Ardlethan

Postcode: 2665

Ardlethan is a small service town located in the Coolamon Shire in New South Wales, Australia. Ardlethan is located at the intersection of the Burley Griffin Way and Newell Highway. At the 2001 census, Ardelthan had a population of 406.

Ardlethan lays claim to be the birthplace of the Australian kelpie.

Ardlethan established in the 19th century after gold was discovered but gold mining was shortlived.

In 1961 tin mining started in the town which lasted until 1986. The tin mine was reopened in late 2001 but closed in mid 2004 after Marlborough Resources was placed under voluntary administration and lower-than-expected tin reserves.

As recorded on a cairn in the town’s Stewart Park, Ardlethan’s founders also claimed to have bred the famous Australian kelpie sheep dog by crossing a Scottish breed with the dingo. A plaque on a bronze statue of a noble kelpie records the detail of the union and the city celebrates the birth of the new breed every March with the Kelpie Dog Festival.

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