Lockheed C-130 Hercules (N130CG)

This Hercules, N130CG, is an EC-130Q with Lockheed's manufacturer s/n 382-4904 showing in the FAA civil registry.

https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=130CG

According to Joe Baugher's information, it was initially assigned the U.S. Navy BuNo of 161496 and later went to NASA prior to current ownership by the Coulson Group.

http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries21.html

I'm curious and maybe one of you folks can educate me a little. Why would a plane used by the New South Wales fire service in Australia have an N number registration instead of Australian registration?

@Bernie. My guess would be that the C-130 would keep the "N' number because Coulson is a U.S. company , even though it is operating in Australia for the fire season. BTW, this C-130Q used to hunt Soviet Submarines out of Barbers Point NAS, Hawaii. Cheers!