Berrigan, New South Wales

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Berrigan
state = nsw


caption = Chanter St., Berrigan, looking west. The main street of Berrigan contains a mix of Federation and more-modern architectural styles.
lga = Berrigan Shire
postcode = 2712
pop = 899
est =
elevation= 119
maxtemp = 22.9
mintemp = 9.2
rainfall = 448.1
county = Denison
stategov = Murray-Darling
fedgov = Farrer
dist1 = 647
dir1 = SW
location1= Sydney
dist2 = 302
dir2 = N
location2= Melbourne
dist3 = 122
dir3 = W
location3= Albury
dist4 = 36
dir4 = N
location4= Cobram (Vic)
dist5 = 22
dir5 = E
location5= Finley [ [http://www.travelmate.com.au/MapMaker/MapMaker.asp Travelmate] ]

Berrigan is a town located on the Riverina Highway in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Berrigan is in the Berrigan Shire Local Government Area and is the location of the Berrigan Shire Council offices. At the 2006 census, Berrigan had a population of 899.Census 2006 AUS
id=UCL108000
name=Berrigan (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)
accessdate=2007-10-25
quick=on]

History

Berrigan Post Office opened on 11 May 1884. Citation
last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&country= | accessdate = 2008-04-11 ]

Because of its location near the border with Victoria, Berrigan was one of the pioneers in the push for an Australian Federation. It was at the suggestion of the Berrigan Australian Natives Association that the first meeting of the Federation League was held. Due to its centrality, the meeting was held in Corowa. [ [http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/pubs/pops/pop21/c05.pdf#search=%22Australian%20Natives%20Association%20Berrigan%22 Australian Parliament House website - Senate publications] Brian de Garis "How Popular was the Popular Federation Movement"]

It is also the birthplace of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. [ [http://rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_content.cfm?CAT_ID=364 New South Wales Rural Fire Service Website] ]

Education

Berrigan has both a state and Catholic primary school. The nearest high school is in Finley, 22 kilometres to the west.

port

Popular sports in Berrigan include Australian rules football (the town has a team competing in the Picola & District Football League), netball, golf, bowls, and tennis. Horse racing is also popular, with the Berrigan Gold Cup—held on the same day as the Victoria Derby—attracting a large crowd.

Other attractions

The Berrigan Canola festival is held annually in early September. It is also close to the Murray River communities of Barooga and Tocumwal.

Once a thriving town with four pubs and the golf club, it has since been reduced to two pubs and the club.

Berrigan is home to a single curlew (bird), which lives in the 18-hole golf course; the bird can often be seen inside the clubhouse while patrons are eating and drinking. Many efforts to find a suitable mate for this bird have been fruitless.

The aging population is well catered for in such a small town, with world class hospice and respite facilities provided. While the town thrives on the farming income generated in the district, it is a very modern, clean, and family-friendly town.

ee also

*Berrigan Shire Council
*Berrigan Football Club

References