Cowra Shire’s geographical location is in the Central New South Wales, which is a three hundred and ten kilometers drive west of Sidney. The Shire area covers approximately 2,800 square kilometers and is situated between the Council regions of Cabonne, Blayney, Weddin, Forbes, Boorowa and Young. The population growth has been steady and it stood at thirteen thousand in the 2001 census.
The landscape in this region varies from slopes to flats, rugged wilderness areas and rolling hills. The most conspicuous features include the Lachlan River Valley that flows from the Wyangala Dam, through Corwa town and the rich alluvial regions between the town and Gooloogong. You can have a look with the interactive viewer.
Corwa Shire is home to a number of villages: Darbys Falls, Bilimari, Morongla, Gooloogong, Wattamondara, Noonbinna, Wyangala and Woodstock.
The rainfall all year round is generally reliable and the average for 100 years is close to 640 millimeters per annum. The wettest months in this region are October, January, August and May.
During the year, the temperatures usually vary. This makes the area ideal for many horticultural products and crops. The average for fifty years reveals an average minimum of 3.6 Degrees Celsius in the month of July and a maximum of 30.8 Degrees Celsius in the month of January.
The Cowra Shine region was initially inhabited by Wiradjuri people. The year 1815 was when George Evans who was the first explorer entered the Lachlan Valley. A military depot was built a short time after a Soldiers Flat close to the now Bilimari. After 1835, settlers appeared to have migrated into the Lachlan Valley and the Cowra Township had its beginning in the year 1840. Since then, the district and town have experienced growth and prosperity. Major events like construction of Wyangala dam between 1920 and 1930, the POW Camp and the Military Training Camp, the second Wyangala Dam and the migrant camp spearheaded Cowra’s economy whereas other towns were struggling.
Not less than fifty different cultures live within the Cowra community which is a good proof and record of how valuable regional integration of the new cultures into Australian’s way of living. Cowra marks this cultural diversity through their Annual Festival of International Understanding.