Urana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids UranaNew South Wales |
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Memorial Hall, Urana
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 Urana
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 298 (2016 census) | ||||||||
| Established | 6 May 1859 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2645 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 125.0 m (410 ft) | ||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Federation Council | ||||||||
| County | Urana | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Albury | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Farrer | ||||||||
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Urana (say "yoo-RAH-nuh") is a small town in the Riverina area of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Federation Council local government area.
Urana is found between the towns of Lockhart and Jerilderie. It is about 561 kilometres (349 miles) southwest of Sydney, the state capital. To the west of Urana, you'll find Lake Urana and the Lake Urana Nature Reserve. A smaller lake, Lake Uranagong, is located to the east.
Urana used to be the main town and centre for the old Urana Shire. This shire included places like Boree Creek, Morundah, Oaklands, and Rand. The land around Urana is mostly used for raising sheep and growing crops like wheat and other grains.
In 2016, there were 298 people living in Urana. About 56% were male and 44% were female. Around 3.7% of the people were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
Contents
History of Urana: How the Town Began
The name Urana probably comes from a Wiradjuri word. "Airana" was used to describe a simple shelter made from branches and leaves. Another idea is that it comes from "aurana," meaning a camping ground or the sound of quails flying.
Early Life: Aboriginal People and European Settlers
Before Europeans arrived, the Wiradjuri Aboriginal people lived in this area. European settlers, known as squatters, started setting up large farms here in the 1850s. The town of Urana itself was officially planned in May 1859.
Important Dates in Urana's Past
The Urana Post Office opened its doors on 1 January 1861. This helped people send and receive mail. In 1866, Urana had two hotels, a post office, two large shops, and a police station. A new court-house was built in 1879.
Famous Bushranger Incident
In August 1863, a well-known bushranger named Dan Morgan and his helper held up a police officer near Urana. This officer was Henry Baylis, a Police Magistrate from Wagga Wagga. A few days later, Baylis led police to the bushrangers' camp. There was a fight, and both Baylis and Morgan's helper were hurt. Morgan and his helper managed to get away that time.
Changes in Local Government
The Urana Shire Council was created in 1906. It managed the local area for many years. In 2016, the Urana Shire joined with other areas to become part of the Federation Council.
Religion in Urana: Places of Worship
Churches and Their Beginnings
A Roman Catholic church was finished in Urana in 1882. The first service was held there on 7 January 1883. The Presbyterian church also grew in Urana. The first Presbyterian minister for Urana was Rev. George Wilson Adam, who served from 1878 to 1887. Later, Rev. Matthew Bell helped build three wooden churches: one in Urana and two others in nearby areas.
Sport and Fun: How Urana Plays
Urana has a strong history in sports, especially Australian Rules Football.
Urana Football Club: A Long History
The Urana Football Club started in April 1898. Their first game was against Lockhart, which they lost. But by 1901, they were winning all their games! In 1909, the Urana & District Football Association was formed, including teams from Daysdale, Oaklands, and Urana.
Football Success and Mergers
The Urana Football Club played in many different leagues over the years. They won championships in the Lockhart & District Football Association in 1914. After World War One, the club kept playing. From 1946 to 1972, they joined with Cullivel and played as the Urana Cullivel FC, winning many championships in the Coreen & District Football League. Later, in 2004, they merged with Oaklands FC to form the Billabong Crows. This team now plays in the Hume Football League.
Other Sports in Urana
Urana also used to have a rugby league team. They played in the Group 13 Rugby League competition.
Special Places: Heritage Listings
Urana has some buildings that are important because of their history. These are called heritage-listed sites. One example is the Urana Soldiers' Memorial Hall.
Urana's Weather: Climate Information
Urana has a cold semi-arid climate. This means it's a bit too dry to be a humid subtropical climate. Summers are hot with clear skies, and winters are cool to cold with some clouds. The temperature changes a lot between seasons.
| Climate data for Urana Post Office (1914−1975, rainfall 1871−2024); 125 m AMSL; 35.33° S, 146.27° E | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 32.9 (91.2) |
32.4 (90.3) |
29.2 (84.6) |
23.6 (74.5) |
18.7 (65.7) |
14.8 (58.6) |
14.2 (57.6) |
16.0 (60.8) |
19.8 (67.6) |
23.5 (74.3) |
27.7 (81.9) |
31.1 (88.0) |
23.7 (74.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 16.3 (61.3) |
16.3 (61.3) |
14.0 (57.2) |
9.4 (48.9) |
6.1 (43.0) |
3.6 (38.5) |
3.2 (37.8) |
4.1 (39.4) |
6.3 (43.3) |
8.8 (47.8) |
11.8 (53.2) |
14.6 (58.3) |
9.5 (49.2) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 33.2 (1.31) |
33.3 (1.31) |
35.6 (1.40) |
32.8 (1.29) |
41.1 (1.62) |
45.0 (1.77) |
38.5 (1.52) |
39.6 (1.56) |
38.4 (1.51) |
41.7 (1.64) |
34.7 (1.37) |
33.2 (1.31) |
447.0 (17.60) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 3.8 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 6.5 | 8.4 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 6.8 | 6.1 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 69.9 |
Famous People from Urana
Many notable people have connections to Urana:
- Bill Brownless, an Australian rules footballer, was born in the Urana Hospital.
- Billy Field, a singer.
- Fred Fox, who was a milliner (hat maker) for the Queen.
- Alf Hacker, an Australian rules footballer.
- Dame Ella Macknight.
- Norm Provan, a famous rugby league player.
- Max Urquhart, an Australian rules footballer.
Images for kids
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Sculpture 'Itsy Bitsy' by local artist Andrew Whitehead on the water tower.
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Hotel Urana, the only remaining pub in Urana.
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The flat Urana plain
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Historic post office
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JM Smith office
