Dubbo is a thriving and dynamic city located in the central-west of New South Wales, 416 kilometres northwest of Sydney. Regarded as the crossroads of the state, Dubbo allows one to access Brisbane to the north, Melbourne to the south, Sydney to the east and Adelaide to the west. With a population of 38000, Dubbo performs the vital role of as key retail and service centre to an area almost a third of the state. Dubbo’s appeal is internationally acclaimed as home to the world’s greatest open range zoo. It is accessible by plane, train and automobile.
Historically, evidence of habitation in the region by indigenous Australians dates back approximately 40000 years. The explorer John Oxley was the first European to report on the area in 1818. Wealthy settler, Robert Dulhunty, was the first to arrive in 1828. He named the area ‘Dubbo’, thought to be Aboriginal for ‘red earth’. The settlement was proclaimed a village in 1849 with the first land sales in 1850. The Victorian gold rush of the 1860s saw Dubbo’s population increase, due to the north-south trade. The coming of the railway in 1881 resulted in another boom period.
Dubbo’s Western Plains Zoo is home to various species of endangered animals, including the white rhinoceros. The facility runs a successful breeding program for a number of these endangered species. The zoo is also home to native fauna and African safari-range specimens in spacious open-range enclosures. Other activities include horse racing and riding, visiting historical buildings and wineries, and enjoying the very popular annual agricultural show. A variety of accommodation is available, with over 3500 beds on offer to suit everyone’s taste and budget.
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