Cowra

Population: 9,500

Postcode: 2794

Annual rainfall: 640mm

Temperatures (average): 16-31C summer, 4-13C winter

The Lachlan Valley is renowned as a productive agricultural area. In addition to traditional broad acre crops such as wheat and oats, rural landholders have proved their receptiveness to new directions and oilseed crops, particularly canola now feature strongly in the district. The river flats produce lucerne, asparagus and a wide range of other vegetable crops.

Sheep and cattle have long been associated with the district, which boasts a number of noted horse, sheep and cattle studs.

The region has long been recognised for the quality of its white wines, particularly Chardonnay, however red varieties are increasingly receiving praise and almost half of all grape plantings are now red varieties. A number of vineyards are also diversifying into more unusual varieties.

According to a recent survey of residents, conducted by the local shire council, Cowra is a great place to live and work. But could you live and work here? Let's take a closer look to see what this Lachlan Valley town has to offer a new resident.

CLIMATE

Rainfall is generally reliable through the year, the town receiving approximately 640mm per annum with January, May, August and October being the wettest months.

Temperatures vary making the area suitable for many different crops and horticulture products. The town has an average minimum temperature of 3.6C in July and an average maximum of 30.8C in January.

ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

Annual events include:

• Bike and Car Show (February)
• Festival of International Understanding (March)
• Eisteddfod(May)
• PicnicRaces (July)
• WineShow and Public Tasting (August)
• The Annual Springtime Show (September)
• Sakura Matsuri – The Cherry BlossomFestival (September)
• TheWindowrie Weekend – Vineyard Concert Series (October)
• Food and Wine Festival featuring the signatureevent the Cork and Fork. (November)

• The POW Theatre located at the Visitors Centre
• Japanese Garden
• Australia’s World Peace Bell
• The Prisoner of War Campsite
• The Cowra and Japanese War Cemeteries
• Sakura Avenue
• Lone Pine Park
• Memorial Avenue
• Military and Migrant Camp site
• Italiani Di Cowra
• Heritage Walk
• ItalyFriendship Monument
• Wyangala WatersState Park
• Age of Fishes Museum
• Darby’s Falls Observatory
• Art Gallery
• The Smokehouse
• The Lachlan ValleyRailway Society
• TheWar, Rail and Rural Museum
• Sunnyside Rose Garden and Clydesdales
• Iandra Castle
• Aquatic Centre
• The Rose Garden

Armed with crude weapons, four groups each of approximately 300 Japanese threw themselves on to barbed wire fences and into the firing line of Vickers Machine guns. Protected only by baseball mitts, blankets and coats using their comrades as a human bridge to cross the tangled barb wire, more than 350 Japanese clawed their way to freedom.

All escapees were captured during the following week. A total of 107 POW’s were wounded, 231 prisoners died along with four Australian soldiers.

TOWN SERVICES

Schools. The town has two state primary schools, one state high school, private school that covers K-10 and a TAFE college for tertiary education.

Health. There is one medical centre, a doctor’s surgery, two dental surgeries and the District Hospital .

Transport. Countrylink provide a train and bus that travel most days to and from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. There are domestic airports located at Orange and Bathurst and an International airport located at Canberra.

Cowra is located in Central New South Wales and is a scenic four hour drive West of Sydney and two hours North of Canberra. To the east is Blayney, to the west Grenfell, north is Canowindra, and south Young.

I want to see a town map.

COWRA AREA

The vineyard region covers Cowra and Canowindra and today the region boasts 36 vineyards covering more that 2,000 hectares. The wine region became known as the ‘Chardonnay Country’ and won numerous accolades for the Chardonnay produced in the region. Red wine grapes, especially Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon began to be planted extensively in the early 90’s and now shares an equal profile.

The Wine Region Cellar Doors range from rustic to stylish and sophisticated but all offer the visitor a welcoming country experience including The Mill Cellar Door, The Quarry Cellar Door and Restaurant, Kalari Cellar Door and Art Gallery, Mulyan Garage Cellars, Chiverton Estate, River Park Vineyard, Spring Ridge Wines, Mulligans Tower Cellar Door and Lindsay’s Woodonga Hill Winery.

ECONOMICS

Employment. The unemployment rate is about the national average.

Industries based locally include furniture manufacturers, a food processing factory, farm machinery and farm equipment engineering. Cowra has a vibrant and expanding retail and commercial centre. It boasts the services and facilities you would expect to find in a larger town while still retaining that wonderful feeling of country hospitality.