Balranald Shire
Between Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne – Gateway to spectacular national parks.
Balranald Shire includes the towns of Balranald and Euston and localities of Kyalite, Oxley, Hatfield, Clare and Penarie in Outback New South Wales. Balranald on the Sturt Highway and Murrumbidgee River is 870kms west of Sydney, 550kms northeast of Adelaide and 440kms north of Melbourne.
Mungo National Park & the Willandra Lakes World Heritage area
The Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area is located north west of Balranald. At the centre of these dry lake beds is Mungo National Park, famous for the amazingly eroded dune named the ‘Walls of China’ by early Chinese workers. Aboriginal occupation of the area extends back 50,000-60,000 years.
Yanga National Park
Yanga Station originally taken up by William Charles Wentworth around 1843, was purchased by the NSW Government in 2005 and opened as a National Park in June 2009. The National Park includes 140 kilometres of Murrumbidgee river frontage with plans for a number of riverfront camping areas for fishing folk.
Balranald
With 1300 people Balranald is a thriving service centre for the traditional pastoral activities and viticulture and horticulture reliant on Murrumbidgee water. Increasing opportunities in tourism are evolving through the two National Parks. In 1830 Captain Charles Sturt and his party became the first white men to pass the site of Balranald. In 1836 Major Thomas Mitchell and his party stopped on the site of Balranald and Burke and Wills crossed the Murrumbidgee at Balranald on 17 September 1860.
Balranald’s new $11 million hospital is under construction to compliment the existing health services and Council has built the first two of a series of independent living units for older adults in the community.
Euston
Euston is on the Sturt Highway and on the banks of the Murray River. Weir Lock 15, downstream from Euston, includes a fish ladder. The lock allows passage for house boats.
Economic Development andTourism Opportunities
• People are being attracted to retire or settle or return to Balranald and the improved health facilities are opening opportunities for the Aged Care industry.
• The extension of the horticulture sector and the Euston Club’s expanded bowling greens and new river front cabins are increasing opportunities in the Euston area.
• Extensive mineral sand exploration is also taking place in Balranald Shire, with rich finds and mining likely to occur in 5-10 years.
• Most of Balranald’s red gum timber is processed as railway sleepers and firewood and value adding opportunities exist for high end use products.
• Council’s FIVE RIVERS FISHING TRAIL brochure promotes the local Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, Murray, Wakool and Edward rivers, provides grants to local fishing clubs for restocking and supports the inaugural Murrumbidgee Classic fishing competition.
• Council invested in a pool, separate family bathroom and family TV room as well as new Cabins at the Balranald Caravan Park on the Murrumbidgee River.
• Council’s Greater Mungo & Yanga Loops brochure has focused further attention on increased opportunities for new tourism product.
