Gowen County is one of New South Wales’ 141 cadastral divisions, east of the Castlereagh River between Gilgandra and Coonabarabran. The origin of its name is not recorded. Coonabarabran is its main town.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | North West Slopes |
| Named after | Origin not recorded |
| Principal town | Coonabarabran |
| Local government areas today | Warrumbungle Shire, Gilgandra Shire, Coonamble Shire |
Parishes in Gowen County
The county holds 51 parishes, listed below.
- Baby
- Balumbridal
- Bandulla
- Bearbong
- Belar
- Biralbung
- Bone Bone
- Boyben
- Breelong
- Burrendah
- Caigan
- Callangoan
- Caraghnan
- Cobbinbil
- Coonabarabran
- Cuttabulloo
- Deringulla
- Dilly
- Eringanerin
- Gowang
- Greenbah
- Gulargambone
- Gumin
- Gundi
- Kirban
- Mundar
- Naman
- Nandi
- Orandelbinia
- Piangula
- Pibbon
- Quandong
- Tannabar
- Tarambijal
- Terrabile
- Timor
- Tonderburine
- Tooraweenah
- Uargon
- Ulamambri
- Ulungra
- Urabrible
- Wallumburrawang
- Wilber
- Windurong
- Wingabutta
- Woorut
- Yalcogrin
- Yarragrin
- Yarrawin
- Youlbung
Towns and Localities Today
Coonabarabran, gateway to the Warrumbungle National Park and Siding Spring Observatory, is the county’s largest town. Gulargambone and Tooraweenah are smaller service centres further south.
| Town | LGA | Approx. population |
|---|---|---|
| Coonabarabran | Warrumbungle Shire | 2,700 |
| Gulargambone | Coonamble Shire | 350 |
Geography
The Castlereagh River runs along Gowen County’s western edge, and the county straddles the Newell Highway between Gilgandra and Coonabarabran. It lies on undulating grazing and cropping land at the foot of the Warrumbungle Range.
History
No source records who or what Gowen County was named for. Coonabarabran developed from the 1860s as a coaching stop on the road north, and later a rail town serving the wheat-sheep district once the branch line arrived in 1917. Its position at the edge of the Warrumbungle Range later drew the Siding Spring Observatory, established in 1965 for its clear, dark skies.
FAQ
Is Gowen County still used?
Cadastral counties like Gowen remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function today.
What is the main town in Gowen County?
Coonabarabran, in Warrumbungle Shire, is the county’s largest town.
Where is Gowen County?
It lies east of the Castlereagh River, between Gilgandra and Coonabarabran in the North West Slopes region.