Fast facts
- Country town famed for the invention of a grain harvester
- Picturesque wheat and sheep country, halfway between Albury and Wagga Wagga
- 533 km south-west of Sydney, population 1,100
Why go there
Set in undulating countryside, this small town features quaint antique shops; parkland at Billabong Creek, where nature walks showcase local flora and fauna; and a museum that provides information about both Henty and the surrounding area.
History
Originally known as Doodle Cooma ('sweet water' in the local Aboriginal language), the village of Henty was gazetted in 1888.
Henty is known for its connections with the bushranger Dan ‘Mad Dog’ Morgan, who shot policeman Sergeant Thomas Smyth here in 1864.
In 1914, Headlie Taylor, a citizen of Henty, was credited with revolutionising grain harvesting and the grain industry worldwide with the invention of his new mechanical header. The basic concept of the header is still used today in harvesting.
Things to do
- Shop for some local specialties at the Doodle Cooma Craft Centre at Henty Railway Station.
- Picnic in the parkland at Billabong Creek.
- Learn about Dan ‘Mad Dog’ Morgan’s reign of terror during the 1860s.
Events
- Henty Field Days, in September, a three-day exhibition of agricultural machinery that draws crowds of up to 50,000 people.
Don’t miss
- The Henty Historical Village Walk.
- The memorial stone to Sergeant Thomas Smyth, who was killed by ‘Mad Dog’ Morgan.
- An authentic farm experience at Hanericka Farmstay Guesthouse.
- Pleasant Hills, 34 km west of Henty – a small village with a proud Lutheran heritage.
- The Doodle Cooma Swamp, a breeding ground for waterbirds.
