Curlewis, New South Wales

Curlewis was founded by Henry Thomas Pike, a sawmiller from Norfolk who became the mayor of Gunnedah.[2]

In 1909, the railway station opened as a stop on the Mungindi branch line, but has since closed.[3] Livestock sales commenced in 1919 in Curlewis and were, for many years, held in alternate weeks at Gunnedah and Curlewis until improvements to the Gunnedah saleyards, eclipsed Curlewis's yardings and led to the yard’s closure.[2]

The lack of a nearby river has contributed to Curlewis having persistent water problems and water shortage. In 1950, the council had to de-silt an old earthen dam and erect a tank from which Curlewis residents could draw water. Reticulated water was connected to Curlewis in 1972.[2]

In the 2006 census, Curlewis had a resident population of 603 people: 53.4% were males and 46.6% were females. There were 12.8% indigenous persons, compared with 2.3% indigenous persons in Australia. The most common forms of employment for residents were in education 5.6%, sheep, beef cattle and grain farming 5.1% and coal mining 4.6%.[1]

Curlewis now has a hotel, a public school (with 49 pupils enrolled),[4] a general store, grain silo, police station, sports ground and a Rural Fire Service.

The Curlewis area is home to a large koala population and they may be seen on local farms, in the woodlands and village.[5]