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Riverina
region of New South Wales, Australia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Riverina (pronounced /rɪvəˈriːnə/)[1] is a large farming area in the south west of New South Wales, Australia. It has flat plains, warm to hot climate and a large supply of water for irrigation. This has allowed the Riverina to become one of the most productive and agriculturally varied areas of Australia. With the state of Victoria to the south, and the mountains of the Great Dividing Range to the east, the Riverina covers those areas of New South Wales in the Murray and Murrumbidgee river systems.
Riverina New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
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![]() The Murrumbidgee River at Wagga Wagga | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 35°S 146°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 255,881 (2001) | ||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | Various | ||||||||||||||
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Federal division(s) | |||||||||||||||
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The Riverina has been home to Aboriginal groups for over 40,000 years. It was first settled by Europens in the mid-19th century as a pastoral region growing beef and wool for markets in Australia and overseas. In the 20th century, the building of major irrigation areas in the Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys has led to the introduction of crops such as rice and grapes. The Riverina has strong links to Victoria, and the region was the source of much of the push behind the federation of Australian colonies.
The major cities and towns in the Riverina include Wagga Wagga, Albury and Griffith. Albury and Wagga Wagga are home to campuses of Charles Sturt University. Wagga Wagga is home to two major Australian Defence Force bases.