Urana

Urana ( /jəˈrænə/) is a small town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia.

Urana is located between Lockhart and Jerilderie, about 578 kilometres southwest of Sydney. To the west lies Lake Urana and the Lake Urana Nature Reserve. To the east lies a smaller lake, Lake Uranagang.

Urana in the major town and headquarters of Urana Shire. The shire includes the localities of Boree Creek, Morundah, Oaklands and Rand.

History

Urana was first settled by Europeans during the 1850s. In May 1859 a design for the "Town of Urana" by Surveyor Hayes was approved by the New South Wales Executive Council.  The name Urana comes from the Aboriginal word 'airana', meaning a temporary shelter (usually consisting of a simple frame of branches covered with bark, leaves, or grass).^[3]

Urana Post Office opened on 1 January 1861.^[4]

In August 1863 near Urana the notorious bushranger, Dan 'Mad Dog' Morgan, and his accomplice Clarke held up the Police Magistrate based at Wagga Wagga, Henry Baylis.  A few days after this incident Baylis led a party of policemen to the bushrangers' camp; shots were exchanged and both Baylis and the bushranger Clarke were wounded.  Morgan and Clarke both escaped on this occasion.^[5]

In 1866 Urana township consisted of two public houses, the Urana Hotel and the Royal Hotel.  In addition there was a post-office, two large stores, and a police-station and lock-up.

A new court-house was erected at Urana in 1879.  During 1882 a Roman Catholic church was completed, with Father Burmingham celebrating the first service on 7 January 1883.^[6]

The Rev. George Wilson Adam was the first Presbyterian minister of the separate parish of Urana (at that time administered from Victoria).  Rev. Adams’ term extended from 1878 to 1887. His successor, Rev. Matthew Bell, was a part of the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales; he was inducted in 1888 and resigned in 1904.  During Rev. Bell’s tenure at Urana three wooden churches were built: one at Urana, and one each at the district preaching centres, Old Goree and Boree Creek.^[7]

Urana Shire Council was proclaimed in 1906.

Agriculture

The Urana district is used for raising sheep and for growing wheat and other grain crops.

Notable residents

Notable people from Urana include:

• Singer Billy Field

External links

• Urana Shire Council

References