Finley, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids FinleyNew South Wales |
|
|---|---|
Murray Street (Newell Highway), the main street of Finley
|
|
 Finley
Location in New South Wales
|
|
| Population | 2,455 (2021 census) |
| Postcode(s) | 2713 |
| Elevation | 107 m (351 ft) |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Berrigan Shire |
| County | Denison |
| State electorate(s) | Murray |
| Federal Division(s) | Farrer |
Finley is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the largest town in the Berrigan Shire local area. In 2016, about 2,455 people lived there.
You can find Finley about 140 kilometers (87 miles) west of Albury. It sits where the Newell Highway and Riverina Highway meet.
Contents
Finley's History
Europeans first settled in the Finley area in the early 1840s. They mainly grew wheat there.
The first permanent house in the town was built in 1878. The post office opened on January 1, 1881. It was called Murray Hut until 1893.
Overcoming Challenges
There were tough times with severe droughts. The Great Depression in the early 1930s also made things hard. Many farmers had to leave their land.
In 1935, work began on the Mulwala Canal. This project helped create jobs. It also brought much-needed water to the rich farmland. Irrigation reached the area in 1939. This was a big event, celebrated with a 'Back-To-Finley' party.
With water, the region began to do very well. Farmers could raise beef and dairy cattle, and sheep. They also grew crops like wheat, rice, barley, maize, and canola.
Agricultural Shows
The Finley Agricultural & Pastoral Association started in 1912. They held their first show on September 17, 1913. This agricultural show is still held every year. It takes place on the first Sunday in September, which is Father's Day.
Finley's Heritage
The Finley Railway Precinct is a special heritage site. Its station building and platform are at ground level. This is quite rare for old railway stations.
The train yard still has much of its original setup. You can see the old goods shed, a gantry crane, and a lamp room. There is also a smaller second station building.
This site shows how far the railway expanded. It also tells a story of how states competed for trade. Finley was the end of the railway line from 1898 until 1914. Then, the line was extended to Tocumwal.
Education in Finley
Finley has two primary schools for younger students:
- St Joseph's School (a Catholic school)
- Finley Public School
Finley High School is for older students. It welcomes students from many nearby towns. These include Berrigan, Tocumwal, Jerilderie, and Blighty.
Finley also has a campus of Riverina TAFE. TAFE offers practical courses for jobs and skills.
Sports and Fun in Finley
Sports are very popular in Finley.
- Australian rules football, cricket, and netball are big favorites.
- The town has the Finley Football Club. They play in the Murray Football League.
- Other sports include soccer, touch football, basketball, and tennis.
- There is also a Pony Club for horse lovers.
Annual Events
The Finley Rodeo Committee holds an annual rodeo every January. It's an exciting event with cowboys and horses.
The Finley Apex Club hosts a tractor pull every February. This is where powerful tractors pull heavy weights.
Local Facilities
Finley has an 18-hole green grass golf course. It's a great place to play golf. There are also two bowling green locations for lawn bowls.
Finley used to have a rugby league team called the Finley Tigers. They won a premiership in 1975 and another in 2002.
Famous People from Finley
Many talented people have come from Finley:
- Pamela Bone - A journalist and human rights supporter.
- Shane Crawford - A former Hawthorn Australian rules football player. He won the Brownlow Medal in 1999.
- Craig Giles - A musician.
- Jack Hawkins - A former Geelong Australian rules football player.
- Tom Hawkins - Another former Geelong Australian rules football player.
- Allan Jeans - A famous Australian rules football coach for St Kilda and Hawthorn.
- David Murphy - A former Sydney Australian rules football player.
- Members of the rock band Spiderbait: Kram, Damian Whitty, and Janet English.
- Mark Whiley - A former GWS Giants and Carlton Blues Australian rules football player.
See also
In Spanish: Finley (Nueva Gales del Sur) para niños
