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What was the eventual site of Gunnedah was discovered in 1818 by the explorer John Oxley and remained undeveloped until easier access routes were located. From three livestock stations in 1827, it grew to a municipality in 1885. Its name is Aboriginal for “white stones.” Gunnedah lies along the Oxley Highway and has air and rail service to Sydney (some 210 miles [340 km] southeast). It is a service centre for a wheat-, stock-, wool-, and fodder-cropping area that also produces coal and lumber. The town has flour mills, engineering works, and one of the state’s major stock-marketing and slaughtering operations. Pop. (2006) local government area, 11,525; (2011) local government area 12,066.
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