Inverell

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title: "Inverell" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["towns-in-new-south-wales", "towns-in-new-england-(new-south-wales)", "1856-establishments-in-australia", "inverell-shire", "mining-towns-in-new-south-wales"] topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverell" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox Australian place"]

FieldValue
typetown
nameInverell
stateNSW
imageInverell Court House, NSW, 2021, 01.jpg
captionInverell Court House, built in 1886
lgaInverell Shire
countyGough
postcode2360
coordinates
est1856
pop12,057
pop_year
pop_footnotes
elevation582
elevation_footnotes
maxtemp22.7
mintemp10.3
rainfall800.0
stategovNorthern Tablelands
fedgovNew England
dist1570
dir1N
location1Sydney
dist2429
dir2SW
location2Brisbane
dist3124
dir3NW
location3Armidale
dist4129
dir4E
location4Moree
dist561
dir5W
location5Glen Innes
::

::callout[type=note] the town ::

|type = town |name = Inverell |state = NSW |image = Inverell Court House, NSW, 2021, 01.jpg |caption = Inverell Court House, built in 1886 |lga = Inverell Shire |county = Gough |postcode = 2360 |coordinates = |est = 1856 |pop = 12,057 |pop_year = |pop_footnotes = |elevation = 582 |elevation_footnotes = |maxtemp = 22.7 |mintemp = 10.3 |rainfall = 800.0 |stategov = Northern Tablelands |fedgov = New England |dist1 = 570 |dir1 = N |location1 = Sydney |dist2 = 429 |dir2 = SW |location2 = Brisbane |dist3 = 124 |dir3 = NW |location3 = Armidale |dist4 = 129 |dir4 = E |location4 = Moree |dist5 = 61 |dir5 = W |location5 = Glen Innes

Inverell is a large town in northern New South Wales, Australia, situated on the Macintyre River, close to the Queensland border. It is also the centre of Inverell Shire. Inverell is located on the Gwydir Highway on the western slopes of the Northern Tablelands. It has a temperate climate. In the , the population of Inverell was 12,057 and the Inverell Shire population was 17,853.

History

Prior to British colonisation, the Jukambal and Weraerai Aboriginal peoples lived in and occupied this region. Around 1838, colonist Peter MacIntyre directed his employee, Alexander Campbell, to take up land in the area for his sheep and cattle. Campbell subsequently laid claim to a large section of pastureland along the Macintyre River, which he called 'Byron Plains' after Peter Byron, one of MacIntyre's stockmen. Campbell later staked out 50,000 acres for himself on the southern side of Byron Plains. He named his run 'Inverell', the word being of Gaelic origin, and signifies "meeting place of the swans"; from Inbhir, a confluence, and eala, a swan. In the initial years, the local Aboriginal people resisted this occupation by spearing MacIntyre's shepherds and taking his livestock.

Inverell is at the junction of the MacIntyre River and Swanbrook Creek and was also known as "Green Swamp" in the 1850s. Wheat growers, Colin and Rosanna Ross established a store there in 1853, and it was proposed that a town be surveyed. In 1858, this was done and in the following years the plan was approved and the first land sale was held. Byron Post Office (open since 1855) was replaced by the Inverell Post Office on 15 September 1859. The municipality was proclaimed in March 1872. The last section of the Inverell branchline, from Delungra to Inverell, was opened on 10 March 1902. The last train ran to Inverell on 22 June 1987, and the Delungra to Inverell section of the line was closed on 2 December 1987.

In 1871, the population of Inverell was 509, this increased to 1,212 in 1881. After Federation, the population of Inverell was 1,230 in 1911, and grew to 6,530 (1947) and 8,209 (1961 census).

Myall Creek Massacre

The massacre of at least 28 Wirrayaraay people by European convicts and settlers took place at Myall Creek near Inverell on 10 June 1838 was notable in that it was one of the very rare cases in colonial Australia for which white people were subsequently executed for the murder of Indigenous people. The crime became known as the Myall Creek Massacre. On 18 December 1838, seven men were publicly hanged at the Sydney Gaol for the atrocity.

Every year on the Sunday of the June long weekend, hundreds of people, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, gather at the Myall Creek Massacre and Memorial Site to attend an annual memorial service.

Mining

Diamonds were discovered at Copes Creek in 1875 and were mined at Copeton from 1883 to 1922. Commercial sapphire mining was commenced in 1919 at Frazers Creek near Inverell. Rich alluvial deposits in streams were worked initially by hand miners, but this ceased in the 1930s due to the economic effects of the Great Depression. There was little recorded production up until approximately 1960, when commercial sapphire mining resumed due to a worldwide sapphire shortage. During the 1970s there were over 100 active mining operations in the New England region, however this number declined significantly in the 1980s due to weakening demand and exhaustion of the previously rich alluvial sources. Currently there are only a small number of commercially active mines in the area.

Heritage listings

Inverell has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Population

|type= Australia |1921|4369 |1933|5305 |1947|6530 |1954|7514 |1961|8209 |1966|8413 |1971|9712 |1976|9432 |1981|9734 |1986|9693 |1991|9736 |1996|9378 |2001|9525 |2006|9749 |2011|9347 |2016|9547 |2021|9654 |source=Australian Bureau of Statistics data. According to the 2016 census of Population, there were 11,660 people in Inverell.

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 9.5% of the population.
  • 86.0% of people were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were Philippines 1.4% and England 1.2%.
  • 89.8% of people spoke only English at home.
  • The most common responses for religion were Anglican 28.8%, Catholic 22.9% and No Religion 20.2%.

Industry

The Inverell district is in a fertile agricultural region which produces a wide range of crops, including wheat, barley, oats, sorghum, wine grapes and maize. Inverell is also home to one of Australia's largest meat processors, Bindaree Beef, a family owned business which employs more than 600 people in the area. There are many agricultural groups who have purchased significant land in the Inverell area, including Paraway Group and S. Kidman & Co owned by Gina Rinehart

There are also some mining activities with tin, sapphires, zircons and diamonds (mainly industrial) being found.

Copeton Dam, the region's main water supply, was completed in 1976. While being smaller than Sydney Harbour, it can hold nearly 2 times the capacity of Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour). The Inland Fishing Festival is held there every year.

Culture and tourism

The Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic is an annual one day cycling race."Grafton to Inverell Bike Race 232km", Under Armour, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, USA (mapmyride.com). Retrieved 11 November 2016 Beginning in Grafton, passing through Glen Innes and finishing in Inverell, the Classic is a 230 km ride over the demanding Gibraltar Range. The race starts at 23 metres above sea level and climbs to 1260 metres, before finishing in Inverell at 630 metres. The race is six to seven hours long, depending on weather conditions. Inverell is home to the Bruderhof, an Anabaptist community who share all their possessions. They run multiple businesses in the area including, a publishing business, signmaking, and dental & doctor's clinic.

Education

There are two primary schools in Inverell; Ross Hill School and Inverell Public School. The two local high schools are Inverell High School and Macintyre High School. Holy Trinity School is a Roman Catholic School in Inverell which caters for students from Kindergarten to Year 10.

Transport

Inverell is served by Inverell Airport.

Inverell lies on the Gwydir Highway, one of the primary east–west routes through New South Wales. Thunderbolts Way terminates at Copes Creek, 16 km south of the Gwydir Highway intersection at Inverell.

Bus services in Inverell are provided by Inverell Bus Service, which operates two town loops, to the east and west. Interurban bus service is provided by Symes Coaches to Glen Innes.

NSW TrainLink operates three Coach services in and out of Inverell: between Moree and Grafton, between Inverell and Tamworth via Manilla and between Inverell and Armidale via Tingha.

Sports

The most popular sport in Inverell is Rugby league. The local team are the Inverell RSM Hawks, who compete in the Group 19, playing out of Varley Oval. The club has won six first grade titles in the competition and its predecessor, Group 5, with the last coming in 2016. The club has produced numerous National Rugby League players, including Owen Craigie and Phil and Chris Bailey.

Other sports teams include the Inverell Highlanders RUFC competing in the Central Northern Rugby Union, Inverell Saints AFC competing in AFL North West NSW and Inverell FC competing in the Northern Inland Football.

Climate

Inverell, due to its altitude features a warm temperate climate with a marked summer peak in rainfall and cool, clear winters with severe frosts commonplace. The town is located on the boundary region between the cool, wet Northern Tablelands of the Great Dividing Range and the hot, dry plains of western New South Wales, having climate characteristics of both regions. The town is considerably sunny with an average of 2,930 sun hours annually.

The highest temperature recorded at Inverell was 43.7 C on 4 January 1903 at the Inverell Comparison site, while the highest minimum temperature was 26.7 C on 29 December 1880. The lowest temperature was -10.6 C on 30 July 1882 at Inverell Comparison, while the lowest maximum temperature was 3.0 C on 3 July 1984 at the Inverell Research Centre. In September 1892, the town had its biggest snowfall, with 4 to falling. On 5 August 1923, snow fell in parts of the Inverell district.

|location = Inverell Research Centre (1949–2025); 664 m AMSL; 29.78° S, 151.08° E |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |precipitation colour = green |Jan record high C = 41.1 |Feb record high C = 41.3 |Mar record high C = 36.0 |Apr record high C = 32.1 |May record high C = 27.4 |Jun record high C = 25.6 |Jul record high C = 23.0 |Aug record high C = 31.9 |Sep record high C = 32.1 |Oct record high C = 36.2 |Nov record high C = 39.2 |Dec record high C = 41.5 |year record high C = |Jan high C = 29.8 |Feb high C = 29.0 |Mar high C = 27.2 |Apr high C = 23.6 |May high C = 19.1 |Jun high C = 15.8 |Jul high C = 15.3 |Aug high C = 16.9 |Sep high C = 20.2 |Oct high C = 23.4 |Nov high C = 26.1 |Dec high C = 28.6 |year high C = |Jan low C = 16.6 |Feb low C = 16.4 |Mar low C = 14.6 |Apr low C = 11.1 |May low C = 7.4 |Jun low C = 4.9 |Jul low C = 3.7 |Aug low C = 4.4 |Sep low C = 7.1 |Oct low C = 10.4 |Nov low C = 12.9 |Dec low C = 15.2 |year low C = |Jan record low C = 6.5 |Feb record low C = 6.2 |Mar record low C = 3.4 |Apr record low C = -0.3 |May record low C = -3.5 |Jun record low C = -5.5 |Jul record low C = -5.0 |Aug record low C = -4.3 |Sep record low C = -2.0 |Oct record low C = -1.0 |Nov record low C = 2.7 |Dec record low C = 5.7 |year record low C = |Jan precipitation mm = 97.8 |Feb precipitation mm = 94.4 |Mar precipitation mm = 74.8 |Apr precipitation mm = 40.6 |May precipitation mm = 47.5 |Jun precipitation mm = 45.6 |Jul precipitation mm = 48.0 |Aug precipitation mm = 44.2 |Sep precipitation mm = 48.1 |Oct precipitation mm = 75.3 |Nov precipitation mm = 86.8 |Dec precipitation mm = 97.9 |year precipitation mm = 802.3 |Jan precipitation days = 7.9 |Feb precipitation days = 6.9 |Mar precipitation days = 5.7 |Apr precipitation days = 4.1 |May precipitation days = 4.5 |Jun precipitation days = 5.2 |Jul precipitation days = 5.3 |Aug precipitation days = 4.9 |Sep precipitation days = 5.1 |Oct precipitation days = 7.3 |Nov precipitation days = 7.3 |Dec precipitation days = 8.0 |year precipitation days = |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |Jan sun = 279.0 |Feb sun = 245.8 |Mar sun = 260.4 |Apr sun = 237.0 |May sun = 201.5 |Jun sun = 180.0 |Jul sun = 195.3 |Aug sun = 248.0 |Sep sun = 258.0 |Oct sun = 279.0 |Nov sun = 267.0 |Dec sun = 279.0 |year sun = 2930 |source 1 =

|location = Inverell Comparison (1874–1997); 584 m AMSL; 29.78° S, 151.11° E |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |precipitation colour = green |Jan record high C = 43.7 |Feb record high C = 41.7 |Mar record high C = 41.1 |Apr record high C = 33.9 |May record high C = 29.4 |Jun record high C = 25.6 |Jul record high C = 24.2 |Aug record high C = 29.4 |Sep record high C = 32.8 |Oct record high C = 36.7 |Nov record high C = 39.4 |Dec record high C = 41.9 |year record high C = |Jan high C = 30.6 |Feb high C = 29.8 |Mar high C = 27.8 |Apr high C = 24.1 |May high C = 19.7 |Jun high C = 16.2 |Jul high C = 15.3 |Aug high C = 17.2 |Sep high C = 20.5 |Oct high C = 24.0 |Nov high C = 27.4 |Dec high C = 29.7 |year high C = |Jan low C = 15.3 |Feb low C = 14.8 |Mar low C = 12.4 |Apr low C = 7.8 |May low C = 3.7 |Jun low C = 1.2 |Jul low C = -0.2 |Aug low C = 0.5 |Sep low C = 3.5 |Oct low C = 7.6 |Nov low C = 11.1 |Dec low C = 13.8 |year low C = |Jan record low C = 2.8 |Feb record low C = 2.2 |Mar record low C = 1.5 |Apr record low C = -4.3 |May record low C = -7.5 |Jun record low C = -10.0 |Jul record low C = -10.6 |Aug record low C = -9.4 |Sep record low C = -7.2 |Oct record low C = -6.7 |Nov record low C = -1.7 |Dec record low C = 1.5 |year record low C = |Jan precipitation mm = 98.7 |Feb precipitation mm = 83.4 |Mar precipitation mm = 65.1 |Apr precipitation mm = 43.3 |May precipitation mm = 47.9 |Jun precipitation mm = 49.7 |Jul precipitation mm = 50.8 |Aug precipitation mm = 44.4 |Sep precipitation mm = 48.5 |Oct precipitation mm = 67.7 |Nov precipitation mm = 73.9 |Dec precipitation mm = 90.6 |year precipitation mm = 763.4 |Jan precipitation days = 7.6 |Feb precipitation days = 6.4 |Mar precipitation days = 5.6 |Apr precipitation days = 4.3 |May precipitation days = 4.7 |Jun precipitation days = 5.4 |Jul precipitation days = 5.4 |Aug precipitation days = 5.2 |Sep precipitation days = 5.2 |Oct precipitation days = 6.7 |Nov precipitation days = 6.7 |Dec precipitation days = 7.5 |year precipitation days = |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |humidity colour = green |Jan afthumidity = 42 |Feb afthumidity = 45 |Mar afthumidity = 45 |Apr afthumidity = 45 |May afthumidity = 49 |Jun afthumidity = 51 |Jul afthumidity = 48 |Aug afthumidity = 41 |Sep afthumidity = 39 |Oct afthumidity = 39 |Nov afthumidity = 37 |Dec afthumidity = 38 |year humidity = 43 |Jan sun = |Feb sun = |Mar sun = |Apr sun = |May sun = |Jun sun = |Jul sun = |Aug sun = |Sep sun = |Oct sun = |Nov sun = |Dec sun = |year sun = |source 1 = Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Inverell Comparison

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Town_of_Inverell.jpg" caption="Byron Street, Inverell. Undated"] ::

Over the years, Inverell has had three weather stations run by government astronomers (prior to 1908) or the Bureau of Meteorology (after 1908), or both. These stations are:

  • Inverell Comparison (began observations in 1874, ceased observations in November 1997)
  • Inverell Research Centre (began observations in 1949, still operational; converted to an Automatic Weather Station in recent years)
  • Inverell (Raglan Street) (began observations in March 1995, still operational; observations done by human observer)
  • Flepper Deyah weather station (began observations in 1981 and was burnt down in 1981)

Notable people

Notable people from or who have lived in Inverell include: ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Inverell_(6).JPG" caption="Uniting Church, Inverell"] ::

References

References

  1. {{Census 2016 AUS
  2. "Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Census 2021". Australian Bureau of Statistics.
  3. (1981). "World of Its Own: Inverell's early years.". DeVill.
  4. "Inverell".
  5. (7 October 1922). "New England.". [[The Armidale Chronicle]].
  6. ''Reader's Digest Guide to Australian Places'', Reader's Digest, Sydney
  7. Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions.
  8. (November 2025). "Major Events in the History of the Inverell District 1827 – 1920". Inverell Tourism.
  9. Bozier, Rolfe. "Inverell Branch". NSWrail.net.
  10. "NSW 1881 census page vii". Australian National University.
  11. "CENSUS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 1911 - Part XIV Summary". Australian Bureau of Statistics.
  12. "CENSUS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 30th June, 1947 - PART VIII. - POPULATION AND OCCUPIED DWELLINGS IN LOCALITIES". Australian Bureau of Statistics.
  13. (March 1963). "CENSUS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, 30TH JUNE, 1961 - VOL I.-NSW PART V.-POPULATION AND DWELLINGS IN LOCALITIES". Australian Bureau of Statistics.
  14. "National Museum of Australia - Myall Creek massacre".
  15. New England Holiday, New England Regional Tourist Zone Association, n.d.
  16. "Mine details - Inverell, Glen Innes & Inverell Area".
  17. {{cite NSW SHR. 5045624. Inverell Shire Council Building (former)
  18. {{cite NSW SHR. 5044754. Inverell Post Office
  19. "Statistics by Catalogue Number". Australian Bureau of Statistics.
  20. "Search Census data". Australian Bureau of Statistics.
  21. "Bindaree Beef Abattoir".
  22. "Inverell abattoir".
  23. "Newstead – Paraway Pastoral Company Australia".
  24. (26 May 2025). "Inverell welcomes a famous new neighbour". New England Times.
  25. (November 2025). "Inverell, Northern Tablelands NSW Australia". Yahoo!7.
  26. (2009). "Copeton Dam Brochure". State Water Corporation.
  27. "Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic".
  28. "Danthonia". Bruderhof.
  29. "About Us".
  30. "Danthonia Designs". Danthonia Designs.
  31. "Bruderhof, Danthonia".
  32. 1:100000 topographic maps 9138 Inverell, 9137 Bundarra, 9136 Bendemeer, 9236 Armidale, 9235 Yarrowitch, 9234 Upper Manning and 9233 Gloucester. Retrieved 19 April 2010
  33. {{DoL suburb image
  34. [https://transportnsw.info/regional-north-west-line North Western Timetable] [[NSW TrainLink]]
  35. [https://www.symescoaches.com.au/nsw-trainlink.php NSW TrainLink] [[Symes Coaches]]
  36. "Inverell snow 1892".
  37. (7 August 1923). "COUNTRY REPORTS.". National Library of Australia.
  38. (March 2019). "Climate Statistics for Inverell Research Centre". Bureau of Meteorology.
  39. (2001). "A Hundred Years of Science and Service". Bureau of Meteorology.
  40. "Climate statistics for Inverell Comparison". Bureau of Meteorology.
  41. "Climate statistics for Inverell Research Centre". Bureau of Meteorology.
  42. "Basic Climatological Station Meta-data - Inverell Research Centre". Bureau of Meteorology.
  43. "Climate statistics for Inverell (Raglan St)". Bureau of Meteorology.
  44. "Basic Climatological Station Metadata - Inverell (Raglan St)". Bureau of Meteorology.

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