Narrandera

Narrandera (/nəˈrændərə/ nə-RAN-dər-ə)[2] until around 1949 also spelled "Narandera",[3] is a town located in the Riverina region of southern New South Wales, Australia. The town lies on the junction of the Newell and Sturt highways, adjacent to the Murrumbidgee River, and it is considered the gateway to the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. At the 2016 census, Narrandera had a population of 3,746 people.[1]

Narrandera New South Wales
East Street, main street of Narrandera
Narrandera
Coordinates	34°45′0″S 146°33′0″E
Population	3,746 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	2700
Elevation	173.0 m (568 ft)
Location	549 km (341 mi) from Sydney 428 km (266 mi) from Melbourne 98 km (61 mi) from Wagga Wagga 97 km (60 mi) from Griffith
LGA(s)	Narrandera Shire
County	Cooper
State electorate(s)	Cootamundra
Federal Division(s)	Farrer
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 23.3 °C ^74 °F 9.9 °C ^50 °F 471.5 mm ^18.6 in

History

Narrandera Post Office

Charles Sturt memorial on the Murrumbidgee River

Narrandera is a river town with a rich heritage. It stands on the land of the Wiradjuri nation and was once home to the Nharrangura Clan.

Captain Charles Sturt is credited with being the first European to observe the area that later was to become known as Narrandera. However Sturt, who passed through the district on 12 December 1829, was not the first explorer to cast eyes on the Murrumbidgee River. The upper Murrumbidgee, the "Big Water", was first discovered in April 1821, by Charles Throsby. The name Narrandera is probably derived from Wiradjuri nharrang, meaning "frill-necked lizard".[4] and the name of the local Nharrungura Clan.

The local indigenous people of the Wiradjuri Nation, as noted were all but destroyed by settlement, disease brought by European settlers, and clashes with the settlers. The last major battle between the indigenous people and European settlers took place near Massacre Island, and is said to have left only one survivor.[5] The people of the Wiradjuri nation who now reside in Narrandera make up ten percent of the population of the town, and predominantly came from the regions south and west of Narrandera, but were dis-located by colonial expansion.

Narrandera had its first recorded mention as a pastoral station or "run" (Narrandera Run) in 1848, at which time the property held by Mr Edward Flood comprised approximately 31,100 hectares (76,800 acres).

The township developed in the early 1860s. Gillenbah post office opened nearby on 1 March 1859 and was replaced by the Narrandera office in 1861. A Gillenbah office was open from 1881 to 1892 and from 1906 to 1941.[6]

The Borough of Narrandera was constituted by proclamation dated 17 March 1885, and gazetted the following day. The centenary of Local Government in Narrandera was celebrated in 1985.

1945 RAAF crash

On 3 September 1945, a Royal Australian Air Force Bristol Beaufighter assigned to No. 92 Squadron crashed into the canal at the western end of the town during a joy flight, killing all seven people on board.[7]

2013 sesquicentenary

A celebratory weekend event to mark Narrandera's sesquicentenary, named Back to Narrandera 1863 to 2013, was held in early October 2013. The Governor of New South Wales, Marie Bashir AC CVO, who was born in Narrandera, opened the celebrations at a luncheon. During her speech of proclamation she acknowledged the indigenous custodians of the land, and noted that the name Narrandera is a Wiradjuri word for "the place of lizard or goanna." Bashir informed the luncheon guests that 150 years ago 'on this site on the Murrumbidgee River, the beautiful place was officially proclaimed as a town named Narrandera'.[8] Included on the program of events and activities for the celebrations were the Parkside Cottage Museum was open for most of the weekend and displayed many historical artefacts, including archival resources about the P.S. Wagga Wagga; the Murrumbidgee Sheepdog Championships were held; there were Narrandera Cemeteries Heritage Walks; a cocktail party; and a Chinese exhibition. There was also a Railway Memorabilia Display with Vintage Train Rides and the John O'Brien Heritage House was opened to the public; there was a vintage film evening; a classic ball; a Back to the 60's Dance; the Lions Club held a recovery breakfast; and a Ye Olde Town Picnic followed; with other events, including a CWA Devonshire Tea; a farmers' market; and a time capsule was sealed and placed under the Narrandera Clock Tower. The new Rocky Waterholes Bridge was also opened.

Heritage listings

Narrandera has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Elizabeth Street: Narrandera Showground Industrial Hall[9]
• Junee-Hay railway: Murrumbidgee River railway bridge[10]
• Murrumbidgee River: Berembed Weir[11]
• 30-32 Twynam Street: Derrendi[12]
• Whitton Street (Newell Highway): Narrandera railway station[13]
• Murrumbidgee River near: Gogeldrie Weir[14]

Narrandera today

The town of Narrandera is located adjacent to the Murrumbidgee River, at the intersection of the Newell Highway and the Sturt Highway at the centre of a diversely productive agricultural region. Its attractive tree-lined streets contrast with the open plains that surround it.

The Narrandera Memorial Gardens include the unusual Hankinson Fountain.[15] Manufactured by the Royal Doulton Company of England, the ceramic fountain is one of only two known to be in existence, the other located in Pakistan. It was given to the people of Narrandera by Alderman and Mrs Hankinson in 1922 in honour of locals who served in World War I. A feature of the Hankinson Fountain was smashed by an act of vandalism in 1971 and was restored by Charles Pearce.

Narrandera now marks the transition between an extensive dry-land area devoted to cereal crops and sheep and wool production to the east, and, to the west, the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) fed by water from the Burrinjuck Dam. The MIA is a region where irrigation has opened the way to a diversity of enterprise, from the growing of rice and other cereals under irrigation to the production of citrus, wine grapes, potatoes, and increasingly, cotton.

The town also has number of historic attractions, such as the Royal Doulton Fountain, located in the Memorial Gardens; a fig tree on the corner of King and Cadell Streets, which is thought to be 150 years old; and the Mon Repos, a residence built in a Queen Anne-style, which was built in the 1890s. The Oakbank Brewery Tower located beside the Murrumbidgee on Oakbank Road is a prominent feature, one owned by Lincolns brewers, then Oakbank Brewery. Its last productive days were as a cordial (soft drink) factory owned by the Webster family of Narrandera.[16]

Narrandera's immediate surrounds feature a number of waterways, the major waterway being the Murrumbidgee River. Others include Lake Talbot, the Narrandera Wetlands, Bundidgerry Creek, and the ephemeral Lake Coolah.

The Irrigation Canal, which carries water to the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area to Narrandera's west, flows through the town. It originates 34 kilometres (21 mi) east at Berembed Weir where water is diverted from the Murrumbidgee River. The canal follows the natural bed of Bundidgerry Creek and in places spreads wide and has no levee banks. Lake Talbot was formed in 1924 when the bank of the Irrigation Canal gave way, flooding the river flat between the canal and Bundidgerry Hill. The shallow body of water was allowed to remain and became an important recreational feature of the town. The eastern end of the lake is commonly used by water skiers while the western end forms a wetland habitat for native fauna. A wetland has been created off Lizard Drive, only 300 metres (980 ft) from the Murrumbidgee River. The Narrandera Wetland is a collection point for storm water run-off from the town.

Demography

Like many rural localities in the area, the population level has progressively declined over a number of years, evidenced as follows:

Selected historical census data for Narrandera urban centre/locality
Census year			2001[17]	2006[18]	2011[19]
Population		Estimated residents on Census night	4,116	3,961	3,871

Climate

Narrandera has a semi-arid climate, with precipitation being just below a humid subtropical climate under the formula used the Köppen climate classification.

Climate data for Narrandera
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	47.0 (116.6)	44.9 (112.8)	41.6 (106.9)	37.0 (98.6)	29.2 (84.6)	23.7 (74.7)	25.3 (77.5)	28.6 (83.5)	34.7 (94.5)	36.5 (97.7)	44.0 (111.2)	43.0 (109.4)	47.0 (116.6)
Average high °C (°F)	32.5 (90.5)	32.0 (89.6)	28.4 (83.1)	23.5 (74.3)	18.8 (65.8)	15.0 (59.0)	14.1 (57.4)	15.9 (60.6)	19.1 (66.4)	23.1 (73.6)	27.3 (81.1)	30.5 (86.9)	23.4 (74.1)
Average low °C (°F)	17.1 (62.8)	17.4 (63.3)	14.1 (57.4)	10.0 (50.0)	6.8 (44.2)	4.3 (39.7)	3.2 (37.8)	4.1 (39.4)	6.1 (43.0)	9.0 (48.2)	12.4 (54.3)	15.1 (59.2)	10.0 (50.0)
Record low °C (°F)	6.3 (43.3)	6.0 (42.8)	3.0 (37.4)	−0.2 (31.6)	−2.6 (27.3)	−4.4 (24.1)	−6.1 (21.0)	−4.0 (24.8)	−3.0 (26.6)	0.0 (32.0)	2.3 (36.1)	4.4 (39.9)	−6.1 (21.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	36.0 (1.42)	37.0 (1.46)	29.2 (1.15)	39.4 (1.55)	40.7 (1.60)	40.4 (1.59)	41.1 (1.62)	43.3 (1.70)	41.9 (1.65)	48.1 (1.89)	36.9 (1.45)	37.1 (1.46)	471.1 (18.55)
Average precipitation days	4.7	4.0	4.0	5.5	6.9	8.8	9.7	9.7	8.7	7.5	6.0	5.0	80.5
Source: [20]

Transport

Narrandera railway station

Narrandera railway station

Narrandera is well served for transport. The Sturt Highway and the Newell Highway cross just south of Narrandera. The Narrandera Airport is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) west of the town, and is serviced by Regional Express (REX), operating return services daily to Sydney, approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes' flying time away.

Narrandera is a served by weekly NSW TrainLink Xplorer service operating between Sydney and Griffith. NSW TrainLink also operate a road coach service from Wagga Wagga to Griffith via Coolamon.[21]

Notable natives and residents

• Dame Marie Bashir, a former Governor of New South Wales[22]
• Percy Bushby (1919-1975) was an Australian Rules footballer who played for Essendon in the VFL between 1936 and 1948.
• Daniel Christian, a former Australian ODI/T20 International cricketer [23]
• Creswell Eastman AM, endocrinologist, professor of medicine, known for Iodine Deficiency Disorders research.
• Kathleen Gorham, a prima ballerina[24]
• Sam Groth, a professional tour tennis player
• Patrick Hartigan, a Catholic priest, poet and author who used the pen name, "John O'Brien": the bush ethos celebrated by Hartigan in his writings is commemorated in the annual John O'Brien Bush Festival held in the town[25]
• Cliff Lyons, a former professional rugby league footballer who represented Manly Sea Eagles, the NSW and Australian teams
• Tim Ruffles, an Australian Rules footballer, who plays for the Fremantle Football Club[26]
• Zac Williams, an Australian Rules footballer, who plays for the GWS Giants[27]
• Stan Grant Snr, AM, a Wiradjuri elder and author who has played a central role in the preservation of the Wiradjuri language[28]

In popular culture

The novel Jessica, by Bryce Courtenay, mentions Narrandera several times as the main town near the place where the book is set.

Gallery

• 
  Aerial view of Narrandera
• 
  Lake Talbot Swimming Complex

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Narrandera (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
2. Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
3. "Correspondence". Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser (NSW : 1893 - 1953). NSW: National Library of Australia. 26 June 1945. p. 2. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
4. McNicol, Sally; Hosking, Dianne (1994). "Wiradjuri". Macquarie Aboriginal Words. Sydney: Macquarie Library. p. 98.
5. "History of Narrandera". Narrandera Shire Council. 2005. Archived from the original on 21 August 2006. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
6. "Post office list". Premier postal history. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
7. "SEVEN AIRMEN KILLED". Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954). Qld.: National Library of Australia. 5 September 1945. p. 5. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
8. "2013 sesquicentenary" (PDF). Visit Narrandera (PDF). Narrandera Shire Council.
9. "Narrandera Showground Industrial Hall". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01952. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
10. "Narrandera rail bridge over Murrumbidgee River". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01050. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
11. "Berembed Weir and Site". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H00957. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
12. "Derrendi Cottage". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H00441. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
13. "Narrandera Railway Station and yard group". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01209. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
14. "Gogeldrie Weir". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H00961. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
15. "Monument Australia website". Archived from the original on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
16. "History of Narrandera". Narrandera Shire Council. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
17. Australian Bureau of Statistics (9 March 2006). "Narrandera (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2001 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
18. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Narrandera (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
19. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Narrandera (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
20. "Monthly climate statistics". Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
21. "Southern timetable". NSW Trainlink. 7 September 2019.
22. "The Governor of NSW". Parliament of New South Wales. 13 April 2010. Archived from the original on 28 January 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
23. English, Peter. "The man from Narrandera". Cricinfo Magazine. ESPN. pp. 30 April 2008. Archived from the original on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
24. Grove, Robin. Gorham, Kathleen Ann (Kathy) (1928–1983). Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Archived from the original on 15 April 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
25. Walsh, G. P. "Hartigan, Patrick Joseph (1878–1952)". Hartigan, Patrick Joseph [John O'Brien] (1878–1952). Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
26. "News Fremantle's 2008 NAB AFL Draft Summary". Hawthorn Football Club. 29 November 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
27. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
28. Innis, Michelle (8 April 2016). "An Heir to a Tribe's Culture Ensures Its Language Is Not Forgotten". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 July 2020.

External links

• Narrandera Tourism Information
• Narrandera Rail Station
• Narrandera -VisitNSW.com