The town is named after the large rocky hill overlooking it, now called The Rock Hill[2] but called Yerong in the local indigenous language. The reserve that includes The Rock Hill is an attraction for bush-walking, rock-climbing and the observation of wildlife. It is also an Aboriginal sacred site, called Kengal.[3]
The Rock Post Office opened on 1 September 1890.[4]
A 1916 map of the Riverina with The Rock named as Kingston
Prior to 1919, the town had been known as Kingston, probably named after the King family, which had operated the local farming property known as "The Rock".[5][6] The name Kingston is shown on a 1916 map of the Riverina district. The King name survives with the hotel on the Olympic Highway at the town still named The King's Own.
The Rock Football Club was an Australian Rules Football club that was established in 1900 after a meeting at the King's Own Hotel.[8] The club has played in the following football competitions -
1916: Club active, but no official competition due to WW1.
1917: The Culcairn Patriotic Football Association[15]
1918: Yerong Creek & District Football Association. The Rock played against Mangoplah and Yerong Creek.[16]
1919–1921: Wagga United Football Association. The Rock withdrew form the Wagga United FA in June[17] & joined The Rock & District Football Association.[18]
1923–1925: Wagga United Football Association. Runners Up: 1925[20][21][22]
1926–1927: The Rock Football Association. Runners Up: 1927[23]
1928 – Wagga & District Football Association. Runners Up: 1928[24] As the minor premiers, Magoplah were entitled to challenge The Rock to another game and ultimately won the Grand Final replay.[25]
1929–1937: The Rock & District Football League: Premiers: 1932,[26][27] 1936[28][29][30] Runners Up: 1934,[31] 1937[32]
1962 – Farrer Football League: The Rock FC & Yerong Creek FC merged in 1962 to form The Rock Yerong Creek FC.
The Rock Cricket Club won the 1938/39 Henty & District Cricket Association premiership, defeating Henty. The Rock scored 7/441 in their second innings, with the three Taylor brothers all scoring centuries![35]
The Rock also had a rugby league team, which competed in the Group 13 Rugby League competition. The club wore maroon jerseys with a sky-blue V.