.

Gilgandra was established during the nineteenth century as European settlers moved into the district in search of grazing land. The name Gilgandra is believed to come from an Aboriginal word meaning “long waterhole”, referring to the deep pools that formed in the Castlereagh River. The settlement gradually developed into a small but busy rural town with hotels, stores, and transport links supporting the pastoral industry. When the railway from Dubbo reached Gilgandra in the early twentieth century, it strengthened the town’s role as a regional centre.

The town is widely known in Australian history as the starting point of the Coo-ee March during World War I. In October 1915 a group of local men led by Bill Hitchen began a recruiting march from Gilgandra to Sydney. As they travelled through towns and villages they called out the traditional Australian bush call “coo-ee”, encouraging other men to join them in enlisting for military service. By the time the march reached Sydney in December 1915, the group had grown significantly and had become a powerful symbol of patriotic support for the war effort. Today the event is commemorated in Gilgandra through memorials and interpretive displays.

Agriculture has long remained the economic foundation of the district. Sheep grazing was historically dominant, producing wool for export markets, while wheat and other grain crops are also grown in the surrounding plains. In more recent years cattle grazing and mixed farming have also become important. The town functions as a local commercial centre with shops, services, schools, and community facilities supporting the rural population of the area.

Gilgandra is sometimes referred to as the “Town of Windmills”, a nickname that reflects the large number of traditional windmills that once pumped water for farms across the district. Several restored windmills can still be seen around the town and have become part of its local identity. Public artworks and displays celebrate this agricultural heritage and provide visitors with a sense of the region’s rural character.

Street Art on Miller Street Gilgandra New South Wales — Street Art on Miller Street Gilgandra

Attractions

Coo-ee Heritage & Visitor Information Centre

Visitor Centre

The Gilgandra Visitor Information Centre is a great place to stop to find out what there is to see and do in the district. In addition to the usual tourist information, it has a museum on the town’s association with the Coo-ee March, an aboriginal heritage display a small art gallery and café. It is also the starting point for the windmill walk along the Castlereagh River and is located next to the Gilgandra Museum.

Emu inside the Visitor Information Centre

Coo-ee Heritage Centre

The 1915 Coo‑ee March was a World War I recruitment march that began in Gilgandra, NSW, in October 1915. It was started to boost enlistments after heavy casualties earlier in the war and to raise public spirit and funds for the war effort. Marchers used the traditional Australian bush call “coo‑ee” to attract attention and recruit volunteers as they passed through towns en route to Sydney.

The March began in Gilgandra as a voluntary recruitment drive to encourage men to enlist for the AIF (Australian Infantry Force) in October 1915. Starting with a small group of local men it grew as it moved through towns. Heading east from Gilgandra through a series of rural towns towards Sydney, the men stopped for public recruiting rallies and fundraising events at each stop. By the time they reached Sydney, several hundred men had enlisted through the march.

The Coo‑ee March is one of Australia’s best‑known recruiting marches and inspired similar “snowball” recruitment marches elsewhere.

Display inside the Coo-ee Heritage & Visitor Information Centre Gilgandra New South Wales — Display inside the Coo-ee Heritage & Visitor Information Centre

Flags from the First World War — Display inside the Coo-ee Heritage & Visitor Information Centre

Aboriginal Heritage

The Centre includes important Aboriginal material and displays. The Joy Trudgett Gallery has a collection of Aboriginal artefacts and natural‑history items gathered by local collectors. It gives an excellent overview of the first inhabitants of the district.

Aboriginal art work Gilgandra New South Wales — Aboriginal art work

Windmill Walk

The Windmill Walk is a scenic riverside walking trail that links the town centre, heritage sites and the Castlereagh River. This is a 2km one-way track, so a 4km return walk. Of course, you can walk as much or as little as you want before returning to the start.

In addition to starting at either end, parking bays along Castlereagh St. (Newell Highway) allow you to stop and look at the walk at any point. All along the track are brightly decorated windmills as a reminder of how important they were for agriculture. There are also park benches, picnic tables and shaded areas for breaks so that there is no need to rush.

Shade shelter on the windmill walk Gilgandra New South Wales — Shade shelter on the windmill walk

Coo-ee Memorial

Located in Miller Street, the Coo-ee Memorial commemorates the march that started here in October 1915. This also forms one end of the Windmill Walk.

The Coo-ee Statue Gilgandra New South Wales — The Coo-ee Statue

War Memorial

Australian Commonwealth Military Forces Memorial Gilgandra New South Wales — Australian Commonwealth Military Forces Memorial

Gilgandra Museum

If you want to see how farming and local life was in the 19th and early 20th centuries, this is the place to go. From tractors, steam engines and harvesters, to old relocated rural buildings there is plenty to see.