Deniliquin | |
|---|---|
 Deniliquin town centre | |
  Deniliquin | |
| Coordinates:35°31′47″S144°57′25″E / 35.5297°S 144.9569°E /-35.5297; 144.9569 | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| LGA | |
| Location | |
| Government | |
| • State electorate | |
| • Federal division | |
| Elevation | 93.0 m (305.1 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 6,431 (UCL2021)[2] |
| Postcode | 2710 |
| County | Townsend |
| Mean max temp | 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) |
| Mean min temp | 9.5 °C (49.1 °F) |
| Annual rainfall | 405.7 mm (15.97 in) |
Deniliquin (/dəˈnɪləkwən/)[3] is a town in the westernRiverina region of south-westernNew South Wales, Australia, close to the border withVictoria. It is the largest town in theEdward River Council local government area.
Deniliquin is located at the intersection of theRiverina andCobb Highway approximately 725 kilometres (450 mi) south west of the state capital,Sydney and 285 kilometres (177 mi) due north ofMelbourne. The town is divided in two parts by theEdward River, ananabranch of theMurray River, with the main business district located on the south bank.
The town services a productive agricultural district with prominent dairy, rice, wool and timber industries. At the2021 census, the population of Deniliquin was 6,431.[4]
Deniliquin is the namesake of the deeply buried Deniliquin multiple-ring structure, which is suggested to be at the core of a 320 mile diameterimpact structure formed by a meteor strike over 400 million years ago, possibly responsible for theLate Ordovician mass extinction.[5][6]
Prior to European colonisation, theIndigenous Australian traditional owners of the Deniliquin area were theBarababaraba people.[7]
In 1843, the entrepreneur and speculatorBenjamin Boyd acquired land in the vicinity of present-day Deniliquin (probably via his agent Augustus Morris). The location was then known by colonists as The Sandhills. Although there are several origin stories for the name Deniliquin, the most common suggests Boyd (or Morris) named it after Denilakoon, a local Indigenous Elder, famed for his wrestling prowess.[8] An inn and punt were established on the site between 1845 and 1847; the town site was surveyed in 1848, and gazetted in 1850.[7] The originalNative Police force ofFrederick Walker was organised at Deniliquin in 1848. The Deniliquin Post Office opened on 1 January 1850.[9]
In 1853,William John Wills of theBurke and Wills expedition worked as a shepherd at the Royal Bank sheep station near Deniliquin.
As Deniliquin was established on the convergence of major stock routes between the colonies ofQueensland andNew South Wales and theVictorian gold rush centres ofVictoria, it soon became an important river crossing and the first bridge was built over the Edward River in 1861. TheDeniliquin and Moama Railway Company built a private railway in 1879 to connect withMoama, across the Murray River from the busy river port ofEchuca, connected by rail to Melbourne.[7]
Wool growing quickly became a major industry and the area around Deniliquin was home to severalMerino studs.[7] In 1861, George Hall Peppin and his two sons, experienced English sheep breeders, established a Merino stud atWanganella station, north of Deniliquin. There, the brothers developed thePeppin Merino, able to thrive in drier inland regions. The Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders Limited reported that as many as 70% of Merinos in Australia are said to be directly descended from these sheep.[10]
In the 1860s, Deniliquin was the centre of a short-lived campaign by wealthy pastoralists, including Peppin, George Desailly,Robert Landale and William Brodribb, for secession from New South Wales and the creation of a new Riverina colony. This campaign was supported by David Jones, proprietor of the local newspaper thePastoral Times.[11][12]
A Post Office was opened in Deniliquin on 1 January 1850. The first Telegraph Office was a privately constructed and operated office in concert with Moama. In March 1858, the Victorian Government had extended its telegraph line from Bendigo (Sandhurst) through Castlemaine to Echuca. The nearest New South Wales telegraph lines to the Echuca-Deniliquin area at that time were at Albury, Gundagai and Bathurst. Hence the pro-active citizens of Echuca and Deniliquin formed the Deniliquin and Echuca Telegraph Company and built and operated their own private line across the border to Echuca and Bendigo through to Melbourne and beyond from 24 March 1859. Finally, the NSW Government took the private company over and created its own offices and telegraph lines. The Government Telegraph Office at Deniliquin opened on 1 August 1861. It merged with the Post Office on 1 January 1870, before separating on 1 August 1875, and then getting back together on 29 June 1901.[13]
On 19 December 1868, Deniliquin was constituted as the Municipality of Deniliquin, and the first municipal election was held on 23 February 1869. In 1993, the enactment of the Local Government Act (NSW) saw the name of the council changed from the Municipality of Deniliquin to theDeniliquin Council.[14]
Large-scale irrigation schemes came to the Deniliquin area with the establishment of the Deniboota and Denimein Irrigation Districts in 1938 and the Berriquin Irrigation District in 1939, using water diverted from the Murray River atLake Mulwala through theMulwala Canal. An ample and reliable water supply led to the development of water-intensive industries such as rice growing.[15]
During theSecond World War,RAAF Station Deniliquin was home toNo. 7 Service Flying Training School RAAF. It was also a final disbanding site for squadrons returning from active duty against the Japanese in the Pacific.No. 22 Squadron RAAF[16] andNo. 30 Squadron RAAF[17] were disbanded here in 1946, and in 1945 and 1946 it was also a base forNo. 78 Squadron RAAF before it was finally disbanded inWilliamtown.[18]
Also during World War II, Muswellbrook was the location ofRAAF No.15 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot (IAFD), completed in 1942 and closed on 29 August 1944. Usually consisting of 4 tanks, 31 fuel depots were built across Australia for the storage and supply of aircraft fuel for theRAAF and theUS Army Air Forces at a total cost of £900,000 ($1,800,000).[19]
In April 2006, theHerald Sun reported on its front cover that the Edward River was dry, with an accompanying photograph showing a dry creek.[20] This was later revealed to be erroneous; the photograph was of an unknown channel on a farm within 60 kilometres (37 mi) of Deniliquin, while the Edward River was in fact still running. Deniliquin Council and members of the Deniliquin community have since attempted to rectify the damage to local tourism by improving the profile of Deniliquin in various media outlets.[21]
Deniliquin has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 2,660 | — |
| 1933 | 3,192 | +20.0% |
| 1947 | 3,668 | +14.9% |
| 1954 | 4,704 | +28.2% |
| 1961 | 5,575 | +18.5% |
| 1966 | 6,277 | +12.6% |
| 1971 | 6,622 | +5.5% |
| 1976 | 6,865 | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 7,354 | +7.1% |
| 1986 | 7,566 | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 7,895 | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 7,816 | −1.0% |
| 2001 | 7,781 | −0.4% |
| 2006 | 7,431 | −4.5% |
| 2011 | 6,441 | −13.3% |
| 2016 | 6,833 | +6.1% |
| 2021 | 6,431 | −5.9% |
| Source:Australian Bureau of Statistics data.[28][4] | ||
According to the2021 census, there were 6,431 people in Deniliquin.
Deniliquin is a service centre for the surrounding agricultural region. The region includes bothdryland andirrigated areas. The dryland areas support grazing, in particular beef cattle and wool growing. Deniliquin is home to many famous Merino studs and the saltbush plains produce qualitymedium class wool.
The irrigated areas produce a range of high-yield crops. Rice was a major crop until the recent drought. The largest rice mill in the southern hemisphere is in Deniliquin, producing large packs and bulk rice for export markets.[29] The rice mill closed in December 2007 and will reopen in April 2011.[30][31]
Deniliquin is also the headquarters of Murray Irrigation Limited, an irrigator owned private company and one of the largest privately owned irrigation supply companies in the world. Murray Irrigation manages the operations of the Berriquin, Deniboota, Denimein and Wakool Irrigation Areas in the Murray Valley. These areas produce 50% of Australia's rice crop, 20% of New South Wales's milk production, 75% of New South Wales's processing tomatoes and 40% of New South Wales's potatoes.[32]
Sawmills in the area process timber harvested from theRiver red gum forests lining the Edward and Murray floodplains.[33]
As the largest town in the south western Riverina, there is a range of government and commercial services to residents of the town and the surrounding area.
Deniliquin has acold semi-arid (BSk) climate with hot, sunny summers and cool, mostly cloudy winters. The town's highest temperature of 49.6 °C (121.3 °F) was reached on 12 January 1878, and is one of the highest ever recorded in Australia as well as being the southernmost 50 °C reading (if rounded up).[34][35]
Despite the stretches of extreme heat, Deniliquin is prone tocold fronts in the summer due to its south-western location, making for an extreme variation at times. In contrast, the lowest daytime maximum in summer was 11.7 °C (53.1 °F) on 2 February 2005 at the new airport site. This reading was substantially colder than the previous February low maximum of 15.1 °C (59.2 °F) set in 1951, and colder than even the March low maximum of 12.1 °C (53.8 °F).
| Climate data for Deniliquin Visitor Information Centre (1858–2003, rainfall to 2022); 96 m AMSL; 35.53° S, 144.97° E | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 49.6 (121.3) | 47.2 (117.0) | 45.0 (113.0) | 41.7 (107.1) | 31.1 (88.0) | 25.6 (78.1) | 25.9 (78.6) | 29.8 (85.6) | 35.0 (95.0) | 40.8 (105.4) | 44.2 (111.6) | 47.8 (118.0) | 49.6 (121.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 32.5 (90.5) | 32.0 (89.6) | 28.7 (83.7) | 23.5 (74.3) | 18.6 (65.5) | 15.1 (59.2) | 14.4 (57.9) | 16.4 (61.5) | 19.7 (67.5) | 23.6 (74.5) | 27.5 (81.5) | 30.6 (87.1) | 23.6 (74.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.7 (60.3) | 15.7 (60.3) | 13.3 (55.9) | 9.5 (49.1) | 6.5 (43.7) | 4.5 (40.1) | 3.4 (38.1) | 4.4 (39.9) | 6.2 (43.2) | 8.8 (47.8) | 11.7 (53.1) | 14.1 (57.4) | 9.5 (49.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 4.4 (39.9) | 4.5 (40.1) | 0.6 (33.1) | 0.0 (32.0) | −3.9 (25.0) | −5.6 (21.9) | −6.1 (21.0) | −6.1 (21.0) | −3.3 (26.1) | −1.7 (28.9) | 0.6 (33.1) | 2.2 (36.0) | −6.1 (21.0) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 28.2 (1.11) | 28.2 (1.11) | 32.1 (1.26) | 30.2 (1.19) | 38.0 (1.50) | 39.8 (1.57) | 34.9 (1.37) | 36.7 (1.44) | 37.7 (1.48) | 39.3 (1.55) | 29.9 (1.18) | 29.7 (1.17) | 405.7 (15.97) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 3.8 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 7.4 | 9.1 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 8.4 | 7.4 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 77.9 |
| Average afternoonrelative humidity (%) | 30 | 33 | 37 | 44 | 56 | 63 | 62 | 55 | 48 | 40 | 34 | 31 | 44 |
| Source:[36] | |||||||||||||
Notable people from, or who have lived in, the Deniliquin area include:
Deniliquin has three public primary schools (Deniliquin South, Deniliquin North and Edward), one Catholic primary school (St Michael's Primary School) and one public high school (Deniliquin High School), which was destroyed in late 2025 due to an arson attack by two teenage boys who attended the school.[49]
It has a TAFE NSW Campus, which is part of theRiverina Institute of TAFE.[50]
Deniliquin is also the base for the NSW Department of Education South West Riverina regional office. South West Music Regional Conservatorium, part of a network of regional Conservatoriums in NSW, also offers a range of music tuition.
Sporting clubs in the area include:
TheDeniliquin Football Association ran from 1900 to 1932.
The Deniliquin Blue Heelers previously competed inGroup 17 Rugby League from the early 1960s until 1977. They won three premierships in a row in 1969, 1970 and 1971.
However the town had another now-defunct Club called Deniliquin Raiders which competed in the Goulburn Murray Rugby League Competition in the late 90s to early 2000s.
Deniliquin is home to the Play on the Plains Festival, held each September/October on the New South WalesLabour Day long weekend. The festival includes the well-known DeniliquinUte Muster.[51][self-published source?] The Deni Play on the Plains Festival has set a number of world records, including the following:[51][self-published source?]
| Year | Number of utes in one location | Number of people wearing blue singlets |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 2839 | |
| 2000 | 2990 | |
| 2001 | 3012 | |
| 2002 | 3070 | |
| 2003 | 3418 | |
| 2004 | 4012 | 1328 |
| 2005 | 6172 | 1474 |
| 2006 | 6211 | 1566 |
| 2007 | 6235 | 1587 |
| 2008 | 7242 | 2702 |
| 2009 | 7000 | 2230 |
| 2010 | 10,152 | 3500 |
Deniliquin has had many local bands, some notable ones being the Lincolns, the Stormtroopers and the Lexies. Attempts been made to encourage other bands to come to Deniliquin to perform, with varying success. Solo performers who came from Deniliquin include Shane McGrath, Michael Gorham and Joel Sulman, with local artists often showcased at the Deniliquin Ute Muster.[52]
Deniliquin has been home to many music festivals. These include:
The local newspaper is theDeniliquin Pastoral Times. It is published on Tuesdays and Fridays and – on each of these days – has a circulation of 2787, with an estimated readership of 10,260.[58] Other newspapers circulated throughout the Deniliquin region include theHerald Sun,The Age,The Sydney Morning Herald andThe Daily Telegraph.
There are two local commercial radio stations: 102.5 Edge FM (Music that makes you feel good), 15212QN (News, Talk and only the hits you love) and also broadcast on 106.1FM, whileABC Local Radio'sABC Riverina service (broadcast fromWagga Wagga) is available on AM675.
Other stations broadcasting throughout the region includeRadio National,SBS Radio andSky Sports Radio.
Locally available TV stations includeABC Television (ABC TV,ABC Family,ABC Entertains andABC News),SBS Television (SBS TV,SBS Viceland,SBS Food,NITV,SBS WorldWatch andSBS World Movies),Seven (7HD,7two,7mate,7flix,7Bravo,TVSN andRacing.com),WIN Television (WIN HD,9Go!,9Gem,9Life andGold) andNetwork 10 (10 HD,10 Comedy,10 Drama,Nickelodeon, SBN andSky News Regional).WIN Television produces a half-hour-long regional news bulletin which screens from Monday to Friday at 6pm.
The thrillerThe Clinic was filmed in Deniliquin in 2008. The producers used many locations in the town while shooting, including the Peppin Motor Inn, Warbreccan Homestead, Deniliquin abattoirs and the largest rice mill in the Southern Hemisphere.
Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence.FRASER spent his childhood on his family's Riverina pastoral property at Moulamein near Deniliquin, and his home later became boarding school and Oxford.
Adam Craig Gilchrist was born on November 14, 1971 in the small New South Wales town of Bellingen. His father taught in another small town, Deniliquin, before moving into schools administration at Lismore, a town, in the north of the state, that was not much larger. To the outsider, such places may not have had much to offer, but, for an aspiring cricketer, Gilchrist had a privileged upbringing.
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