Oberon Country Living

Oberon ….simply spectacular!

A great place to visit, a better place to live!

Oberon, West of Sydney in the Central Tablelands, is the perfect hub from which to explore many country towns and historic villages along The Tablelands Way and the Central West.  We are less than three hours from Sydney (around two from Parramatta), half an hour from Bathurst, about 45 minutes from Lithgow, one hour from Katoomba, one and a half hours from Mudgee, two hours from Goulburn and three hours from Canberra.

This means you can relocate to Oberon and still be in the centre of things.

Moving to Oberon means you can enjoy all the country lifestyle has to offer - clean air, little traffic, a crisp alpine climate, a short drive or walk to work (which means less time spent commuting), friendly people, a real sense of community, a safer environment, and some of the most spectacular scenery in NSW, including Jenolan Caves and Kanangra Walls part of the Blue Mountains World Heritage area, right in your backyard.   Oberon is also home to the famous Kowmung Music Festival.

• Oberon is in the heart of country NSW
• We are still close to family and friends and business contacts in the city
• Our real estate is affordable yet in demand so there is less risk of capital loss for those who may be thinking of building or buying a home.businesses are actively looking for skilled workers
• Our Council is responsive to community and business needs. Councillors are not party political, which means they work as a team for the betterment of Oberon
• Our people have real country values and are fiercely proud of their area, having successfullyfoughtagainst amalgamation of their Council, and continue to stand on their own.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Employment:

There are many opportunities for employment in Oberon.

The timber industry,  is the largest employer.

A strong engineering support base is maintained in Oberon with many additional opportunities for ancillary trades-people such as engineers, electricians and fitters and turners.

Another employer is the Oberon Correctional Centre for juvenile offenders.

Jobs are also available in the service industries, tourism, retail and the local schools.   It is estimated that tourism injects around $20m into the local community.

Real Estate:

When comparing residential real estate prices with those in Sydney, property in Oberon is very affordable. This presents first homebuyers with an amazing opportunity to get more for their money and those owning their own home in the city opportunities to upgrade and still have money left over.

• A modern three-bedroom house on a quarter acre block for around $400,000;
• Three bedroom house suitable as investment from $350,000;
• four-bedroom house with two bathrooms in town from just $400,000 to $460,000.

Population:
2,700 in town, 5,400 in the local government area.

Elevation:
Oberon is located on a plateau with elevations from 300 to 1,300 metres.

Climate:
Oberon has a true mountain climate with four distinct seasons—several light snow falls in winter with frosts followed by clear sunny days. Mild summers with low humidity and temperatures rarely over 30 degrees C and cool nights and wonderful Spring and Autumn weather.

Education:
In Oberon

• Two preschools (one with long day care);
• Oberon Primary School;
• Oberon High School. (to year 12);
• St Josephs Primary School; and
• St Josephs Secondary School (to year 10).

In Bathurst (35 minutes by bus)

• Private schools including: The Scotts School, All Saints, St Stanislaus and MacKillop Colleges;
• TAFE College; and
• Charles Sturt University.

Health:

We have a Community Hospital, a strong medical centre and Council Care Car.  Specialist medical services are available in nearby Bathurst.

Sports:

Oberon has a beautiful golf course, hockey, and netball fields, an indoor tennis centre, equestrian facilities and a heated swimming pool. Other popular sports include rugby union and rugby league, sailing, motorcycling and soccer. The Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway Inc., a group of rail enthusiasts, have restored the Oberon pioneer railway line so it can be used as a walking and cycling track. The 20km cycling./walking loop connecting Hazelgrove Station through Blenheim Forest and back to Oberon via Hazelgrove Road.

Main industries:

Forestry, timber processing to finished product and support businesses, agriculture, tourism and corrective services are the main industries.

The timber industry processes around one million tonnes of renewable plantation pine each year and so is a major industry in New South Wales and the largest employer in Oberon servicing other support industries such as engineering and trucking.

Oberon is renowned for its beef and lamb production and has a strong farming history.

The newest industry in the area is tourism, which injects over 20 million dollars a year into the economy and is growing at around 5-10% per year.

Recreation:

• Bushwalking, mountain biking, cycling, mushrooming (in season) and four-wheel driving in national parks and forests;
• Sport, including; rugby league, netball, soccer and swimming (seasonal heated pool)
• Safe parks with play equipment including a community park The Common;
• Trout fishing in Lake Oberon all year and in the streams and rivers in season;
• Three national parks within our boundaries; Blue Mountains, Kanangra-Boyd and Abercrombie River featuring Jenolan Caves and Kanangra Walls, part of the wilderness areas of the Blue Mountains World Heritage region;
• Fossicking for sapphires and semi precious stones

Entertainment:

Oberon enjoys regular live music at its four hotels (two in local villages of O’Connell and Tarana) and two clubs. There are also a number of restaurants and cafes, and the town has a strong food and wine group and a local arts council.

Community:

Oberon has three strong churches actively involved in all age groups including provision of regular community events.

Excellent volunteer opportunities exist through a number of community groups and service clubs including ROTARY, LIONS and APEX. Oberon also has an active Community Technology Centre, Information Centre and Library.

Three active and relatively new groups are; the Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway (involved in restoring the pioneer railway line and rail infrastructure), the Oberon Heritage and Collectors Club (set up to develop the highly successful Highland Steam & Vintage Fair) and the Oberon Men’s Shed.