Pooncarie New South Wales | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 33°23′S142°34′E / 33.383°S 142.567°E |
Population | 226 (2021 census) [1] |
Established | 1863 |
Postcode(s) | 2648 |
Elevation | 56 m (184 ft) |
Location |
|
LGA(s) | Wentworth Shire |
State electorate(s) | Murray |
Federal division(s) | Farrer |
Pooncarie is a village in south-western New South Wales, Australia in Wentworth Shire. It is on the eastern side of the Darling River between Wentworth and Menindee. The surrounding region of Pooncarie is semi-arid with an outback landscape rich in eucalypt woodlands. At the 2021 census, Pooncarie had a poulation of 226 people. [3]
The region was first settled by Europeans during the 1840s when they took up illegal grazing runs on crown land. During the 1860s the government formalised these illegal (and unfenced) claims in an attempt to gain control of the region. As more settlers followed the town became a service hub for outlying stations. In the mid-19th century, the town's Darling River wharf was very active as paddle-steamers carried wool from north-western NSW and south-western Queensland, travelling through the port on the way to South Australia. [4]
The Burke and Wills expedition passed through Pooncarie on their journey across Australia from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria. They reached the Darling River near Tarcoola Station to the south of town on Wednesday, 26 September 1860 and the next day made Camp XXX (their thirtieth camp since leaving Melbourne) at what is now Bilbarka Park. The expedition stayed here until the morning of 11 October 1860 when they headed north to Menindee.
In 1863 the town was originally gazetted as "Pooncaira". [5]
Popiltah station, 80 km north-west of Pooncarie, was the relocation site of Nanya and his family, one of the last peoples to live by traditional indigenous means in New South Wales.
Pooncarie is approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) east of, and the closest centre to, the burgeoning BEMAX Resources Ginkgo Mineral Sands mine on Malara Station. The mine commenced partial operations in December 2005. [6]
Today the village has a postal centre and Centrelink office (which is housed in the former Pooncarie police station), a school, a cafe (situated overlooking the Darling river at the historic Old Wharf site), a hotel, a golf course, a tennis court, a general store, a cemetery, and a racecourse, where the Pooncarie Cup - held on Labour Day (NSW and SA) - attracts a crowd of over 1,500 enthusiasts. [7]
Pooncarie is the closest centre to Mungo National Park which is 88 kilometres (55 mi) away, and fuel is available at the store which reopened in July 2013. [8]
Wentworth Shire has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Pooncarie has a hot desert climate (BWh) under the Köppen climate classification, featuring very hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. The annual average rainfall is 267.7 millimetres (10.5 in) which would make it a semi-arid climate except that its high evapotranspiration, or its barrenness, makes it a desert climate.
Climate data for Pooncarie Mail Agency (2002–present) | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 48.2 (118.8) | 47.6 (117.7) | 43.0 (109.4) | 40.5 (104.9) | 30.3 (86.5) | 27.0 (80.6) | 27.2 (81.0) | 31.0 (87.8) | 39.0 (102.2) | 40.5 (104.9) | 46.2 (115.2) | 47.3 (117.1) | 48.2 (118.8) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 35.9 (96.6) | 34.5 (94.1) | 30.9 (87.6) | 26.3 (79.3) | 21.0 (69.8) | 17.3 (63.1) | 17.3 (63.1) | 19.3 (66.7) | 23.4 (74.1) | 27.3 (81.1) | 30.9 (87.6) | 33.7 (92.7) | 26.5 (79.7) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19.3 (66.7) | 18.3 (64.9) | 15.3 (59.5) | 11.3 (52.3) | 7.4 (45.3) | 5.1 (41.2) | 4.4 (39.9) | 5.4 (41.7) | 7.9 (46.2) | 11.1 (52.0) | 14.5 (58.1) | 16.9 (62.4) | 11.4 (52.5) |
Record low °C (°F) | 8.0 (46.4) | 9.6 (49.3) | 6.8 (44.2) | 2.0 (35.6) | −1.8 (28.8) | −3.0 (26.6) | −3.7 (25.3) | −2.2 (28.0) | −0.8 (30.6) | 0.9 (33.6) | 1.5 (34.7) | 7.0 (44.6) | −3.7 (25.3) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 22.8 (0.90) | 22.6 (0.89) | 17.9 (0.70) | 18.2 (0.72) | 25.6 (1.01) | 25.3 (1.00) | 21.8 (0.86) | 22.7 (0.89) | 21.8 (0.86) | 26.1 (1.03) | 21.7 (0.85) | 21.2 (0.83) | 267.7 (10.54) |
Average precipitation days | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 46.7 |
Source: Bureau of Meteorology [10] |
The Darling River is the third-longest river in Australia, measuring 1,472 kilometres (915 mi) from its source in northern New South Wales to its confluence with the Murray River at Wentworth. Including its longest contiguous tributaries it is 2,844 km (1,767 mi) long, making it the longest river system in Australia. The Darling River is the outback's most famous waterway.
Wentworth is a small border town in the far south west of the state of New South Wales, Australia. It lies at the confluence of Australia's two most important rivers, the Darling and the Murray, the latter forming the border with the state of Victoria to the south. The border with the state of South Australia lies approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) to the west. The town of Wentworth is in the local government area of the same name.
Balranald is a town within the local government area of Balranald Shire, in the Murray region of far south-western New South Wales, Australia.
Menindee is a small town in the far west of New South Wales, Australia, in Central Darling Shire, on the banks of the Darling River, with a sign-posted population of 980 and a 2021 census population of 537. Menindee was the first town to be established on the Darling River. There are two distinct theories for the derivation of the township’s name: (a) from the Barkindji word "minandichi" for the shallow ephemeral lake north-west of the present-day township; (b) from the Barkindji word 'milhthaka', meaning "yolk of an egg".
Bourke is a town in the north-west of New South Wales, Australia. The administrative centre and largest town in Bourke Shire, Bourke is approximately 800 kilometres (500 mi) north-west of the state capital, Sydney, on the south bank of the Darling River. it is also situated:
Wentworth Shire is a local government area in the far south-west Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. This Shire is located adjacent to the Murray and Darling Rivers. The Shire's major roads are the Sturt and the Silver City Highways. The Shire includes the towns of Wentworth, Buronga, Gol Gol, Dareton and Pooncarie. The shire's namesake is explorer and politician William Wentworth.
South West Queensland is a remote region in the Australian state of Queensland which covers 319,808 km2 (123,479 sq mi). The region lies to the south of Central West Queensland and west of the Darling Downs and includes the Maranoa district and parts of the Channel Country. The area is noted for its cattle grazing, cotton farming, opal mining and oil and gas deposits.
Munro Parish, New South Wales located at 30°59′34″S 143°13′26″E in Central Darling Shire is a remote rural locality and civil parish of Yungnulgra County in far North West New South Wales.
Rosstrevor, New South Wales in Central Darling Shire is a remote rural locality and civil parish of Yungnulgra County in far North West New South Wales.
Kerno at 31°02′27″S 142°59′34″E in Central Darling Shire is a remote rural locality and civil parish of Yungnulgra County in far North West New South Wales..
Parkungi located at 30.5653°S 143.2202°E in Central Darling Shire, New South Wales is a remote rural locality and civil parish of Yungnulgra County in far North West New South Wales.
Mallambray (Parish), in Central Darling Shire is a remote rural locality and civil parish of Yungnulgra County in far North West New South Wales.
Gambool located at 31°05′15″S 143°13′25″E in Central Darling Shire is a remote rural locality and civil parish of Yungnulgra County in far North West New South Wales.
Menamurtee located at 31°04′22″S 143°10′00″E, south of White Cliffs, New South Wales in Central Darling Shire is a remote rural locality and civil parish of Yungnulgra County in far North West New South Wales.
Moonamurtie, New South Wales south of White Cliffs, New South Wales in Central Darling Shire is a remote rural locality and civil parish of Yungnulgra County in far North West New South Wales.
Ullollie, New South Wales is a remote rural locality and civil parish of Yungnulgra County in far North West New South Wales.
Beefwood Parish, New South Wales is a remote rural locality and civil parish of Yungnulgra County in far North West New South Wales.
Wallandra Parish in Cobar Shire is a civil parish of Rankin County, a Cadastral division of New South Wales. The Parish is on the Darling River upstream of Wilcannia, New South Wales and is located at 30.5511°N 144.3351°E. The only town of the parish is Tilpa, New South Wales.
PS Rodney is a heritage-listed paddle steamer shipwreck on the Darling River at Polia Station, Pooncarie in the Wentworth Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Captains Dorward and Davies and built by Thomas McDonald. The property is owned by Department of Trade & Investment, Regional Infrastructure & Services, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 23 November 2007.
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Media related to Pooncarie, New South Wales at Wikimedia Commons