Barham, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BarhamNew South Wales |
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The Barham Hotel
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 Barham
Location in New South Wales
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| Postcode(s) | 2732 |
| Elevation | 73 m (240 ft) |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Murray River Council |
| County | Wakool |
| State electorate(s) | Murray |
| Federal Division(s) | Farrer |
Barham is a town in the western Riverina area of New South Wales, Australia. It's about 823 kilometres southwest of Sydney, the state capital. It's also 303 kilometres northwest of Melbourne. Barham sits on the banks of the Murray River, right across from Koondrook in Victoria. In 2016, Barham had a population of 1,159 people. The town is part of the Murray River Council local government area.
Contents
A Look Back: Barham's History
For thousands of years, the Barababaraba people lived here. They camped, hunted, fished, and grew food. You can still find signs of their life, like cooking mounds and tools. Each group had its own land for hunting and fishing. When the first European settlers arrived, there was some fighting. But sadly, many Indigenous people died in the late 1800s, mostly from diseases.
When Did European Settlers Arrive?
European settlement began in 1843. A large area of land, about 114,656 acres, was claimed by Edward Green. He named it 'Barham' after his wife's maiden name. Later, towards the end of the Victorian gold rush, people started settling on the south bank of the Murray River. These early settlers, called squatters, raised sheep and cattle on huge properties.
Squatters and Selectors: A Land Battle
There was often a struggle between these large landholders (squatters) and new settlers (selectors). Selectors wanted to buy smaller plots of land. From 1877, selectors like Parkman, McConnell, and Hudson started taking up small farms within the Barham station area.
How Barham Grew Over Time
The Post Office in Barham opened on January 1, 1895. The town grew slowly at first. A big change happened in 1904 when a special bridge was built. This bridge could lift up to let paddle steamers pass through. This helped Barham connect more easily with other areas.
Historic Places in Barham
Barham has a few places that are important for their history.
Barham Bridge: A Special Landmark
One of these is the Barham Bridge over Murray River at 319 Main Road. This bridge is listed as a heritage site.
Other Old Buildings to See
Other interesting old buildings in Barham include the Royal Hotel, built in 1904. The National Bank building, from 1912, is also a historic and important piece of architecture.
The Timber Industry in Barham
Since the early 1870s, people have been cutting down trees in the forests around Barham. These trees are mostly River Red Gums.
Koondrook's Role in Timber
Koondrook, on the Victorian side of the river, grew faster than Barham. It became a major centre for the timber industry. The wood was used to build boats and paddle steamers.
Famous Paddle Steamers from the Area
Some of these old boats are still around today! The paddle steamer Melbourne was built in Koondrook in 1914 and is now a tourist attraction in Mildura. The Alexander Arbuthnot (built 1923) and the Emmylou (built 1980-1982) operate in Echuca.
Modern Timber Use
The timber industry in the area continued to provide wood for building, gardens, and firewood. Several sawmills operated here. The Bonum Sawmill, on the edge of Barham, used to do special things like drying wood and joining pieces together. It closed in 2010 because the New South Wales government stopped access to many forest areas. This was after many years of drought and poor tree growth.
The Barham Bridge: A Lifeline for the Town
The Barham Bridge helped the town grow a lot when it opened in 1904. Ernest de Burgh designed it, and Monash & Anderson built it, with John Monash in charge.
How the Bridge Changed Things
Before the bridge, people used a punt (a type of ferry) to cross the river. The bridge allowed cars and goods to travel between the Riverina and Victorian markets. It also had a middle section that could be raised for paddle steamers to pass.
Operating the Bridge
Until 1997, two men would turn wheels to operate the bridge using a system of weights. Now it's motorised. The middle section is still lifted sometimes. This bridge is one of the oldest ones still standing across the Murray River. A similar bridge was built at the same time upstream between Cobram, Victoria and Barooga, New South Wales.
Farming in Barham
The Barham area is known for its rich agriculture, which uses irrigation. Farmers here grow many different things.
What Do Farmers Grow?
They grow rice, citrus fruits, and cereal crops. They also raise sheep, dairy cows, and beef cattle. Walnuts and olives are also grown in the region.
Barham Today: What's It Like?
Today, the main jobs in Barham are in farming, especially dairy and citrus, and forestry.
Cultural Connections
Like many towns in the southern Riverina, Barham has strong cultural ties to Victoria. People often read Victorian newspapers and watch Victorian TV channels.
Sports in Barham
The most popular team sport is Australian rules football. Barham and its neighbour Koondrook have a combined Australian Rules football team. They play in the Central Murray Football League.
Golfing in Barham
If you like golf, you can play at the Barham Golf and Country Club on Moulamein Road.
Barham's Population
In the 2016 Census, there were 1,159 people living in Barham.
Where Are People From?
Most people, about 83.5%, were born in Australia.
Languages Spoken
Almost everyone, 89.9%, spoke only English at home.
Religious Beliefs
The most common religions were Anglican (28.6%), No Religion (24.4%), and Catholic (18.1%).
Famous People from Barham
Barham is the birthplace of Michael Rogers, a well-known Australian cyclist. Danny Lolicato, who was named Victorian Young Engineer of the year in 2017, also comes from Barham.
See also
In Spanish: Barham (Nueva Gales del Sur) para niños
