Finley, New South Wales

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 2016 census, Finley had a population of 2,519 people.[3] The town is located approximately 140 kilometres (87 mi) west of Albury on the intersection of the Newell Highway and Riverina Highways.

Finley
New South Wales
Murray Street (Newell Highway), the main street of Finley
Finley
Coordinates35°38′0″S 145°34′0″E
Population2,519 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)2713
Elevation107 m (351 ft)
Location
LGA(s)Berrigan Shire
CountyDenison
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.

History

The first permanent residence in the town was built in 1878. The post office opened on 1 January 1881 but was known as Murray Hut until 1893.[4] Europeans first settled the area around Finley in the early 1840s, with wheat becoming the main crop.

The Finley Agricultural & Pastoral Association was formed in 1912 and held its first show on 17 September 1913. The agricultural show is still held annually on the first Sunday in September (Father's Day).[5]

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, with irrigation reaching the area in 1939, celebrated with a 'Back-To-Finley' event. This enabled the region to prosper with beef and dairy cattle, sheep, wheat, rice, barley, maize and canola.

Heritage listings

Finley has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

  • Narrandera-Tocumwal railway: Finley Railway Precinct[6]

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

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 town also offers soccer, touch rugby, basketball, tennis and a Pony Club.

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

Finley has an 18-hole green grass golf course and two bowling green locations.

Notable residents

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Finley (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  2. Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
  3. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Finley (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  4. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  5. Finley Show Society Inc. "History". Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  6. "Finley Railway Precinct". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01144. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  7. "PressReader.com - Connecting People Through News". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
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