Orange

Things you need to know (Facts and Figures)

The Climate of Orange ranges from a summer climate of 12 - 28 degrees to 0 - 10 degrees in the winter months. Orange is only 256.73 kilometres or 3.36 hours from Sydney, an easy morning's drive. This means residents are able to travel down on a weekend to attend shows, theatre productions, or just to go to the beach. Other major towns near Orange include Canberra. Orange is only 272 kilometres from our Capital, or just under 4 hours. Another large city close to Orange is Dubbo, which is 151.27 kilometres or 1.54 hours and also Bathurst which is kilometres or hours. So you are never isolated when you live in Orange.

The Population of Orange consists of 38000 people, which is broken down into at percentage of 36.2% aged 24 and under, and 14.3% aged 65 years and over. The median age of the Orange resident population in 2006 was 36.8 years.

All that Orange has to Offer

Cultural Services

Orange is a cultural hub in the region and audiences from all over the Central West travel to see the high quality theatrical entertainment, art and cultural events on show at the Orange Civic Theatre. 

The civic theatre is also home to the Orange Theatre Company and hosts other touring companies such as the Sydney Theatre Company, Company B Belvoir, Regional Arts Victoria, Bell Shakespeare Company, Opera Australia and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

The Orange Regional Conservatorium is home to the Orange Symphony Orchestra, the Orange Youth Orchestra, and other adult and youth choirs.
The Orange Regional Gallery has a permanent collection on public display, as well as showing up to 30 exhibitions a year including touring exhibitions of international and national art. 

A calendar of 'arts' activities is co-ordinated for the region. This calendar includes everything from historical tours, exhibitions and concerts through to dancing, art and craft classes. Arts OutWest promotes, facilitates, educates and advocates for arts and cultural development for the communities of Central New South Wales.

Orange hosts an annual Eisteddfod, which is held in the months of August/September. For further details call 6362 2409. The Orange Civic Theatre can be contacted on (02) 6393 8111.

The Orange community has a passion for cultural pursuits and this has generated an ongoing quality calendar of events, covering many different activities and areas of interest.

Communications

The local paper for the Orange region is the Central Western Daily newspaper. This paper is published by Rural Press Sales.
There is also a weekly local paper called the Photo News, which is a free paper available in the town. This paper is published by Panscott media.
Both Digital and 3G mobile phone networks work in Orange, with the 3G network being the most reliable, particularly if you need to travel further west. For some reason, Telstra's Next G network seems to have better cover than other providers the further west you head. This may change as the network grows. Orange is currently serviced by Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Virgin.

Orange television services offer 5 channels, including the ABC, Seven (Prime), Nine (WIN), Ten (Southern Cross) and SBS. Pay TV is also available in the area.

Broadband and Dial up internet services are available in Orange. There are many providers servicing the Orange area. You can check on the internet for the provider that most suits your needs.

In the region there are over 20 locally based businesses that service computer supply, installation, networking, repairs, service and upgrades.

Migrant Support

Support for employees from a non-Australian background is available through the Regional Migrant Support Services. In Orange the contact person is Anni Galligher, who can be contacted on (02) 6393 8625.
The services provided by Migrant support include a mentoring program to put you in touch with other people in the community from the same background; information and help for visa applications; help finding employment, education and training; as well as help putting you in touch with multicultural groups in the area.

Transport

The Orange airport has four flights per day to Sydney by Regional Express Airlines (REX), with connections to domestic and international flights. The flight is around 40 minutes in length.

Countrylink train service leaves Sydney at 7.10am each morning for Orange, arriving at 11.56am and then continues on to Dubbo. The train again stops in Orange at 3.55pm the same day on its return journey to Sydney, arriving in Sydney at 8.48pm.

Selwoods Coaches has daily coaches connecting Orange and Sydney. They can be contacted via e-mail at info@selwoods.com.au or via telephone on 02 6362 7963.

Central West Taxis is quite a large taxi service operating in Orange and they can be contacted on 131 008.

Orange has a large bus network and has a fleet of 20 buses. There are several routes available and regular stops throughout the town. The town is well covered by the bus routes and easily assessable by all residents.

Accommodation

There is an extensive variety of temporary accommodation available in Orange, including motels, Boutique hotels, B&Bs, Guesthouses, self contained units, and hotels.

Real Estate

The Orange region provides for all types of lifestyles at an affordable price. The region has land available in urban and rural settings, with blocks and properties of various sizes. Housing options range from 2 bedroom units, heritage homesteads, suburban brick homes in new and established estates, or sprawling country mansions.

Rural properties include everything from productive farms to smaller properties of varying sizes that provide the opportunity to reside in a peaceful and beautiful environment, maintain a few horses or stock, or just have plenty of room for the children to play and explore.

Whether your preference is for the convenience of living in a modern, well -serviced regional city, in a quiet country village, or tucked away in a hidden valley somewhere, you will find it in Orange.

Childcare

There is an extensive range of children's services provided throughout Orange. Approximately 18 childcare centres and caregivers licensed by Family Day Care provide occasional childcare, long day-care, overnight, outof-school-hours and weekend care in Orange.

Education

There are approximately 34 primary schools in the Orange region. These are comprised of public, catholic and independent schools. Over 20 of these schools are within the city of Orange. There are also nine high schools, including three catholic and two private schools.

Attractions/ Things to Do

Orange and the surrounding areas have many things to see and do including Wine Tasting, the Orange Botanic Gardens, beautiful parks, three golf courses and the Lake Canobolas Reserve which is at the foot of Mt Canobolas and has a large tranquil lake, picnic facilities and bush walking tracks. With its beautiful parks and gardens, remarkable natural wonders, a thriving food and wine industry, cultural abundance and an array of heritage houses and buildings, Orange has so much to offer its visitors.

Sporting Clubs/Associations

Sport is a popular pastime in Orange. There is competition available for the beginner right up to A grade level and is a great way for the community to interact socially. The region has exceptional sporting facilities to support this community focus.

Facilities include sports grounds, golf courses, tennis courts and swimming pools as well as many others. Indoor facilities include tennis, squash, netball, cricket, ten-pin bowling, equestrian sports, swimming and more. The region regularly attracts matches of national significance.

There are more than 70 different sporting groups and organisations in the region. 

Orange offers a number of high quality golf courses with immaculate grounds which frequently attract players from Sydney and other regions.
Orange's golf clubs include the Duntryleague Country Club, which is a spectacular undulating course in the heart of Orange; Wentworth Golf Club which was first laid out in 1965; and on the outskirts of Orange there is the Bloomfield Country Club (Orange Ex Services Country Golf Club).

Retail Services

Orange has a vibrant central business district with two large shopping centres, the Metro Plaza and Orange City Centre, and several smaller centres.

There are all the well known chain stores including Myer, K-mart, Big W, Coles, Woolworths, Franklins, McDonalds, KFC and others.

There are up to 30 different clothing stores and around 10 specialist shoe stores in Orange. These include names such as Just Jeans, Jag, Rockmans, Rivers, Suzanne Grae, Williams, The Athletes Foot, and other boutiques.

There are also a large number of speciality and gift stores. There is a retail park located on the Mitchell Highway which houses businesses such as Bunning's, Harvey Norman, The Warehouse, and Super Cheap Auto.

There is main street parking and numerous free car parks to ensure a pleasant shopping experience.