Urana

Town in New South Wales, Australia

Urana
New South Wales

Memorial Hall, Urana

Urana

Coordinates| 35°19′0″S 146°16′0″E﻿ / ﻿35.31667°S 146.26667°E﻿ / -35.31667; 146.26667
Population| 248 (2021 census)[1]
Established| 6 May 1859[2]
Postcode(s)| 2645
Elevation| 125.0 m (410 ft)
Location|

* 561 km (349 mi) from Sydney
* 366 km (227 mi) from Melbourne
* 111 km (69 mi) from Wagga Wagga
* 125 km (78 mi) from Albury

LGA(s)| Federation Council
County| Urana
State electorate(s)| Albury
Federal division(s)| Farrer
| Mean max temp | Mean min temp | Annual rainfall

|
|

23.7 °C
75 °F | 9.5 °C
49 °F | 447.0 mm
17.6 in

Urana /jəˈrænə/ is a small town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The town is in the Federation Council local government area.

Urana is located between Lockhart and Jerilderie, about 561 kilometres (349 mi) southwest of the state capital, Sydney. To the west lies Lake Urana and the Lake Urana Nature Reserve. To the east lies a smaller lake, Lake Uranagong.

Urana was the major town and headquarters of the former Urana Shire. The shire included the localities of Boree Creek, Morundah, Oaklands and Rand. The Urana district is used for raising sheep and for growing wheat and other grain crops.

In the 2016 census, the population of Urana was 298, of whom 56.3% were male and 43.7% were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 3.7% of the population.[3] In the 2021 census, the population of Urana was 248, of whom 55.1% were male and 44.9% were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 5.6% of the population.[1]

## History

[edit]

The origin of the name Urana is likely to come from a Wiradjuri word "airana" used to describe a temporary shelter (usually consisting of a simple frame of branches covered with bark, leaves, or grass).[4] Alternatively it comes from "aurana" for camping ground or noise of quails flying.[5]

The area was home to the Wiradjuri Aboriginal people prior to European occupation and the expansion of squatters to set up stations. Urana was first settled by Europeans during the 1850s. In May 1859 a design for the "Town of Urana" by Surveyor Hayes was approved by the New South Wales Executive Council.

Urana Post Office opened on 1 January 1861.[6]

In August 1863 near Urana the notorious bushranger, Dan Morgan, and his accomplice Clarke held up the Police Magistrate based at Wagga Wagga, Henry Baylis. A few days after this incident Baylis led a party of policemen to the bushrangers' camp; shots were exchanged and both Baylis and the bushranger Clarke were wounded. Morgan and Clarke both escaped on this occasion.[7]

In 1866 Urana township consisted of two public houses, the Urana Hotel and the Royal Hotel. In addition there was a post-office, two large stores, and a police-station and lock-up. A new court-house was erected at Urana in 1879.

Urana Shire Council was proclaimed in 1906 and dissolved in 2016, to become part of the Federation Council.

## Religion

[edit]

During 1882 a Roman Catholic church was completed, with Father Burmingham celebrating the first service on 7 January 1883.[4]

The Rev. George Wilson Adam was the first Presbyterian minister of the separate parish of Urana (at that time administered from Victoria). Rev. Adam's term extended from 1878 to 1887. His successor, Rev. Matthew Bell, was a part of the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales; he was inducted in 1888 and resigned in 1904. During Rev. Bell's tenure at Urana three wooden churches were built: one at Urana, and one each at the district preaching centres, Old Goree and Boree Creek.[8]

## Sport and Recreation

[edit]

The Urana Football Club was an Australian Rules Football club established in April 1898 at a meeting in the Commercial Hotel.[9] Urana's first published match was against Lockhart in August, 1898, losing by four goals to a more experienced side.[10] In 1901, Urana won all there games they played in.[11] In 1909 the Urana & District Football Association was formed at a meeting from the following club's - Daysdale, Oaklands and Urana.[12]

Former Corowa Football Club premiership coach, Ray "Nana" Baker was coach of Urana Football Club in 1934.[13]

Former Urana footballer, Max Urquhart was recruited to Collingwood Football Club in 1963.

Competitions played in

The Urana FC played in the following competitions.

* 1909: Urana & District Football Association
* 1911–1914: Lockhart & District Football Association.[14] Premiers - 1914[15][16][17]
* 1915: Club active but did not play in any official competition.
* 1916–1918: Club in recess due to World War One.[18]
* 1919–1920: Club active but did not play in any official competition.
* 1921–1922:[19] Lockhart & District Football Association. 1921 Premiers: Pleasant Hills
* 1923: The Rock Oaklands Lines Football Association: Premiers - Oaklands FC[20]
* 1924: The Lockhart Oaklands Lines Football Association:[21] Premiers - Oaklands FC[22]
* 1925–1926: Club in recess.
* 1927–1928: Club reformed in May 1927.[23] Club active but did not play in any official competition.
* 1929–1930: Coreen & District Football League: Urana applied for admission into the Coreen & District Football League in 1929, but were initially knocked back.[24]
* 1931: Southern Riverina Football Association
* 1932–1935: Corowa & District Football Association[25]
* 1936–1937: Faithful & District Football Association
* 1938: Club in recess.
* 1939–1945: Club in recess due to World War Two.
* 1946–1972: Coreen & District Football League. Merged with Cullivel in 1946[26] and played in the Coreen & District Football League from 1946 to 1972 as Urana Cullivel FC. Premiers: 1953, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1966, 1967.
* 1973–2003: Coreen & District Football League. Played as the Urana FC. Thirds Premiers: 1989
* 2004–2007: Coreen & District Football League. Merged with Oaklands FC to form the Billabong Crows in 2004.
* 2008–2022: Hume Football League. Played as the Billabong Crows FC

Urana also formerly had a rugby league team which competed in the Group 13 Rugby League competition.

## Heritage listings

[edit]

Urana has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

* Urana Soldiers' Memorial Hall[27]

## Climate

[edit]

Urana has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk), a little too dry to be a humid subtropical climate, characterised by hot summers with pleasant mornings and clear skies, and cool winters with moderate cloud cover. Seasonal range is great across the year.

Climate data for Urana Post Office (1914−1975, rainfall 1871−2024); 125 m AMSL; 35.33° S, 146.27° E

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 32.9
(91.2)  | 32.4
(90.3)  | 29.2
(84.6)  | 23.6
(74.5)  | 18.7
(65.7)  | 14.8
(58.6)  | 14.2
(57.6)  | 16.0
(60.8)  | 19.8
(67.6)  | 23.5
(74.3)  | 27.7
(81.9)  | 31.1
(88.0)  | 23.7
(74.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 16.3
(61.3)  | 16.3
(61.3)  | 14.0
(57.2)  | 9.4
(48.9)  | 6.1
(43.0)  | 3.6
(38.5)  | 3.2
(37.8)  | 4.1
(39.4)  | 6.3
(43.3)  | 8.8
(47.8)  | 11.8
(53.2)  | 14.6
(58.3)  | 9.5
(49.2)
Average rainfall mm (inches)  | 33.2
(1.31)  | 33.3
(1.31)  | 35.6
(1.40)  | 32.8
(1.29)  | 41.1
(1.62)  | 45.0
(1.77)  | 38.5
(1.52)  | 39.6
(1.56)  | 38.4
(1.51)  | 41.7
(1.64)  | 34.7
(1.37)  | 33.2
(1.31)  | 447.0
(17.60)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 3.8  | 3.5  | 4.0  | 4.7  | 6.5  | 8.4  | 8.7  | 8.6  | 6.8  | 6.1  | 4.8  | 4.0  | 69.9
Source: [28]

## Notable residents

[edit]

Notable people from Urana include:

* Bill Brownless, Australian rules footballer was born at the Urana Hospital[citation needed]
* Billy Field, Singer[citation needed]
* Fred Fox, The Queen's milliner[citation needed]
* Alf Hacker, Australian rules footballer[29]
* Dame Ella Macknight[citation needed]
* Norm Provan, Rugby league player[citation needed]
* Max Urquhart, Australian rules footballer[citation needed]

## Gallery

[edit]

* Sculpture 'Itsy Bitsy' by local artist Andrew Whitehead on the water tower.

* Hotel Urana, the only remaining pub in Urana.

* The flat Urana plain

* Historic post office

* JM Smith office

## See also

[edit]

* Lake Urana

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Urana (L)". 2021 Census QuickStats.
2. ^ "Urana decked out for its 150th". The Weekend Advertiser. 9 May 2009. p. 4.
3. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Urana (UCL)". 2016 Census QuickStats.
4. ^ a b Jervis, James (1952). "The Western Riverina: A History of Its Development". Royal Australian Historical Society Journal and Proceedings. XXXVIII: 242–3.
5. ^ "Urana". Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
6. ^ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Retrieved 19 January 2021.
7. ^ "Baylis, Henry (1826–1905)". 'Baylis, Henry (1826 – 1905)', Australian Dictionary of Biography (online ed.). National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Archived from the original on 22 March 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2006.
8. ^ Cameron, Rev. James, M.A., D.D. (1905). Centenary History of the Presbyterian Church in New South Wales (Urana details). Sydney: Angus & Robertson. pp. 297–306\. Archived from the original on 5 December 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2007.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
9. ^ "1898 - Urana". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 5 August 1895. p. 15. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
10. ^ "1898 - Lockhart". Wagga Wagga Express (NSW). 16 August 1898. p. 4. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
11. ^ "1901 - Urana". Jerilderie Herald and Urana Advertiser (NSW). 30 August 1901. p. 3. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
12. ^ "1909 - Uran & District Football Association". The Corowa Free Press (NSW). 25 July 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
13. ^ "1934 - Football Gossip". The Corowa Free Press (NSW). 10 August 1934. p. 6. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
14. ^ "1911 - Football". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 23 May 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
15. ^ "1914 - Urana wins the cup!". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 5 August 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
16. ^ "1914 - Footballers Ball at Urana". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 7 October 1914. p. 5. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
17. ^ "1952 - The Sullivan Cup won by Urana in 1914". The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW). 1 April 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
18. ^ "1919 - Local & General". The Urana Independent and Clear Hills Standard (NSW). 4 July 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
19. ^ "1921 - Urana club re-organised". The Urana Independent and Clear Hills Standard (NSW). 29 April 1921. p. 2. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
20. ^ "1923 - Football: Oaklands wins final". The Corowa Free Press (NSW). 21 August 1923. p. 4. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
21. ^ "1924 - District News". The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW). 23 May 1924. p. 21. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
22. ^ "1924 - Oaklands". The Corowa Free Press (NSW). 5 September 1924. p. 4. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
23. ^ "1927 - Urana". The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW). 13 May 1927. p. 41. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
24. ^ "1929 - Urana". Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW). 19 April 1929. p. 4. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
25. ^ "1932 - Corowa & DFA: Urana Admitted". The Corowa Free Press (NSW). 3 May 1932. p. 1. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
26. ^ "1946 - Australian Rules". Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW). 30 April 1946. p. 6. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
27. ^ "Urana Soldiers' Memorial Hall". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01966. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence.
28. ^ "URANA POST OFFICE". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
29. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. p. 351\. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Urana at Wikimedia Commons

Preceding station  | Former services  | Following station

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Uranagong

towards Oaklands

|  | Oaklands Line |  | Cullivel

towards The Rock

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Landmarks|

* Charles Sturt University
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* Hume Dam
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* Wyangala Dam

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