Bellata

Bellata is a small village in north-central New South Wales, Australia, in Narrabri Shire. At the, Bellata had a population of 529. The place name Bellata could be derived from the local Aboriginal word meaning "kangaroo" or possibly "home of belar trees".OverviewIt is 47km north of Narrabri, around halfway between Narrabri and Moree when travelling along the Newell Highway. The village's area is known for its array of mineral deposits, and fossickers will find high quality agate, jasper, carnelian, petrified opal and petrified wood in the vicinity. Located on the rich black soil basalt plains of north western New South Wales, it is an important agricultural region and the area is known for some of the best "primehard" wheat production in Australia. There is a large array of grain storage and handling facilities in the town.BuildingsA turn of the century, two storey colonial style hotel, the Nandewar Inn Hotel constructed in 1902 was a well loved local landmark until it was destroyed by fire in April 2006. Once a thriving rural center, Bellata, in the early to mid 20th Century, boasted a Post Office, two General Stores, two Stock and Station Agencies, two Garages, a Café, a Telephone Exchange, a fully operational railway station with a Station Master and a Doctor. Bellata still has a Road House, a police station with holding cell, primary school, nine-hole sand green golf course and Golf Club, tennis courts, Anglican and Catholic churches, a memorial hall where movies were once shown, caravan park and several community groups.