Merriwagga, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Merriwagga is a rural village community in the northern part of the Riverina
. It is situated by road, about 20 kilometres north west from Goolgowi
and 42 kilometres south from Hillston
on the Kidman Way
in NSW
. According to the ABS Census 2001 it has a population of 66 people. The main industry is agriculture.
The village was surveyed and gazetted on 4 April 1924 and is laid out in an irregular rectangular pattern. It is surrounded by the Merriwagga State Forest, a loosely mallee
-forested area of approximately 15 km2.
Merriwagga railway station lies between Goolgowi station and Goorawin
station. It is dominated by three massive grain silos and two grain receival depots. The Black Stump Hotel across the road boasts the tallest bar in Australia, it was established in 1926. The name relates to the Black Stump Story telling the tragic death of Mrs. Barbara Blain. She burnt to death in March 1886 at Black Stump Tank, approximately halfway between Merriwagga and Gunbar
. Her story and the life of the early pioneer women is commemorated in the Memorial to Pioneer Woman of the Merriwagga District, situated next to the picnic area between Black Stump Hotel and the grain receival depots.
Merriwagga Post Office opened on 26 May 1924.
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...
. It is situated by road, about 20 kilometres north west from Goolgowi
Goolgowi, New South Wales
Goolgowi is located in western New South Wales, Australia, around west of Sydney via the Mid-Western Highway and is the administrative centre of Carrathool Shire. At the 2006 census, Goolgowi had a population of 287 people....
and 42 kilometres south from Hillston
Hillston, New South Wales
Hillston is a township in western New South Wales, Australia, in Carrathool Shire, built on the banks of the Lachlan River. It was founded in 1863 and at the 2006 census had a population of 1,054.-History:...
on the Kidman Way
Kidman Way
The Kidman Way is an important highway in New South Wales , Australia, which is designated as State Highway 87. It is named after Sir Sidney Kidman, Australian cattle king and philanthropist who owned a large number of cattle stations along the path, many still owned by his descendants. It is an...
in NSW
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...
. According to the ABS Census 2001 it has a population of 66 people. The main industry is agriculture.
The village was surveyed and gazetted on 4 April 1924 and is laid out in an irregular rectangular pattern. It is surrounded by the Merriwagga State Forest, a loosely mallee
Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands
Mallee Woodlands and Shrublands is a Major Vegetation Group which occurs in semi-arid areas of southern Australia. The vegetation is dominated by mallee eucalypts which are rarely over 6 metres high...
-forested area of approximately 15 km2.
Merriwagga railway station lies between Goolgowi station and Goorawin
Goorawin, New South Wales
Goorawin is a rural locality and the site of a discontinued railway station in the central northern part of the Riverina. It is situated by rail, about 7 kilometres south from Langtree and 12 kilometres north from Merriwagga.-Notes and references:...
station. It is dominated by three massive grain silos and two grain receival depots. The Black Stump Hotel across the road boasts the tallest bar in Australia, it was established in 1926. The name relates to the Black Stump Story telling the tragic death of Mrs. Barbara Blain. She burnt to death in March 1886 at Black Stump Tank, approximately halfway between Merriwagga and Gunbar
Gunbar, New South Wales
Gunbar is in the Riverina district of south-western New South Wales in Australia, on a wide bend of the Mid-Western Highway between Goolgowi and Hay. It is part of the Carrathool Shire local government area, administered from Goolgowi...
. Her story and the life of the early pioneer women is commemorated in the Memorial to Pioneer Woman of the Merriwagga District, situated next to the picnic area between Black Stump Hotel and the grain receival depots.
Merriwagga Post Office opened on 26 May 1924.