Fast facts
- Service town on the banks of the Barwon–Darling River
- A rugged landscape and ideal introduction to the Outback lifestyle
- 807 km north-west of Sydney, population 2,100
Why go there
For thousands of years, the area was a meeting place for many Aboriginal language groups. Stone fisheries were built on the bed of the Darling River (just downstream from the present-day weir) to catch fish for the people coming to the vast gatherings. Estimates have suggested that the fisheries are up to 40,000 years old.
Today, fishing and other water sports flourish in the area. The Narran Lakes Nature Reserve, 50 km north-east of Brewarrina, covers about 50,000 hectares.
History
The first European settlers arrived in the early 1840s and the town was proclaimed in 1863. By this time, its position on the banks of the Darling had won it a certain prestige as a port for the transportation of local wool. It was also a rest stop for Cobb & Co. coaches.
Things to do
- Step into to the Dreamtime at the Aboriginal Cultural Museum.
- Inspect historic buildings such as Christ Church and the Brewarrina Court House.
- Fish for Murray cod, yellowbelly and catfish at Four Mile Reserve.
Events
- Barwon River Rodeo at Easter attracts the leading horse people of the region.
- Festival of the Fisheries in November celebrates the Heritage-listed Aboriginal fisheries.
Don’t miss
- The Old Bridge on the Barwon, built in 1879.
- The Settlers Museum, highlighting the paddle-steamer days of the late 19th century.
- A 4WD expedition on the Darling River Run.
- Tarcoon, a ghost town and former Cobb & Co. rest stop.
- A conversation with the locals at the Royal Hotel.
