Ariah Park, New South Wales

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Ariah Park New South Wales
Entering Ariah Park
Population:	460
Postcode:	2665
Elevation:	316 m
Location:	459 km from Sydney 98 km from Wagga Wagga 35 km from Temora 18 km from Mirrool [1]
LGA:	Temora Shire Council
County:	Bourke
State District:	Murrumbidgee

Ariah Park is a small town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia, 35 km west of Temora and 65 km south of West Wyalong. The town is within the Temora Shire near Burley Griffin Way.

The town's name came from resident Sam Harrison who purchased a portion of the Wellman Estate and then named that portion Ariah Park (pronounced 'area').^[2] The town is listed by the National Trust as a Conservation Area. Tourist information make reference to the town being known for its 'bowsers, wowsers and peppercorn trees'. A 'bowser' refers to the everyday machine used to pump petrol or diesel into a vehicle, of which many antique examples can be seen on the main street. A 'wowser' is an Australian word describing a person who prefers not to consume alcohol. The Peppercorn Tree is a common variety of which many specimens populate the main street.

The settlement was first established in 1850. ^[3] Ariah Park was connected to the Main Southern railway line via Temora in 1906.^[4] The village was gazetted the year after this connection and flourished at the expense of the nearby settlement of Broken Dam. The peppercorn trees were planted in 1916 and railway silos built in 1919. ^[3]

The district produces sheep and wheat. New South Wales Government Railways launched its first bulk-wheat loading operation in the town in 1916.^[5]

One side of the main street of Ariah Park - note the peppercorn trees

The other side of the main street - note the bowsers

First bulk wheat handling truck from 1916

[edit] References

1. ^ Travelmate
2. ^ Geographical Names Board of NSW
3. ^ ^{a b} Ariah Park - Wowsers, Bowsers and Peppercorn Trees. Attractions. Temora Shire Council (2005). Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
4. ^ NSWrail.net - Temora Roto line and NSWrail.net page on Ariah Park with photos of railway station
5. ^ First Bulk Wheat Haulage. History. Temora Shire Council (2004). Retrieved on 2007-02-02.

[edit] External links

• Visitor information
• Ariah Park War Memorial
• Ariah Park Central School

Coordinates: 34°19′S 147°13′E