Grenfell, New South Wales

Grenfell (-33.9°N, 148.15°W) is a country town in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia, in Weddin Shire. It is 370 kilometres west of Sydney and five hours' drive from the city. It is close to Forbes, Cowra and Young. At the 2006 census, Grenfell had a population of 1,994.

It is a goldmining town first known as Emu Creek and renamed in honour of John Grenfell, Gold Commissioner at Forbes, who had been killed in 1866 when bushrangers attacked a stagecoach on which he was travelling.

By 1870-71 it was producing more gold than any other town in NSW. However by the mid-1870s gold was in decline. Wheat was first grown in the district in 1871. The railway reached Grenfell in 1901.

The poet and story writer Henry Lawson was born on the nearby gold fields. On the Queen's Birthday weekend in June every year, the town hosts The Henry Lawson Festival of Arts, which attracts thousands of visitors. The festival is a celebration of local and national talent, with art, poetry and writing competitions drawing entries from all over Australia. Over the years, such personalities as Chips Rafferty, Barry Humphries, Patrick White and Sigrid Thornton have attended.

Cricketer Stan McCabe, cyclist Reggie McNamara and tennis player Jan Lehane were also born in Grenfell.

Unlike most Australian country towns Grenfell has a main street which bends. The picture of the street behind the portrait of Henry Lawson featured on the former paper Australian ten dollar note is in Gulgong, over 200 kilometers to the north east.

In June 2007, the Spirit of the Bush Concert was held on the sporting fields. Acts included the organiser and Australian of the Year Lee Kernaghan, local and international star Steve Forde & the Flange, Adam Brand, Leo Sayer, Diesel, and The McClymonts.

Prior to European settlement the Grenfell area was home to the Wiradjuri Aborigines. It has been badly affected by drought since 2001.