Boorowa, New South Wales

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

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caption = Boorowa Court House
lga = Boorowa Shire Council
postcode = 2586
pop = 1,067 (2001 census)
est = 1843
stategov = Burrinjuck
fedgov = Hume

Boorowa is a farming town in New South Wales, Australia and administrative centre of about 3,000 people. It is located in a valley 243 km west of Sydney and 863 m above sea-level. The Local Government Area surrounding the town, known as Boorowa Shire, has a strong agricultural and mining base.

The town was serviced by the Boorowa railway line before it was closed.

History

Prior to European settlement the area is thought to have been occupied by the Wiradjuri or Gundungura Indigenous Australians. The first European to travel through what is now Boorowa Shire was surveyor George Evans, in 1815. Unofficial occupation of the district began in 1821 with Rodger Corcoran and fellow convict Ned ryan. The first land grant in the general area was issued to Thomas Icely in 1829. A mill was operating on the future town site of Boorowa by 1837, along with an inn and several houses.

Governor Gipps proposed the creation of a village named 'Burrowa' in 1842, to be located 9 km north-east of the present site at Kings Plains which had been surveyed in 1828. However, that spot proved unsuitable and the village was established on its present site in 1843.

The district was given over to farming, although it received a push along when gold was found at Carcoar, Browns Creek and Kings Plains. Gold mines were established although copper and iron were also extracted. Samuel Marsden's copper mine operated until 1900.

The arrival of the railway in 1874 spurred on development and Burrowa's name was then changed to "Boorowa". Boorowa replaced Carcoar as the major service centre to local farmlands. It became a municipality in 1888. By the turn of the century a butter factory and freezing works were major employers in the town. Boorowa's agricultural show is held in March.

Events

*October long weekend - The “Running of the Sheep” down the main street of Boorowa during the Irish Woolfest.

Trivia

*Prominent Australian jazz musician James Morrison was born in Boorowa.

External links

* [http://www.boorowa.nsw.gov.au/ Boorowa Shire Council web site]
* [http://boorowa.visitnsw.com.au Boorowa tourist information]