Coolamon  New South Wales

Surrounding the town of Coolamon, about 40 kilometres north-west of Wagga Wagga in south-western NSW, is some of the richest agricultural and pastoral land in the state.

The land around Coolamon, taken from the Aboriginal word for 'a vessel for holding water', is also distinctive for a series of naturally-occurring holes which regularly fill with water.

Lovingly preserved old buildings give glimpses into Coolamon's past, while Reg Godde's Vintage Farm Machinery and Miniature Working Models on the town's outskirts take the visitor on a journey down farming's memory lane.

Vintage tractors are also wheeled out of their storage sheds to help dress the town for the Coolamon Tractor Pull in March.

Nature sees to the dressing in October when the town celebrates spring with the annual Canola Festival and the Coolamon Hootenanny, a traditional Australian country and western music knees-up. Coolamon's social hub is a typical, two-storey hotel whose first-floor balcony is lined in iron lace.