Carrathool, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Carrathool is a village in the western Riverina
region of New South Wales
, Australia
, located in the Carrathool Shire. In 2006, Carrathool had a population of 325 people. It is about 5 kilometres (3 mi) north of the Sturt Highway
between Darlington Point
and Hay
(on the opposite side of the Murrumbidgee River
to the highway). The village is situated on the plain a few kilometres north of the river, clustered around the now-disused railway station.
The place name Carrathool is derived from the local Aboriginal
word meaning "Native Companion".
Carrathool Post Office opened on 20 June 1882.
supported on cylindrical iron piers, designed to allow river-craft to pass. Only three bascule lift span bridges remain in NSW, and the Carrathool bridge is the only one of these in a timber truss road bridge. Percy Allan
, the designer of Allan truss and other bridges, was a senior engineer in the NSW Public Works Department.
The Carrathool bridge was constructed in response to public pressure for a bridge to replace the river punt. Funding for work was drawn partly from the local community, and partly from the Department of Public Works. The requirement that local residents pay for half the cost of the bridge "was deplored by the then Mayor of Hay, who was a vocal advocate for the rights and the development of the Riverina region".
The Carrathool bridge is considered to be of high heritage value; it is listed on the register of the National Trust of Australia
and the NSW State Heritage Register.
Riverina
The Riverina is an agricultural region of south-western New South Wales , Australia. The Riverina is distinguished from other Australian regions by the combination of flat plains, warm to hot climate and an ample supply of water for irrigation. This combination has allowed the Riverina to develop...
region of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, located in the Carrathool Shire. In 2006, Carrathool had a population of 325 people. It is about 5 kilometres (3 mi) north of the Sturt Highway
Sturt Highway
The Sturt Highway is an Australian highway in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is part of the Auslink National network and is part of the main highway route between Sydney and Adelaide.-Route:...
between Darlington Point
Darlington Point, New South Wales
Darlington Point is a small town on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River in the Riverina district of western New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Murrumbidgee Shire local government area. The township centre is four kilometres from the Sturt Highway, along Kidman Way. ...
and Hay
Hay, New South Wales
Hay is a town in the western Riverina region of south western New South Wales , Australia. It is the administrative centre of Hay Shire Local Government Area and the centre of a prosperous and productive agricultural district on the wide Hay Plains....
(on the opposite side of the Murrumbidgee River
Murrumbidgee River
The Murrumbidgee River is a major river in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory . A major tributary of the Murray River, the Murrumbidgee flows in a west-northwesterly direction from the foot of Peppercorn Hill in the Fiery Range of the Snowy Mountains,...
to the highway). The village is situated on the plain a few kilometres north of the river, clustered around the now-disused railway station.
The place name Carrathool is derived from the local Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
word meaning "Native Companion".
Carrathool Reserve
In October 1852 a reserve of 4+1/2 mi2 was proclaimed (No. 13 in the Lachlan Pastoral District); it was situated at the location known as Currathool on the north bank of the Murrumbidgee River “on a cattle run occupied by Mr. Rudd”.Carrathool
The location of the original village of Carrathool — or ‘Currathool’ as it was often written — was at a river-crossing on the Murrumbidgee River at a place called Boree Point.Carrathool Post Office opened on 20 June 1882.
Carrathool Bridge
The bridge spanning the Murrumbidgee River between Carrathool and the Sturt Highway was completed in 1924. It is an Allan-type timber truss road bridge, and has a bascule-type lift spanBascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
supported on cylindrical iron piers, designed to allow river-craft to pass. Only three bascule lift span bridges remain in NSW, and the Carrathool bridge is the only one of these in a timber truss road bridge. Percy Allan
Percy Allan
Percy Allan was a civil engineer who had responsibility for the design of a large number of public works in New South Wales, including the design of 583 bridges.- Early life :...
, the designer of Allan truss and other bridges, was a senior engineer in the NSW Public Works Department.
The Carrathool bridge was constructed in response to public pressure for a bridge to replace the river punt. Funding for work was drawn partly from the local community, and partly from the Department of Public Works. The requirement that local residents pay for half the cost of the bridge "was deplored by the then Mayor of Hay, who was a vocal advocate for the rights and the development of the Riverina region".
The Carrathool bridge is considered to be of high heritage value; it is listed on the register of the National Trust of Australia
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
and the NSW State Heritage Register.