COONAMBLE Coonamble is a quirky town, a must visit and an overnighter. Just getting an understanding of the xxx is enough to whet the interest. Coonamble is encounted on the Gilgandra to Walgett (or vice versa) hgy. Or a diversion from other wheat belt towns. Coonamble is located on the Castlereagh River. There is the Hall of Fame  'famous'  people to read up on and have a laugh. From the SMH:- ‘The first Europeans in the area were the 1818 party of John Oxley. A member of the team, George Evans, encountered the Castlereagh near the future town site, naming it after Lord Castlereagh, the secretary of state for the colonies. The town's name derives from an Aboriginal term 'gunambil', thought by some to mean 'full of bullock's dung', though the last surviving full-blood Aborigine of the area asserted that meant 'full of dirt'. The first Europeans in the area were the 1818 party of John Oxley. A member of the team, George Evans, encountered the Castlereagh near the future town site, naming it after Lord Castlereagh, the secretary of state for the colonies. Policeman John Mitchell has a story Visit the Police Station A great fire struck the town in 1929, destroying almost all of the pre-war buildings in Castlereagh St. It is said the glow could be seen in Gilgandra, nearly 100 km distant. The sense of community took off in that period and remains to this day. The Coonamble Museum gives great details of the earlier history. The Coonamble War Memorial is a new and nice adaption of an ‘earlier/older’ acknowledgement. The Catholic Church is a great building. Be sure to check inside. The Anglican and United are undated wooden structures. From an historical perspective there are three ‘old’ pubs in Coonamble. The historical Commercial Hotel still has the spotting tower from the Cobb and Co days. When visiting allow a day at a minimum. An overnight is recommended.