Pilliga Forest

Baradine is a small town located in the northwestern part of New South Wales, Australia.

It is the administration center of the Pilliga Scrub, the largest continuous forest west of the Great Dividing Range. The town has a population of 593 and was first inhabited by the Gamilaroi Nation of Aboriginal peoples.

The Pilliga Scrub is known for its cypress pine, broom plains, spring wildflowers, koalas, and honey-bearing flora. It stretches across the flat, sandy plains between the Warrumbungle Mountains and the Namoi River. The forests have a history of harvesting for cypress pine and ironbark.

Baradine is a friendly town with various amenities and attractions. It offers accommodation options, cafes, a bowling and recreation club, a National Parks and Wildlife Discovery Centre, a hospital with a medical center, supermarkets, schools, and more. The town also has active emergency services and community organizations.

Baradine Central School provides education from Kindergarten to Year 12, drawing students from the town and surrounding areas. The school's Agriculture Program has successful entries in local agricultural shows.

The town is located in the heart of the Pilliga forest, known for its white cypress-pine timber. Bird-watching is popular in the area, and there are attractions such as Sculptures in the Scrub and the Pilliga Bore Bath nearby. Baradine has a proud agricultural history with farming and grazing areas in the district.

Baradine has two churches, St Andrew's Anglican and St John's Catholic. The Baradine railway station was closed in 1985 and demolished. Notable people from Baradine include economist Craig Emerson and television presenter Tony Johnston.