Central West NSW

The Central West covers the geographic region further west of Sydney than the Blue Mountains, encompassing a total of 63,262km² and boasting a population of around 175,350 people. Two of the most populous cities in the area are Bathurst and Orange, perhaps best known to many for being Charles Sturt University stomping grounds.

Despite being one of Australia’s oldest inland settlements, Bathurst now boasts a thriving, young population with a median age of 34 and acknowledgement in the 2012 census as the seventh fastest growing regional city in NSW. The city’s best known landmark is Mount Panorama racetrack, which originally held the 1938 Australian Grand Prix. Bathurst is nicknamed the ‘Gold Country’ because it is responsible for the nation’s first gold rush.

Orange sits just over 250km west of Sydney, housing around 40,075 people. The city is famed as the birthplace of iconic Aussie poet, Banjo Paterson who penned Waltzing Matilda. Firmly established as a fruit-growing and vineyard district, Orange is also home to the Cadia open cut gold and copper mine, the second largest of its kind in Australia.