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Cowra
New South Wales
Kendal Street, the heart of the CBD.jpg
Cowra Welcome.jpg
Canola Fields (Cowra).jpg
Cowra World Peace Bell.jpg
Lachlan River.jpg
From top to bottom, left to right: Kendal Street divides the CBD; the Eastern entrance to the town, near Europa Park; Crops of canola creating fields of gold;Australia's World Peace Bell proudly housed in Cowra's Civic Square; and the Lachlan River which flows through the heart of the town
Cowra is located in New South Wales
Cowra
Cowra
Location in New South Wales
Population 9,863 (2016 census)
Established 1846
Gazetted 1849
Postcode(s) 2794
Elevation 310 m (1,017 ft)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10)
 • Summer (DST) AEDT (UTC+11)
Location
LGA(s) Cowra Shire
County Forbes, Bathurst
State electorate(s) Cootamundra
Federal Division(s) Riverina
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
23.0 °C
73 °F
1.7 °C
35 °F
598.3 mm
23.6 in

Cowra is a small town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the largest population centre and the council seat for the Cowra Shire, with a population of 9,863.

Cowra is located approximately 310 m (1,017 ft) above sea level, on the banks of the Lachlan River, in the Lachlan Valley. By road it is approximately 310 km (193 mi) west of the state capital, Sydney, and 189 km (117 mi) north of the nation's capital, Canberra. The town is situated at the intersection of three state highways: the Mid-Western Highway, Olympic Highway, and the Lachlan Valley Way.

Cowra is included in the rainfall recorder and weather forecast region for the Central West Slopes and Plains division of the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts.

History

The first explorer, George William Evans, entered the Lachlan Valley in 1815. He named the area the Oxley Plains after his superior the surveyor-general, John Oxley. In 1817 he deemed the area "unfit for settlement". A military depot was established not long after at Soldiers Flat near present-day Billimari. Arthur Ranken and James Sloan, from Bathurst, were amongst the first white settlers on the Lachlan. They moved to the area in 1831.

The township of "Coura Rocks" had its beginnings in 1844. Around 1847, the township site became known as Cowra, and in 1849, was proclaimed a village.

In the 1850s many gold prospectors passed through headed for gold fields at Lambing Flat (Young) and Grenfell. The first school was established in 1857. The first bridge over the Lachlan River was built in 1870. Gold was discovered at Mount McDonald in the 1880s. The rail head, from Sydney, reached Cowra in 1886. Local government was granted in 1888. The first telephone exchange was established in 1901. The town water supply was established in 1909, the gasworks in 1912 and town supplied electricity was introduced in 1924.

Cowra hosts an annual Festival of International Understanding, featuring a parade, balloons for the kids and events showcasing a particular foreign culture.

Climate

Cowra has a temperate climate, with average maximum temperatures ranging from 32 °C (90 °F) in summer to 14 °C (57 °F) in winter, while minimums range from 16 °C (61 °F)* to 2 °C (36 °F). Under the Köppen climate classification, Cowra has a Semi-arid climate (BSk) with Oceanic climate (Cfb) characteristics.

Cowra sits on the border zone between the cool, wet highlands of the Great Dividing Range and the hot, dry plains of Western New South Wales. As a result, Cowra experiences climate characteristics of both regions, with cold sub-zero temperatures, frequent frost and occasional snow in winter, and frequent 40+ °C temperatures in summer. Other towns that experience this 'border' climate are Gunnedah and Mudgee further north, Yass and Gundagai further south, Wangaratta in Victoria and Dalby in Queensland.

Rainfall is mild and distributed fairly evenly all year round, however it slightly peaks in summer with thunderstorms and again in winter with cold fronts. The average annual rainfall is 598.3 mm (24 in), while Cowra's wettest month on record was January 1984, with 371.0 mm (15 in) recorded. Extreme temperatures have ranged from 46.6 °C (116 °F) to −8.0 °C (18 °F). Cowra has 145.8 clear days on an annual basis.

Climate data for Cowra Airport (1966-2015)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 46.6
(115.9)
44.2
(111.6)
39.5
(103.1)
36.0
(96.8)
27.0
(80.6)
24.0
(75.2)
22.0
(71.6)
34.4
(93.9)
33.5
(92.3)
36.7
(98.1)
43.8
(110.8)
41.8
(107.2)
46.6
(115.9)
Average high °C (°F) 31.9
(89.4)
30.7
(87.3)
28.1
(82.6)
23.6
(74.5)
18.6
(65.5)
14.7
(58.5)
13.7
(56.7)
15.5
(59.9)
18.6
(65.5)
22.7
(72.9)
26.7
(80.1)
30.2
(86.4)
23.0
(73.4)
Average low °C (°F) 15.6
(60.1)
15.6
(60.1)
12.5
(54.5)
8.3
(46.9)
5.1
(41.2)
3.1
(37.6)
2.1
(35.8)
2.8
(37.0)
4.5
(40.1)
7.0
(44.6)
10.2
(50.4)
13.1
(55.6)
8.3
(46.9)
Record low °C (°F) 5.0
(41.0)
5.0
(41.0)
0.6
(33.1)
−3.0
(26.6)
−5.0
(23.0)
−5.5
(22.1)
−8.0
(17.6)
−6.0
(21.2)
−3.0
(26.6)
−2.0
(28.4)
−2.0
(28.4)
2.0
(35.6)
−8.0
(17.6)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 59.6
(2.35)
52.9
(2.08)
40.4
(1.59)
42.8
(1.69)
46.3
(1.82)
40.5
(1.59)
52.5
(2.07)
47.8
(1.88)
52.5
(2.07)
56.3
(2.22)
53.3
(2.10)
53.4
(2.10)
598.3
(23.56)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2mm) 6.5 5.7 5.8 5.5 7.6 9.4 11.0 10.2 9.1 8.2 7.8 6.5 93.3
Average relative humidity (%) 34 37 39 44 54 63 62 57 53 47 39 32 47
Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Viticulture

Viticulture was a major industry in the Cowra area. With the collapse if the viticulture industry most are being returned to cropping and lucurne. The first vineyards were planted in the 1970s and were predominantly chardonnay. Since this time, a range of varieties have had success, including Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet.

Japanese War Cemetery and Garden

The Japanese War Cemetery holding the dead from the Cowra Breakout was tended to after World War II by members of the Cowra RSL and ceded to Japan in 1963. In 1971 the Cowra Tourism Development decided to celebrate this link to Japan, and proposed a Japanese Garden for the town. The Japanese government agreed to support this development as a sign of thanks for the respectful treatment of their war dead; the development also received funding from the Australian government and private entities.

The Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre was designed by Ken Nakajima (1914–2000), a world-renowned designer of Japanese gardens at the time. The first stage was opened in 1979, with a second stage opened in 1986.

The gardens were also designed in the style of the Edo period and are a komatsu ("small pine-tree") or strolling garden. The rocky hillside, manicured hedges, waterfalls and streams, and the two lakes provide a serene environment for a myriad of birdlife. Special features of the Garden include a Bonsho Bell, a traditional Edo Cottage, an authentic open air Tea House and a Bonsai House. They are designed to show all of the landscape types of Japan. At five hectares (12 acres), the Cowra Japanese Garden is the largest Japanese garden in the Southern Hemisphere. An annual Sakura Matsuri (cherry blossom festival) is a major event in Cowra's tourism calendar and is held in the gardens during September. The festival celebrates the birth of spring. It attracts performers from across Australia and around the world. Locals, Australian and international visitors alike have the opportunity to experience traditional elements of Japanese culture. Sakura at the Cowra Japanese Garden is celebrated annually when the cherry blossoms are at their peak.

Sporting clubs

  • Cowra Eagles are a rugby union team playing in the Central West Rugby Union competition.
  • Cowra Magpies are a rugby league team playing in the Group 10 competition.
  • Cowra Blues are an Australian rules football team playing in the Central West AFL competition.
  • Cowra Eagles are a soccer club playing in the Orange District Soccer Senior Men's (1st Grade) competition.
  • Cowra Netball association play in State Age Championships competition.

Education

Primary schools
  • Cowra Public
  • Mulyan Public School
  • Holman Place Public School
  • St Raphael's Catholic School (K–6)
Secondary schools
  • Cowra High School (7–12)
  • St Raphael's Catholic School (7–12)

Cowra also has a campus of the Western Institute of TAFE.

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