Merriwagga | |
|---|---|
 Black Stump Hotel | |
  Merriwagga | |
| Coordinates:33°49′12″S145°37′20″E / 33.82000°S 145.62222°E /-33.82000; 145.62222 | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| LGA | |
| Location | |
| Government | |
| • State electorate | |
| • Federal division | |
| Elevation | 98 m (322 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 124 (SAL2021)[2] |
| Postcode | 2652 |
| County | Nicholson |
Merriwagga is a town in the northern part of theRiverina region of the Australian state ofNew South Wales. It is situated by road, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north west ofGoolgowi and 42 kilometres (26 mi) south ofHillston on theKidman Way inNSW.[3] At the2011 census, it has a population of 169.[4] The main industry is agriculture.[5]
The village was surveyed and gazetted on 4 April 1924[6] and is laid out in an irregular rectangular pattern. It is surrounded by the Merriwagga State Forest, a looselymallee-forested area of approximately 15 square kilometres (5.8 sq mi).[7] Merriwagga Post Office opened on 26 May 1924.[8]
Merriwagga railway station lies between Goolgowi station andGoorawin station. It is dominated by three massive grain silos and two grain receival depots. The Black Stump Hotel across the road boasts the tallest bar in Australia,[6] it was established in 1926.[9] The name relates to theBlack Stump Story telling of the death of Mrs. Barbara Blain. She burnt to death in March 1886 at Black Stump Tank, approximately halfway between Merriwagga andGunbar. Her story and the life of the early pioneer women is commemorated in theMemorial to Pioneer Woman of the Merriwagga District, situated next to the picnic area between Black Stump Hotel and the grain receival depots.
