Wentworth, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WentworthNew South Wales |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Darling Street, Wentworth
|
|||||||||
 Wentworth
Location in New South Wales
|
|||||||||
| Population | 1,221 (2016 census) | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2648 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 37.0 m (121 ft) | ||||||||
| Location | 1,034 km (642 mi) from Sydney
|
||||||||
| LGA(s) | Wentworth Shire | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Murray | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Farrer | ||||||||
|
|||||||||
Wentworth is a small town in the far southwest of New South Wales, Australia. It sits where Australia's two most important rivers meet: the Darling and the Murray. The Murray River forms the border with Victoria to the south. The border with South Australia is about 100 kilometres (62 mi) to the west. Wentworth is also the name of the local government area.
Contents
History of Wentworth
The town of Wentworth was named in 1859 after William Wentworth, a famous explorer and politician. It is about 34 kilometres (21 mi) west of Mildura, a city in Victoria. The well-known mining city of Broken Hill is 266 kilometres (165 mi) north.
The Moorna Post Office opened in 1855 and was renamed Wentworth in 1860. In 1876, Wentworth was a busy town with 400 to 500 people. It was important for trade along the Darling River. The town had a post office, telegraph office, court-house, and two churches. There were also several stores and hotels.
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1921 | 817 | — |
| 1933 | 849 | +3.9% |
| 1947 | 2,528 | +197.8% |
| 1954 | 4,034 | +59.6% |
| 1961 | 1,154 | −71.4% |
| 1966 | 1,084 | −6.1% |
| 1971 | 1,037 | −4.3% |
| 1976 | 1,136 | +9.5% |
| 1981 | 1,180 | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 1,352 | +14.6% |
| 1991 | 1,447 | +7.0% |
| 1996 | 1,504 | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 1,430 | −4.9% |
| 2006 | 1,303 | −8.9% |
| 2011 | 1,227 | −5.8% |
| 2016 | 1,221 | −0.5% |
| 2021 | 1,305 | +6.9% |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics data. | ||
Historic Places in Wentworth
Wentworth has several places listed for their historical importance:
- Wentworth Gaol at 112 Beverley Street.
- Saint Ignatius School, Wentworth at 30 Cadell Street.
- St John's Anglican Church, Wentworth on Darling Street.
- Avoca Homestead Complex at 1122a Low Darling Road.
Transport and Travel
In the late 1800s, Wentworth was a key river port. However, its importance changed when railways were built. In 1902, people in Wentworth wanted a railway from Mildura.
Today, NSW TrainLink coaches serve the town. These coaches connect Wentworth to Broken Hill, where you can catch trains to Sydney, and also to Mildura.
Flooding Events
The town has experienced many floods from the two rivers. The biggest flood was in 1956. Both the Darling and Murray rivers flooded at the same time. Farmers, along with the army and navy, worked for months. They built special banks called levee banks to protect the town from the water.
Things to See and Do
Wentworth is now a popular place for tourists visiting the outback. It's a great stop for those traveling to or from Broken Hill. The town has a unique outback feel and offers interesting attractions:
- PS Ruby: This is a restored paddlesteamer from 1907. You can see how these old river boats worked.
- The Great Wentworth Tractor Rally: This event happens every five years. It celebrates the grey Fergie tractors. These tractors were used to build and maintain the levee banks that saved the town from the 1956 flood.
- The Wentworth Gaol: You can visit this old jail and learn about its history.
- The Perry Sandhills: These are ancient red sand dunes that look like a desert landscape.
Sports and Activities
Wentworth has an Australian rules football team. They play in the Sunraysia Football League.
The Wentworth District Rowing Club also holds regular rowing events. Its members also take part in national and international competitions.
Famous People from Wentworth
Some notable people connected to Wentworth include:
- Jarrod Brander, an Australian rules footballer.
- Leal Douglas, an actress who lived in Wentworth in the 1930s.
- Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, an Australian rules footballer.
- Jamie Lawson, an Australian rules footballer.
- Brian Winton, an Australian rules footballer.
Climate and Weather
Wentworth has a Semi-arid climate. This means it has hot summers and mild winters. The highest temperature ever recorded was 48.1 °C. The lowest temperature was −2.8 °C.
| Climate data for Wentworth, NSW (temps 1907-1967; precip 1868-present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 48.1 (118.6) |
45.6 (114.1) |
43.3 (109.9) |
36.7 (98.1) |
31.7 (89.1) |
25.6 (78.1) |
26.4 (79.5) |
31.1 (88.0) |
36.7 (98.1) |
40.0 (104.0) |
42.8 (109.0) |
46.1 (115.0) |
48.1 (118.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 32.9 (91.2) |
32.3 (90.1) |
29.2 (84.6) |
24.0 (75.2) |
19.5 (67.1) |
16.1 (61.0) |
15.6 (60.1) |
17.6 (63.7) |
21.1 (70.0) |
24.5 (76.1) |
28.3 (82.9) |
31.1 (88.0) |
24.3 (75.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 17.1 (62.8) |
16.8 (62.2) |
14.5 (58.1) |
10.6 (51.1) |
7.9 (46.2) |
5.8 (42.4) |
4.8 (40.6) |
6.0 (42.8) |
8.1 (46.6) |
10.8 (51.4) |
13.4 (56.1) |
15.7 (60.3) |
11.0 (51.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 9.4 (48.9) |
8.3 (46.9) |
6.1 (43.0) |
3.3 (37.9) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
1.7 (35.1) |
2.8 (37.0) |
5.0 (41.0) |
8.3 (46.9) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 21.2 (0.83) |
21.4 (0.84) |
19.5 (0.77) |
18.6 (0.73) |
27.5 (1.08) |
26.1 (1.03) |
23.7 (0.93) |
25.7 (1.01) |
26.6 (1.05) |
27.2 (1.07) |
24.9 (0.98) |
22.0 (0.87) |
284.9 (11.22) |
| Average precipitation days | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 5.8 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 6.1 | 5.4 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 59.1 |
Images for kids
-
The meeting point of the Darling and Murray River in Wentworth.
-
Roadside sculpture in Wentworth, NSW, Australia.
-
Semi-arid countryside near Wentworth, showing a roadside rest stop.
See also
In Spanish: Wentworth (Australia) para niños
