Finley, New South Wales

Finley
New South Wales

Murray Street (Newell Highway), the main street of Finley
Finley
Coordinates 35°38′0″S 145°34′0″E / 35.63333°S 145.56667°ECoordinates: 35°38′0″S 145°34′0″E / 35.63333°S 145.56667°E
Population 1,921 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 2713
Elevation 107 m (351 ft)
Location
LGA(s) Berrigan Shire
County Denison
State electorate(s) Murray
Federal Division(s) Farrer
Finley station, built in an American "pioneer" style as a cost-saving measure during the depression at the turn of the 19th century.

Finley /ˈfɪnli/[2] is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the largest town in the Berrigan Shire local government area. At the 2006 census, Finley had a population of 1,921 people.[1] The town is located approximately 140 kilometres (87 mi) west of Albury on the intersection of the Newell Highway and Riverina Highways.

History

The post office opened on 1 January 1881 but was known as Murray Hut until 1893.[3] Europeans first settled the area around Finley in the early 1840s, with wheat becoming the main crop.

Periods of severe drought, combined with the Great Depression of the early 1930s, forced many farmers to abandon their holdings.

In 1935, construction on the Mulwala Canal began in order to provide employment and bring water to the area’s rich farmland.

Education

Finley has two primary schools, St Joseph's School, (Roman Catholic) and Finley Public School. Finley High School attracts students from a wide catchment including the towns of Berrigan, Tocumwal, Jerilderie and Blighty.

Finley is also home to a campus of Riverina TAFE.

Sport

Finley has a 18 Hole grass green golf course.Australian rules football, cricket and netball are all very popular in the town. Sporting teams include the Finley Football Club who compete in the Murray Football League.

The Finley Rodeo Committee holds an annual rodeo every January and Finley Apex Club hosts a tractor pull every February.

Notable residents

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Finley (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  2. Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
  3. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 2008-04-11.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Finley, New South Wales.