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{{About||the electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives|Division of Riverina|the wine region named Riverina|Riverina wine region|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type          = region
| name          = Riverina
| state         = NSW
| image         = Murrumbidgee River in Wagga Wagga.jpg
| caption       = The [[Murrumbidgee River]] at [[Wagga Wagga]]
| map_type      = nomap
| coordinates   = {{coord|35|S|146|E|region:AU_type:adm2nd_dim:400km|display=inline,title}}
| pop           = 161,595 – 282,501 (2019){{efn|The exact population depends on the boundary used. Somewhere between 161,595 (Riverina SA4) and 282,501 (Riverina and Murray SA4 Regions).
| pop_year = 2019
| pop_footnotes = <ref name="ABS Regional Population">{{cite web|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/latest-release|title = Regional Population|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref>}}
| lga           = [[:Category:Local government areas of the Riverina|Various]]
| stategov      = [[Electoral district of Albury|Albury]]
| stategov2     = [[Electoral district of Cootamundra|Cootamundra]]
| stategov3     = [[Electoral district of Murray|Murray]]
| stategov4     = [[Electoral district of Wagga Wagga|Wagga Wagga]]
| fedgov        = [[Division of Farrer|Farrer]]
| fedgov2       = [[Division of Riverina|Riverina]]
| rainfall      = 375
| maxtemp       = 23
| mintemp       = 10
| timezone      = [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]]
| utc           = +10
| timezone-dst  = [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]]
| utc-dst       = +11
| near-nw       = [[Far West (New South Wales)|Far West]]
| near-n        = [[Central West (New South Wales)|Central West]]
| near-ne       = [[South West Slopes]]
| near-w        = [[Far West (New South Wales)|Far West]]
| near-e        = [[South West Slopes]]
| near-sw       = 
| near-s        = 
| near-se       = ''[[Victorian Alps]]''
}}

The '''Riverina''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|r|ɪ|v|ə|ˈ|r|iː|n|ə}})<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Macquarie Dictionary]] |date=2005 |publisher=Macquarie Library |isbn=1-876429-14-3 |edition=4}}</ref>
is an agricultural [[list of regions in Australia|region]] of south-western [[New South Wales]], Australia. The Riverina is distinguished from other Australian regions by the combination of flat plains, a climate with significant seasonal variation and an ample supply of water for [[irrigation]]. This combination has allowed the Riverina to develop into one of the most productive and agriculturally diverse areas of Australia. Bordered on the south by the state of [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]] and on the east by the [[Great Dividing Range]], the Riverina covers those areas of New South Wales in the [[Murray River|Murray]] and [[Murrumbidgee River|Murrumbidgee]] drainage zones to their confluence in the west.

Home to [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal]] groups including the [[Wiradjuri]] people for over 40,000 years, the Riverina was colonised by [[European ethnic groups|Europeans]] in the mid-19th century as a [[grazing|pastoral]] region providing [[beef]] and [[wool]] to markets in Australia and beyond. In the 20th century, the development of major irrigation areas in the Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys has led to the introduction of crops such as [[rice]] and [[List of grape varieties|wine grapes]]. The Riverina has strong cultural ties to Victoria, and the region was the source of much of the impetus behind the [[federation of Australia]]n colonies.

Major population and service centres in the Riverina include the cities of [[Wagga Wagga]], [[Leeton, New South Wales|Leeton]], [[Griffith, New South Wales|Griffith]] and [[Albury]]. Wagga Wagga is home to a campus of [[Charles Sturt University]] and two major [[Australian Defence Force]] establishments. [[La Trobe University]] has a campus in [[Wodonga]], [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]].

== Geography ==
[[Image:BooroorbanNestOldManPlain.JPG|thumb|An eagle's nest on The Old Man Plain, an extensive saltbush plain between [[Hay, New South Wales|Hay]] and [[Wanganella, New South Wales|Wanganella]].]]

=== Government agencies and other bodies ===
The delineation of the Riverina region varies by government agency or body. Common official boundaries include the [[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]' Statistical Area Level 4 Riverina region,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Data by Region - Riverina (SA4)|url=https://itt.abs.gov.au/itt/r.jsp?RegionSummary&region=113&dataset=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS2016&geoconcept=ASGS_2016&measure=MEASURE&datasetASGS=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS2016&datasetLGA=ABS_REGIONAL_LGA2019&regionLGA=LGA_2019&regionASGS=ASGS_2016|access-date=14 December 2020|website=[[Australia Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref> [[Australian Electoral Commission]]'s Federal Election Boundary called Riverina,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Profile of the electoral division of Riverina (NSW)|url=https://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/nsw/riverina.htm|access-date=14 December 2020|website=[[Australian Electoral Commission]]}}</ref> Natural Resource Management Regions Riverina region,<ref>{{Cite web|title=The NRM Regional Model|url=https://nrmregionsaustralia.com.au/nrm_regional_model/|access-date=14 December 2020|website=NRM Regions Australia}}</ref> Regional Development Australia's Riverina region<ref>{{Cite web|title=Regional Development Australia Riverina|url=https://rdariverina.org.au/our-region|access-date=14 December 2020|website=Regional Development Australia Riverina}}</ref> and [[Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia]]'s Riverina region.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Australia's bioregions (IBRA)|url=https://www.environment.gov.au/land/nrs/science/ibra|access-date=15 December 2020|website=[[Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment]]}}</ref>

=== Common usage ===
In common usage the Riverina generally comprises the agricultural and [[grazing|pastoral]] areas of New South Wales, west of the [[Great Dividing Range]] and in the [[drainage basin]] of the snow-fed [[Murray River|Murray]] and [[Murrumbidgee River]]s.<ref>[http://www.maps.com.au/PDFS/Maps/riverina/RiverinaReg.pdf Riverina Region Map (pdf)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717152845/http://www.maps.com.au/PDFS/Maps/riverina/RiverinaReg.pdf |date=17 July 2011}}</ref> The northern boundary beyond the Riverina is determined by the [[Lachlan River]] catchment area and is referred to as the [[Central West, New South Wales|Central West]]. Along the Murray to the south, the Riverina borders the state of [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]]. West of the [[confluence (geography)|confluence]] of the Murray and Murrumbidgee is the beginning of the more arid [[Far West, New South Wales|Far West]] region.

In general, the Riverina is an [[alluvial]] [[plain]] formed by deposition carried from the [[Great Dividing Range]] by streams between 30,000 and 15,000 years ago.<ref name="Landform">{{cite web | url = http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Riverina+-+landform | title = Riverina – Landform | publisher = [[NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]] | access-date = 31 January 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060911212237/http://nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Riverina+-+landform | archive-date = 11 September 2006 | df = dmy-all}}</ref> The terrain includes rolling hills to the east but then becomes flatter to the west with most of that plain reaching less than {{convert|200|m|ft|}} above sea level. The western Riverina consists largely of featureless [[saltbush]] plain.

=== Landform and hydrology ===
[[File:WaggaWaggaBridgeOverMurrumbidgee.jpg|thumb|The now demolished [[Hampden Bridge, Wagga Wagga|Hampden Bridge]] over the [[Murrumbidgee River]] at [[Wagga Wagga]]. The new [[Wiradjuri]] Bridge is in the background.]]
The [[geology]] of the Riverina comprises several [[trough (geology)|troughs]] and [[sedimentary basin]]s. The western Riverina is presumed to be a continuation of the Ballarat and Bendigo geological zone while eastern sections are underlain by western portions of the [[Lachlan Fold Belt]]. There is potential for the Riverina to host several [[mineral]] deposit types including [[coal]], [[petroleum]], coal seam [[methane]], [[gypsum]], orogenic gold, [[Cobar]] style [[polymetal]]lic systems, heavy [[mineral sands]] and possibly diamonds in these fold belt rocks and basins.<ref name="Landform"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://minerals.nsw.gov.au/geology/resource_geoscience?p=1366 |title=Riverina Western Regional Assessment |publisher=New South Wales Department of Primary Industries |access-date=23 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004105756/http://www.minerals.nsw.gov.au/geology/resource_geoscience?p=1366 |archive-date=4 October 2006}}</ref> Riverina soils are generally sandy along the river channels, with more [[soil salination|saline]] grey and brown clays found on rarely flooded areas on the perimeter of the floodplain. As the Murrumbidgee passes downstream, the water and soil become more saline.<ref name="Landform"/>

The Riverina is drained by the large [[Murray-Darling Basin]]. Rivers and streams in the Riverina generally flow east to west. As well as the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Lachlan, other streams include [[Billabong Creek]] and the [[Edward River]], an [[anabranch]] of the Murray. Much of the water carried by these streams is diverted. In 2001–2002, 52% of the Murray and Murrumbidgee water runoff was diverted, 77% of which was used for [[irrigation]].<ref name="CSIROirrigation">{{cite web | last = Meyer | first = Wayne
 | year = 2005 | url = http://www.clw.csiro.au/publications/consultancy/2005/irrigation-industry-murray-CRCIF.pdf | title = The Irrigation Industry in the Murray and Murrumbidgee Basins | work = CRC for Irrigation Futures Technical Report No. 03/05 | publisher = CRC for Irrigation Futures | access-date = 1 February 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060918200301/http://www.clw.csiro.au/publications/consultancy/2005/irrigation-industry-murray-CRCIF.pdf| archive-date = 18 September 2006}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
The [[Bureau of Meteorology]] classifies the Riverina in the ''Hot Dry Zone (with cooler winters)'' climatic zone. Places in this zone can be very hot in the summer months while in the winter, nights can be considerably cold with cool to mild days.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/environ/travel/hotdrycool.shtml | title = Hot Dry Zone (with cooler winter) | publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203185313/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/environ/travel/hotdrycool.shtml|archive-date=3 February 2007|access-date = 29 January 2007}}</ref> Mean daily maximum temperatures in the Riverina range from {{convert|31.0|°C|°F|1}} in January and {{convert|12.4|°C|°F|1}} in July in [[Wagga Wagga]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_074114.shtml | title = Climate Averages for Australian Sites – Averages for Wagga Wagga research centre| publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] | access-date = 29 January 2007}}</ref> to {{convert|33.2|°C|°F|1}} in January and {{convert|14.8|°C|°F|1}} in July in [[Hillston]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_075032.shtml | title = Climate Averages for Australian Sites – Averages for Hillston airport | publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] | access-date = 29 January 2007}}</ref> Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], the region predominantly falls in the hot-summer [[Mediterranean climate]] (''Csa'') zone,<ref>[https://www.calabriawines.com.au/about-us/our-vineyards/our-riverina-vineyards Our Riverina Vineyards] Calabria Family Wines 2019.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210603141921/https://www.riverinawinemakers.com.au/region Riverina Region] Riverina Winemakers Association</ref> although areas in the west of the region would feature the [[semi-arid]] (''BSk'' / ''BSh'') climate and those in the east would have a [[humid subtropical]] (''Cfa'') climate, though still with Mediterranean climate tendencies when it comes to the rainfall pattern.

Rainfall levels in the Riverina are generally low with the median annual rainfall over most of the region between {{convert|250|-|500|mm|in|}}, rising to between {{convert|500|-|800|mm|in|abbr=on}} on the eastern fringe. Because the region is situated on the [[upwind]] side of the [[Great Dividing Range]], winter would receive the most rainfall in the year, with areas in the southern Riverina (around [[Albury]]), having the wettest winters, while in the north rainfall patterns are fairly consistent throughout the year.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/environ/other/seas_all.shtml | title = Seasonal rainfall zones of Australia | publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060313162852/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/environ/other/seas_all.shtml|archive-date=13 March 2006|access-date = 29 January 2007}}</ref> [[Corowa]], in the south eastern Riverina has an average rainfall of {{convert|539.4|mm|in|1}} per year<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_074034.shtml | title = Climate Averages for Australian Sites – Averages for Corowa Airport | publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] | access-date = 29 January 2007}}</ref> while mean annual rainfall at [[Hay, New South Wales|Hay]] is {{convert|367.2|mm|in|1}}.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_075031.shtml | title = Climate Averages for Australian Sites – Averages for Hay (Miller street) | publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] | access-date = 29 January 2007}}</ref> [[Drought in Australia|Drought]] in 2006 saw the lowest ever recorded rainfall in towns such as [[Lockhart, New South Wales|Lockhart]], [[Tarcutta]] and [[Narrandera]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/annual/nsw/archive/2006.summary.shtml | title = New South Wales in 2006:El Niño brings an exceptionally hot and very dry year | publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] | access-date = 29 January 2007}}</ref>

Despite the very low elevation compared to other regions of the state known for colder winters, snow has been recorded on multiple occasions in Albury and Wagga Wagga, and on 24 July 1936 a flurry of snow was reported in [[Hay, New South Wales|Hay]], which at just {{convert|90|m|}} above sea level would make it the lowest altitude that snow has ever been observed to in New South Wales.<ref name=snow>{{ cite web | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/280079072| title=Report of snow in Hay (1936)|website=trove|access-date=2024-08-24}}</ref> In [[Narrandera]] it last snowed in June 1908, July 1901 and August 1899.<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/101257344| title=Narrandera snow records|website=Trove|access-date=2024-08-26}}</ref> The most recent occurrence of snow in the Riverina proper was at [[Junee]] in August 2019 – excluding the mountainous parts of the [[South West Slopes]].

=== Riverina bioregion ===
[[Image:Riverina bioregion.png|thumb|250px|left|The Riverina bioregion. The Riverina bioregion covers much of the area commonly known as the Riverina but also takes in area as far south as [[Bendigo]] and as far north as [[Ivanhoe, New South Wales|Ivanhoe]].]]
One method of classification of boundaries for the Riverina is the [[Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia]] that defines the [[bioregion]] as an area comprising {{convert|9704469|ha}}, with biogeographic sub-regions covering each of the Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, Murray Fans, Victorian Riverina, Robinvale Plains and Murray Scroll Belt.<ref name="IBRA7">{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/nrs/science/bioregion-framework/ibra/index.html |title=Australia's bioregions (IBRA) |work=Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |year=2012 |access-date=13 January 2013}}</ref>

The [[NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]] has divided New South Wales into 17 distinct bioregions. Bioregions are quite large areas of land that capture a geophysical pattern which is linked to fauna and flora [[ecosystem]]s. The Riverina [[bioregion]] is an area of land that comprises part of the larger Riverina area but also extends into Victoria. It has been defined by the New South Wales Parks and Wildlife Service as extending from [[Ivanhoe, New South Wales|Ivanhoe]] in the Murray Darling Depression Bioregion south to [[Bendigo]], and from [[Narrandera]] in the east to [[Balranald]] in the west. 74.03% of the bioregion is in New South Wales, the remainder in Victoria.<ref name="NSWPWSRiverinaBioregion">{{cite web | url = http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Riverina+Bioregion | title = Riverina bioregion | work = Bioregions of NSW | publisher = [[NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]] | access-date = 25 January 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070310222356/http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Riverina+Bioregion | archive-date = 10 March 2007 | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

In another mapping the [[World Wildlife Fund]] has made this area part of the larger [[Southeast Australia temperate savanna]] [[ecoregion]] that covers the western plains of New South Wales.<ref>{{WWF ecoregion|id=aa0803|name=Southeast Australia temperate savanna|access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref>
[[File:IBRA 6.1 Riverina.png|thumb|right|The IBRA regions, with the Riverina in red]]
River channels in the region support river red gum (''[[Eucalyptus camaldulensis]]'') and River Cooba (''[[Acacia stenophylla]]'') communities. Nearby higher areas contain black box (''[[Eucalyptus largiflorens]]'') woodlands and a salt-tolerant grass, saltbush and daisy understorey. Yellow box (''[[Eucalyptus melliodora]]'') and grey box (''[[Eucalyptus microcarpa]]'') occur along with Cypress Pine (''[[Callitris glaucophylla]]'') on areas rarely subjected to flooding. The area away from the rivers often consists of treeless plains, consisting of various saltbush (''[[Atriplex]]'') species, Cotton Bush (''[[Maireana aphylla]]'') and varieties of ''[[Danthonia]]'' and ''[[Austrostipa]]'' native grasslands.<ref name="NSWPWSRiverinaBiodiversity">{{cite web | url = http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Riverina+-+biodiversity | title = Riverina – Biodiversity | work = Bioregions of NSW | publisher = [[NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]] | access-date = 31 January 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060911212210/http://nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Riverina+-+biodiversity | archive-date = 11 September 2006 | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

Significant mammals endemic to forests in the bioregion include various species of glider, such as Sugar Gliders (''[[Petaurus breviceps]]''), Feathertail Gliders (''[[Acrobates pygmaeus]]'') and Squirrel Gliders (''[[Petaurus norfolcensis]]'') as well as Koalas (''[[Phascolarctos cinereus]]'') A wide variety of birdlife makes its home in wetlands in the Riverina, including many [[Bird migration|migratory]] species. Competition from introduced species and the effect of clearing, grazing and pasture improvement has led to a decline in the diversity of native flora and fauna in the area.<ref name="NSWPWSRiverinaBiodiversity"/>

== History ==
[[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal]] people are thought to have inhabited the Riverina for at least 40,000 years.<ref name="NSWPWSRiverinaBioregionHistory">{{cite web | url = http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Riverina+-+regional+history | title = Riverina – regional history | work = Riverina bioregion | publisher = [[NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service]] | access-date = 29 January 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060911224051/http://nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Riverina+-+regional+history | archive-date = 11 September 2006 | df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Eardley |first=Karen |year=1999 |url=http://nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/PDFs/sbs_Riv_stage1.pdf |title=A Foundation for Conservation in the Riverina Bioregion (154 pages) |publisher=NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service|access-date=7 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070905194952/http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/PDFs/sbs_Riv_stage1.pdf |archive-date=5 September 2007}}  Note Eardley in turn relies on Hope, J. (1995) Aboriginal Burial Conservation in the Murray-Darling Basin. ''[[Historic Environment]]''. Vol. 11(2&3), p. 57 – 60. for section 5.4 Settlement and Land Use (page 22) which covers Aboriginal settlement.</ref> The [[Wiradjuri]] people were the original inhabitants of much of south western New South Wales including much of the Riverina region along the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan rivers.<ref>Mary Coe, in her book ''Windradyne: A Wiradjuri Koori'' quoted at page 4 in {{cite web | last = Patrick | first = Kathy | author2 = Samantha Simmons | year = 1994 | url = http://www.austmus.gov.au/ahu/pdf/wiradjuri.pdf | title = Australian Museum's Aboriginal Collections: Wiradjuri | format = pdf: 39 pages | publisher = [[Australian Museum]] | access-date = 31 October 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070913015144/http://www.austmus.gov.au/ahu/pdf/wiradjuri.pdf | archive-date = 13 September 2007 | df = dmy-all}}</ref> Other groups living along the Murrumbidgee included the [[Nari-Nari]] on the western plains where the town of [[Hay, New South Wales|Hay]],<ref name="NariNari">{{cite web | url = http://www.visithay.com.au/indigenous.html | title = Aboriginal heritage – the Nari-Nari tribe | work = Make Hay Shine! | publisher = Hay Tourism & Development Inc | access-date = 31 October 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071006131647/http://www.visithay.com.au/indigenous.html |archive-date = 6 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> the [[Muthi Muthi people|Muthi-Muthi]] along the Lowbidgee, Gurendji and the [[Muthi Muthi people|Yida-Yida]] of Oxley. Along both sides of the Murray River lived the [[Yorta Yorta people]] inhabiting the area of the Riverina as far east as the present day city of Albury and as far north as the Finley and Deniliquin districts.<ref name="eniar">{{cite web | last = Haslem | first = Benjamin | author2 = Schubert, Misha | author3 = Rintoul, Stuart | year = 2002 | url = http://www.eniar.org/news/yortayorta.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030424102014/http://www.eniar.org/news/yortayorta.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 24 April 2003 | title = Clark claims genocide on ruling | publisher = Herald and Weekly Times – as found on the official website of the European Network for Indigenous Australian Rights | access-date = 31 October 2007}}</ref> The Murray was also home to other groups such as the [[Yorta Yorta people|Bangerang]], [[Barapa Baraba people|Baraba-Baraba]], [[Wemba-Wemba]], Wadi-Wadi, [[Muthi Muthi people|Dadi-Dadi]] and [[Paarkantji (people)|Paarkantji]] communities.<ref name="NSWPWSRiverinaBioregionHistory"/>

The rivers played a leading role in the lifestyle of the Aboriginal people, acting as a source of food and a means of communication and trade. [[Murray cod]] and shellfish were gathered for food and bark canoes were used for travel along the rivers. Scars on many trees alongside the rivers are evidence of this extensive use of canoes. In the summer it is likely that the Bangerang and Wiradjuri joined the [[Monaro, New South Wales|Monaro]] groups in the [[bogong moth]] feasts in the alpine country to the east.<ref name="NSWPWSRiverinaBioregionHistory"/>

=== Exploration and pastoral settlement ===
[[Image:CharlesSturt.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Charles Sturt]], the first [[Europe]]an to follow the [[Murrumbidgee River]] downstream to the Murray.]]

The first European explorer in the Riverina was [[John Oxley]] in 1817 following the [[Lachlan River]] to what is now the town of [[Booligal]].<ref name="NSWPWSRiverinaBioregionHistory"/> Oxley was followed by [[Charles Sturt]], who followed the Murrumbidgee downstream to [[Lake Alexandrina (South Australia)|Lake Alexandrina]] in [[South Australia]] between 1828 and 1831<ref>{{cite web | last = Sturt | first = Charles | year = 2004  | url = http://www.gutenberg.org/files/4330/4330-h/4330-h.htm | title = Two Expeditions into the Interior of Southern Australia | publisher = Project Gutenberg | access-date = 1 February 2007}}</ref> and Major [[Thomas Mitchell (explorer)|Thomas Mitchell]] in 1836 on his way to the [[Wimmera]] and the [[Western District, Victoria|Western District]].<ref>{{cite web | last = Mitchell | first = Thomas | year = 2004 | url = http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12928/12928-h/12928-h.htm | title = Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia, Vol 2 | publisher = Project Gutenburg | access-date =2 February 2007}}</ref>

Pastoral settlement followed soon after, with grazing runs established along the Murray and Murrumbidgee as far west as Hay by 1839. At the time, the area was known as the [[Murrumbidgee District]]. "Cocketgedong" Station, between Jerilderie and Urana, was established in the 1840s by Messrs Brock & Hardie. A map, dated 1864, held by the State Library of Victoria shows them still in possession. At that time, there was little fencing and the sheep were brought back to camps each night by the shepherds. The camps named on the map include Stockyard Camp, Mick's Hill Camp, Columba Camp, The Gums Camp, Coonong Camp, and Sydney Gate Camp. Messrs Watt & Thomson, the owners of an adjoining property, "North Urana", subsequently purchased "Cocketgedong" from Brock & Hardie, giving them a total area of approximately 65,000 acres. In 1904 D & W Gibb, Wool Brokers in Melbourne, purchased "Cocketgedong" which comprised 45,000 acres freehold and approximately 20,000 acres Crown Leasehold. After World War I, the leasehold was resumed for Soldier Settlement blocks, leaving "Cocketgedong" with 36,000 acres and "North Urana" 9000 acres divided by several holdings. The latter part was sold in the early 1950s, leaving the approximate area originally taken up by Brock & Hardie, held by the D & W Gibb Estate. The Woolshed constructed in 1910 consisted of 20 stands, although by 1970 when it was demolished after a new Woolshed was constructed, only 10 stands were being used. The Estate of D & W Gibb sold "Cocketgedong in 1972. [[Moulamein]], in the western Riverina, appears to make legitimate claims as the oldest town in the Riverina,<ref>{{NSW GNR|id = MnjLjzUlMa|title = Moulamein|access-date = 4 August 2013}}</ref> and indeed to being older than [[Melbourne]].<ref name="WakoolShire">{{cite web|year=2006 |url=http://www.wakool.local-e.nsw.gov.au/tourism/43802/43804.html |title=Old Court House Moulamein |work=History and Local Attractions |publisher=[[Wakool Shire|Council of the Shire of Wakool]] |access-date=30 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829004702/http://wakool.local-e.nsw.gov.au/tourism/43802/43804.html |archive-date=29 August 2007}}</ref> The settlers often came into conflict with the indigenous inhabitants. In the [[Narrandera]] district, a battle took place between settlers and the local Narrungderra clan at a location now known as Massacre Island, reportedly leaving only one survivor.<ref name="NarranderaShireCouncilHistory">{{cite web | year = 2005 | url = http://www.narrandera.nsw.gov.au/about/1012/1033.html | title = History of Narrandera | publisher = [[Narrandera Shire|Narrandera Shire Council]] | access-date = 30 January 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060821142049/http://www.narrandera.nsw.gov.au/about/1012/1033.html| archive-date = 21 August 2006}}</ref><!--when-->

[[Cattle]] raising was the major industry in the 1840s with sheep becoming predominant in the 1860s.<ref name="NSWPWSRiverinaBioregionHistory"/> At this time many Victorians settled in the Riverina to breed sheep and cattle to feed the miners taking part in the [[Victorian Gold Rush]]. The herds were considered inferior at first, but these pastures were good for stock, and the land which seemed a desert was actually good fattening country.<ref name="RWGG">{{cite web | url = http://www.wgmb.net.au/index.php?id=22 | title = Riverina History & Data | publisher = Riverina Wine Grape Growers | access-date = 16 January 2007}}</ref>
In the 1860s and 1870s, German settlers from the [[Barossa Valley]] travelled upstream to settle in the eastern Riverina. Because of their religious distinctiveness as [[Lutheranism|Lutherans]], they preferred to form clustered [[German settlements in the Riverina|German settlements]].<ref>[[Dirk HR Spennemann|Spennemann, Dirk H.R.]] (2007) Mapping the German Footprint in the Riverina in 1884. [http://home.mysoul.com.au/heritagefutures/HF_biz/SGCH/SGCH.html ''Studies in German Colonial Heritage''] (ISSN 1834-7797) n° 2, pp. 1–9</ref> In 1867 and 1868 several land parcels were taken up in the [[Jindera]] area.<ref>[[Dirk HR Spennemann|Spennemann, Dirk H.R.]] (2007) A [[Carl Baunscheidt|Baunscheidt]] Homeopathic Medicine Kit in the Jindera Pioneer Museum. [http://home.mysoul.com.au/heritagefutures/HF_biz/SGCH/SGCH.html ''Studies in German Colonial Heritage''] (ISSN 1834-7797) n° 4, pp. 1–87</ref> 56 German farmers, in 1869, took six weeks to travel six hundred miles in covered wagons to establish the town of [[Walla Walla, New South Wales|Walla Walla]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.humeshire.nsw.gov.au/tourism/11198/11211.html | title = About Greater Hume – Walla Walla | publisher = [[Greater Hume Shire|Greater Hume Shire Council]] | access-date = 31 October 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070901195939/http://www.humeshire.nsw.gov.au/tourism/11198/11211.html |archive-date = 1 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Nearby [[Holbrook, New South Wales|Holbrook]] was originally named Germantown after these settlers until changing its name in 1914 as a result of tensions caused by [[World War I]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.walkabout.com.au/locations/NSWHolbrook.shtml | title = Walkabout – Holbrook | publisher = Fairfax | access-date = 31 January 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070311231801/http://www.walkabout.com.au/locations/NSWHolbrook.shtml | archive-date = 11 March 2007 | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

The name "Riverine", coined from the [[Entre Ríos Province]] (between two rivers) in Argentina, South America, was in use as early as 1857: a long letter under the caption "Riverine Colony" appeared in the Albury ''Border Post'' of 24 January that year.<ref name="RWGG"/> The name was coined by [[John Dunmore Lang|Dunmore Lang]] who translated it from the Spanish.<!--still don't know why or what the connection is--><ref name="brownpdf">{{cite web | last = Brown | first = A.J. | year = 2005 | url = https://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/senate/pubs/pops/pop44/brown.pdf | title = The Constitution We Were Meant To Have: Re-examining the origins and strength of Australia's unitary political traditions | work = Department of the Senate Occasional Lecture Series | publisher = [[Australian Senate]] | access-date = 29 January 2007}}</ref>

Dunmore Lang was also involved with the short-lived Riverina [[secession]] movement which was active in the 1860s. The movement was inspired by the success of the Victorian and Queensland secession movements and motivated by a desire to draw more public funds to the region and maintain the favourable land tenure the "[[squatting (pastoral)|squatter]]" pastoralists enjoyed. With the movement strongest in [[Deniliquin]] and [[Albury]], Dunmore Lang, squatter and parliamentarian [[Gideon Lang]] (no relation) and other influential pastoralists joined with local newspaper editors, George Mott and David Jones in the campaign.<ref name="APIReview">{{cite web | last = Hogg | first = Robert | year = 2004 | url = http://www.api-network.com/cgi-bin/reviews/jrbview.cgi?n=1740970233&issue=44 | title = API Review of Books | work = Review:Leighton Frappell, Lords of the Saltbush Plains: Frontier Squatters and the Pastoral Independence Movement 1865–1866 | publisher = Australian Public Intellectual Network | access-date = 2 February 2007
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200109/http://www.api-network.com/cgi-bin/reviews/jrbview.cgi?n=1740970233&issue=44| archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref> This culminated in presenting petitions to the [[Governors of New South Wales|Governor of New South Wales]], [[John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar|Sir John Young]] and the [[Secretary of State for the Colonies|Colonial Secretary]], [[Edward Cardwell, 1st Viscount Cardwell|Edward Cardwell]].<ref name="APIReview"/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.historypages.net/Friverina.html | title = Independence for the Riverina |work= [[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date= 8 May 1862  | publisher = Hugh Capel's Australian History Pages: Nothing after 1901 | access-date = 2 February 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212144/http://www.historypages.net/Friverina.html |archive-date = 27 September 2007|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Soon after the movement fell apart due to the differences between the squatters on one side and the small farmers and townspeople on the other causing its objectives to become obscured by other associated issues such as inter-colonial [[tariff]]s and rail links.<ref name="APIReview"/>

=== Riverboats and railways ===
[[Image:MoulameinOldWharf.JPG|thumb|250px|left|The Old Moulamein Wharf, on the [[Edward River]], was constructed in 1908. Moulamein prospered as an inland port until the coming of the railways in 1926.<ref name="WakoolRiverboats">{{cite web | url = http://www.wakool.nsw.gov.au/about-the-shire-wakool/history-of-the-shire-wakool/1056633-moulamein-wharf | title = Moulamein Wharf | publisher = [[Wakool Shire|Council of the Shire of Wakool]] | access-date = 3 February 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141126022553/http://www.wakool.nsw.gov.au/about-the-shire-wakool/history-of-the-shire-wakool/1056633-moulamein-wharf | archive-date = 26 November 2014 | df = dmy-all}}</ref>]]

From 1853, the Riverina was linked to markets through a series of [[riverboat]]s along the Murray and Murrumbidgee to the river ports of [[Mannum]] and [[Goolwa, South Australia|Goolwa]] in [[South Australia]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.walkabout.com.au/locations/SAMannum.shtml | title = Walkabout Australian Travel Guide – Mannum | publisher = Fairfax | access-date = 2 February 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070311095629/http://www.walkabout.com.au/locations/SAMannum.shtml | archive-date = 11 March 2007 | df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://walkabout.com.au/locations/SAGoolwa.shtml | title = Walkabout Australian Travel Guide – Goolwa | publisher = Fairfax | access-date = 2 February 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060901154028/http://www.walkabout.com.au/locations/SAGoolwa.shtml | archive-date = 1 September 2006 | df = dmy-all}}</ref> and from 1864, to [[Echuca]] connected by rail to [[Melbourne]].<ref name="Victorian Rail">{{cite web|url=http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html |title=Important VR dates |publisher=Mark Bau's VR Website |access-date=31 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530050949/http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html |archive-date=30 May 2008}}</ref> Riverboats reached as far upstream as [[Gundagai]] and [[Albury]] and towns such as [[Darlington Point]], Narrandera and Moulamein became important river ports.<ref name="NSWPWSRiverinaBioregion"/><ref name="NarranderaShireCouncilHistory"/><ref name="WakoolRiverboats"/><ref name="SwanHillRiverboat">{{cite web | url = http://www.rootsweb.com/~ausshghs/archive_2000/arch_news2_May2000.htm | title = History of the Swan Hill Riverboats:May 2000 Feature  | publisher = Swan Hill Genealogical & Historical Society Inc. | access-date = 31 January 2007}}</ref><!--perhaps a better reference can be found-->  The riverboat era peaked in the twenty years from 1870 to 1890, declining with the coming of the railway and finally ending with the disruption to the workforce caused by World War I.<ref name="SwanHillRiverboat"/>

From Melbourne, [[broad gauge]] railway lines opened to [[Deniliquin]] in 1876 and west to [[Moulamein]] and [[Balranald]] in 1926.<ref name="Victorian Rail"/> The Moulamein–Balranald section closed in the 1980s. The [[North East railway line|North East line]] reached [[Wodonga railway station|Wodonga]] in 1873, and was connected to Albury at a [[break-of-gauge]] in 1883, and the [[Shepparton railway line|Melbourne-Shepparton line]] was extended to [[Tocumwal railway station|Tocumwal]] in 1908.<ref name="newsrail-line">{{Victorian Rail-Newsrail|title=Tracks Across the State|author=Sid Brown|month=3|year=1990|pages=71-76}}</ref>

The number of cross border railways expanded with the passing of the [[1922 Border Railways Act]],<ref name=lee133>{{cite book |author=Lee, Robert |title=The Railways of Victoria 1854–2004 |publisher=Melbourne University Publishing |year=2007 |isbn= 978-0-522-85134-2 |page=133}}</ref> with the [[Oaklands railway line, Victoria|Benalla – Yarrawonga branch line]] extended to [[Oaklands, New South Wales|Oaklands]] in 1938, both lines meeting standard gauge lines that were subsequently closed. [[Victorian Railways]] commenced construction of a railway from [[Robinvale railway station|Robinvale]] to Koorakee and Lette in New South Wales in 1924 (the [[Lette railway line]]), but this railway was never completed. The Murray River bridge between Robinvale and [[Euston, New South Wales|Euston]] was instead converted to a road bridge, which will be demolished when the new road bridge currently under construction is completed. The [[Stony Crossing railway line]] was built from Kerang to [[Murrabit]] in 1924 and [[Stony Crossing]] (originally called Poonboon) in 1928 under an agreement with New South Wales.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/bra1922177/sch1.html | title=Border Railways Act 1922| publisher=Australian Australasian Legal Information Institute | access-date=9 June 2006}}</ref> No passenger services were carried on the section beyond Murrabit after 1932 and it was closed about 1943.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aattc.org.au/Times%20December%202002A.pdf | title=Poonboon | publisher=Australian Association of Time Table Collectors | access-date=9 June 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823032034/http://www.aattc.org.au/Times%20December%202002A.pdf | archive-date=23 August 2006 | df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[File:CountryLink XPT 2018 at Junee.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Junee railway station]] is a junction for the Melbourne [[New South Wales XPT|XPT]] passenger service]]
[[Standard gauge]] rail services from Sydney came with the extension of the [[Main Southern railway line|Main Southern line]] to [[Cootamundra railway station|Cootamundra]] and [[Junee railway station|Junee]] in 1878 and the construction of the [[Murrumbidgee River Railway Bridge]] in 1881<ref>{{cite AHD|15910|Murrumbidgee River Rail Bridge, Wagga Wagga, NSW|access-date = 31 October 2007}}</ref> allowed the line to be extended past Wagga Wagga to [[Henty railway station|Henty]] and [[Albury railway station|Albury]] later that year.<ref>{{cite web  | publisher = nswrail.net   | title=Main South Line  | url = http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:main_south|access-date = 31 January 2007}}</ref> A branch line was constructed to [[Temora railway station|Temora]] in 1893 and extended to [[Barellan]] in 1908, [[Griffith railway station|Griffith]] in 1916 and [[Hillston]] in 1923.<ref>{{cite web  | publisher = nswrail.net  | title=Temora – Roto Line  | url = http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:temora_roto
|access-date = 31 January 2007}}</ref> Further south, a branch line was completed from Junee to [[Narrandera railway station|Narrandera]] in 1881 and extended to [[Hay railway station|Hay]] by 1882.<ref>{{cite web  | publisher = nswrail.net  | title=Hay Branch  | url = http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:hay
|access-date = 31 January 2007}}</ref> Another branch pushed south from Narrandera toward the Victorian border reaching [[Jerilderie]] in 1884 and the Murray at [[Tocumwal railway station|Tocumwal]] in 1898.<ref>{{cite web  | publisher = nswrail.net  | title=Tocumwal Branch  | url = http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:tocumwal  |access-date = 31 January 2007}}</ref>

=== Bushrangers ===
Transport links assisted the development of the Riverina economy, at the same time areas of the region found themselves under threat from robbery and murder by various [[bushranger]]s. Between 1862 and 1865, the eastern Riverina between Wagga Wagga and Albury saw the depredations of [[Dan Morgan (bushranger)|Dan "Mad Dog" Morgan]]. Having previously been convicted of armed robbery, Morgan came to the attention to authorities in the Riverina when he bailed up a police magistrate, [[Henry Baylis]], near [[Urana]] in 1863. In 1864, Morgan bailed up Round Hill [[sheep station|station]], a large sheep farm near [[Morven, New South Wales|Morven]], killing a station hand. Later that year, the bushranger shot dead a policeman in cold blood near [[Tumbarumba]]. The reward placed on his head reached £1,000 before, in April 1865, he was shot dead near [[Wangaratta]], [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]].<ref name="ADBMorgan">{{cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |last = McQuilton |first = John |id=AS10351b | title = Morgan, Daniel (Dan) (c. 1830 – 1865) | access-date = 4 February 2007}}</ref>

{{wikisource|The Jerilderie Letter}}
The infamous Australian bushranger, [[Ned Kelly]], made possibly his most daring raid in the Riverina, at [[Jerilderie]] in 1879. After riding overland from north east Victoria, Kelly and his gang in a brazen move captured two local policemen and stole their uniforms. Impersonating the police, they then proceeded to rob the [[Bank of New South Wales]] and held the town captive for several days. While in Jerilderie, he sought to have his manifesto published, the famous Jerilderie letter, a rambling 8,000-word condemnation of the colonial administration in Victoria and specifically the treatment of the [[Irish Australian|Irish]]. Being unable to find the local newspaper editor, he left the letter with a member of the bank staff and returned to Victoria £2,000 richer.<ref name="CrimeLibraryKelly?">{{cite web | url = http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters_outlaws/outlaws/ned_kelly/13.html | title = Ned Kelly – Jerilderie | work = Crime Library | publisher = Courtroom Television Network | access-date = 5 February 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070410103444/http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters_outlaws/outlaws/ned_kelly/13.html | archive-date = 10 April 2007 | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

=== Riverina and federation ===
{{main|Federation of Australia}}
[[Image:BerriganFederalHotel2.JPG|thumb|250px|The Federal Hotel in [[Berrigan, New South Wales|Berrigan]], one of a series of [[Public House|hotels]] built or renamed in the southern Riverina as a result of the Federation campaign]]

The close geographic and cultural ties between the Riverina and northern Victoria, combined with continuing frustration with inter colonial tariffs, made the Riverina a fertile area for ideas for uniting the various colonies in an [[Federation of Australia|Australian federation]]. This would see the southern Riverina in particular take a leading role in bringing about federation.

Prior to federation, the various Australian colonies could, and often did, charge [[tariff]]s on goods from the other colonies, ostensibly for the [[Protectionism|protection]] of their domestic manufacturing industries, mainly based in the larger cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. For a border community such as the southern Riverina, these tariffs were a sore burden, making goods purchased from Melbourne, the closest large city, more expensive and reducing the competitiveness of these towns supplying the Melbourne and Adelaide markets.<ref name="AustralianUnity">{{cite web | url = http://www.australianunity.com.au/au/cofederation/aurole.asp | title = Federation: An ANA Perspective | publisher = Australian Unity | access-date = 5 February 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061206030815/http://www.australianunity.com.au/au/cofederation/aurole.asp <!--Added by H3llBot--> | archive-date = 6 December 2006}}</ref> In addition, crossing the border on the Murray River was a tiresome experience as each border crossing had customs posts inspecting goods and luggage to ensure all duty was paid and to reduce smuggling, a popular activity.<ref name="TreasurerSpeech">{{cite web | last = Costello | first = Peter | author-link = Peter Costello | year = 2001 | url = http://ministers.treasury.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=speeches/2001/004.htm&pageID=005&min=phc&Year=2001&DocType=1 | title = Speech – Oddfellows Hall, Corowa. Saturday, 28&nbsp;July 2001 | publisher = Commonwealth of Australia | access-date = 5 February 2007}}</ref> Another item of concern was the lack of adequate river crossings. Along the Riverina the Murray was—and remains—part of New South Wales, who had no interest in assisting border residents to access goods and services in Victoria that may otherwise have been sourced from Sydney.

In the early 1890s, for mainly patriotic reasons, the [[Australian Natives' Association]] helped establish the Federation League, a society dedicated to the creation of a federal nation.<ref name="AustralianUnity"/> Following a series of addresses by the future [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]], [[Edmund Barton]] to large crowds, some 15 League branches were established in the towns along the southern border.<ref name="TreasurerSpeech"/><ref name="NAABarton">{{cite web | url = http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/meetpm.asp?pmId=2&pageName=before | title = Edmund Barton | work = Australia's Prime Ministers | publisher = National Archives of Australia | access-date = 5 February 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060907232507/http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/meetpm.asp?pmId=2&pageName=before| archive-date = 7 September 2006}}</ref> One of these towns, [[Corowa]], was the location for the first conference of the Australian Federation League in 1893. At this conference, [[John Quick (politician)|Dr John Quick]], a delegate from Bendigo, proposed a resolution calling for the colonial legislatures to pass an act providing for the election of representatives to a convention to develop a federal [[constitution]]. This has been seen as the turning point in the push for Federation. The momentum generated from this point lead to a series of conventions and elections and finally, the inauguration of a [[Constitution of Australia|federal constitution]] on 1 January 1901.<ref name="AustralianUnity"/>

=== Irrigation and closer settlement ===
{{See also|Irrigation in viticulture}}
[[Image:Riverina 1916.jpg|250px|thumb|A 1916 map of the Riverina. The area where Griffith and Leeton would later be built was largely uninhabited until the development of the [[Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area]].]]
Large scale irrigation commenced with the establishment of the [[Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area]] (MIA) in 1912 which diverted water from the Murrumbidgee River near Narrandera. The River Murray Waters Agreement of 1915 allowed 26 [[weir]]s to be constructed with locks to provide permanent riverboat access to Echuca. When riverboat transport was no longer significant, the weirs supported irrigation. Irrigation in the region continued to develop with the construction of the [[Hume Dam]] between 1919 and 1931, the [[Burrinjuck Dam]] built in 1928 and [[Blowering Dam]] built in 1968.<ref name = "NSWPWSRiverinaBioregionHistory"/>

Development and promotion of the MIA led to large scale settlement on land described by Oxley 100 years earlier as "country which, for barrenness and desolation, can I think, have no equal." Settlers came from a diverse range of backgrounds and nationalities. In particular, the [[Italian Australian|Italian]] community prospered in the Area, owning nearly half of all the farms around Griffith by 1954.<ref>{{cite web
 | url = http://users.dragnet.com.au/~ggahs/abgriffith.htm
 | title = The city of Griffith – Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
 | publisher = Griffith Genealogical and Historical Society
 | access-date = 1 February 2007
}}</ref>
Later, further irrigation was developed for areas in the Murray valley starting with the Wakool Irrigation District in 1932, then the Deniboota and Denimein Irrigation Districts in 1938, the Berriquin Irrigation District in 1939 and the Tullakool Irrigation Area in 1942. The Coleambally Irrigation Area, established in 1968, was the last of the major government-sponsored irrigation developments in New South Wales.<ref name="CSIROirrigation"/>

== Agriculture ==
[[Image:EubertaCentrePivotIrrigation.jpg|left|thumb|A [[center pivot irrigation|centre pivot irrigation]] system near [[Euberta]]. Much of the agricultural industry in the Riverina relies on irrigation.]]

The high soil fertility and abundance of water in the Riverina floodplain has made the Riverina region one of the most productive farming regions in Australia with rice, wheat, [[maize]], [[canola]], [[citrus]] and [[List of grape varieties|wine grapes]] being grown in the area. The Riverina contains many irrigation schemes including the [[Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area]]. {{convert|182000|ha|acre}} are under irrigation in the region.<ref name="NSWDSRD">{{cite web | url = http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/6827/regprofile_riverina_20110311.pdf | title = Riverina – food basket of Australia | work = Regions of NSW | publisher = New South Wales Department of State and Regional Development | access-date = 29 January 2007}}</ref>

For the first few decades following the 1830s, European pastoral activity focused in the main on cattle production but by the 1860s sheep were the predominant stock.<ref name="NSWPWSRiverinaBioregionHistory"/>

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the region's agricultural and horticultural production was worth more than [[Australian dollar|A$]]1 billion. The region produces:
* over 25% of the state's fruit and vegetables
* 90% of NSW citrus products
* 80% of NSW wine/grape production
* livestock feedlots, sales and processing facilities
* nearly 20% of all NSW crop production and two-thirds of its total value.<ref name="NSWDSRD"/>
[[File:Burrandana Railway Station in 1985.jpg|right|thumb|[[Burrandana]] railway station overlooking a field of wheat stubble, 1985]]
In 1991–92 sheep and lamb numbers in the region were close to seven million and there were 500,000 meat cattle.<ref name = "RWGG"/>
The Riverina is also a significant [[almond]] growing region.<ref>{{cite web|title=Australian almond history|url=http://nutproducers.com.au/almond-products/australian-almond-history/|website=Nut Producers Australia|access-date=9 January 2016}}</ref>

=== Wool ===
Much of the [[dryland farming|dryland]] areas of the Riverina contain large [[sheep station]]s, producing [[wool classing|medium class wool]]. The [[Peppin Merino]] sheep was first bred in the area around [[Wanganella, New South Wales|Wanganella]]. As many as 70 percent of today's Australian Merinos are said to be directly descended from the Peppin-developed sheep.<ref>[http://www.woolinnovation.com.au/Education/Student_information/Sheep_breeds_in_Australia/page__2158.aspx Australian Wool Innovation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223150358/http://www.woolinnovation.com.au/Education/Student_information/Sheep_breeds_in_Australia/page__2158.aspx |date=23 December 2008}} – Sheep breeds in Australia. Retrieved 31 October 2007.</ref> The Riverina is home to many Merino studs and the saltbush plains are regarded as one of Australia's best wool growing regions.<ref name="Agriculture">{{cite web | url = http://www.visithay.com.au/agriculture.html | title = Agriculture in the Hay district | access-date = 25 January 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070904010346/http://www.visithay.com.au/agriculture.html |archive-date = 4 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Rice ===
The Riverina produces the vast majority of rice grown in Australia, particularly in the [[Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area]] (MIA), but also around the [[Finley, New South Wales|Finley]], [[Coleambally]] and [[Deniliquin]] areas.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sunrice.com.au/rice/industry-grown.asp | title = The Australian Rice Growing Region | publisher = SunRice | access-date = 28 January 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070804130553/http://www.sunrice.com.au/rice/industry-grown.asp |archive-date = 4 August 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first commercial rice crops in the Riverina were grown in the Leeton and Yanco district in 1924, expanding to [[Wakool]] during [[World War II]], the Denimein and Deniboota Irrigation Areas in the 1950s and Coleambally and Finley in the 1960s.  In recent years, rice is also grown in the Hay, [[Carrathool]] and [[Hillston]] areas.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.aboutrice.com/handout01.htm | title = Information sheet: History of rice in Australia | publisher = Ricegrowers Association of Australia| access-date = 28 January 2007 | archive-date = 13 September 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090913101424/http://www.aboutrice.com/handout01.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Historically, well over one million tonnes of Australian rice has been produced each year and exported to over 70 countries, generating [[Australian dollar|A$]]500 million in export income and supporting 63 towns in the Riverina and northern Victoria.  More recently, drought has drastically reduced this quantity to less than 30,000 tonnes with resultant economic effects.  Recent rains however will see this volume increase.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rga.org.au/rice/facts.asp | title = Rice Facts | publisher = Ricegrowers Association of Australia| access-date = 28 January 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061230104235/http://www.rga.org.au/rice/facts.asp <!--Added by H3llBot--> | archive-date = 30 December 2006}}</ref> The headquarters of [[SunRice]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sunrice.com.au/about/index.asp | title = About SunRice | publisher =[[SunRice]]| access-date = 29 January 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070103162618/http://www.sunrice.com.au/about/index.asp |archive-date = 3 January 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> is located in Leeton, Australia's rice capital.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sunrice.com.au/contact/addresses.asp | title = SunRice Address Book | publisher =SunRice| access-date = 29 January 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070208203519/http://www.sunrice.com.au/contact/addresses.asp |archive-date = 8 February 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Major rice mills are located in [[Leeton, New South Wales|Leeton]], Coleambally and the largest rice mill in the southern hemisphere in Deniliquin.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sunrice.com.au/careers/deniliquin.asp | title = SunRice Deniliquin | publisher =SunRice| access-date = 28 January 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070831010421/http://www.sunrice.com.au/careers/deniliquin.asp |archive-date = 31 August 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Wine ===
{{Further|Riverina wine region|New South Wales wine}}
[[Image:Vineyard - Riverina (1).jpg|thumb|right|A vineyard situated in [[Tumblong]]]]
The area generally known as "the Riverina" is broader than the area legally defined as the [[Riverina wine region]] [[Australian Geographical Indication]] (AGI) as registered in the Register of Protected GIs. The Riverina GI is centred on [[Griffith, New South Wales|Griffith]] and is roughly circular with towns on the boundary including [[Mossgiel, New South Wales|Mossgiel]], [[Condobolin]], [[Temora, New South Wales|Temora]], [[Junee]], [[Culcairn]], [[Berrigan, New South Wales|Berrigan]], [[Finley, New South Wales|Finley]], [[Deniliquin]] and [[Moulamein]]. It does not extend as far south as the Murray River.<ref name="GI">{{cite web |url=https://www.wineaustralia.com/en/Production%20and%20Exporting/Register%20of%20Protected%20GIs%20and%20Other%20Terms/Geographical%20Indications/New%20South%20Wales/Big%20Rivers/Riverina.aspx |title=Riverina |publisher=[[Wine Australia]] |work=Register of Protected GIs and Other Terms |access-date=28 May 2016}}</ref>

The Riverina region is one of the most prosperous grape growing regions in Australia (particularly in Griffith), along with the [[Barossa Valley (wine)|Barossa Valley]] in [[South Australia (wine)|South Australia]]. The region grows 55% of wine grapes in New South Wales and 15% of the total grape production within Australia and 80% of wine/grape production of New South Wales; the region is Australia's largest producer of wine.<!--seems to conflict with the 15% statement - need to reconcile - Aust largest comes from DSRD-->  Over 50% of the Riverina's wine production is exported. As a producer of specialist wine grapes, its wine style of international importance is [[Noble rot|Botrytised]] [[Semillon]] and the outstanding speciality made from these grapes is a "[[Sauternes (wine)|sauternes]]-style" [[dessert wine]].<ref name="NSWDSRD"/><ref>{{cite web|year=2005 |url=http://www.wineaustralia.com/Australia/Default.aspx?tabid=713 |title=Riverina, New South Wales |work=Wine Regions |publisher=[[Wine Australia]] |access-date=15 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816064019/http://www.wineaustralia.com/Australia/Default.aspx?tabid=713 |archive-date=16 August 2007}}</ref><!-- In May 2016 the link still resolves, but to a generic page, not one about Riverina-->

Irrigation made it possible to grow grapes for wine. The first grapes were planted at [[Hanwood, New South Wales|Hanwood]] in the spring of 1913 by John McWilliam and his eldest son Jack who had come to the district from their winery in Junee. Irrigation was by carting of water until the irrigation channels were opened a few months later.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcwilliams.com.au/our-story/ |title=Our Story | website =McWilliam's Wines |access-date=8 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927160010/http://www.mcwilliams.com.au/our-story/ |archive-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> The first grapes were picked in 1916 and sent to Junee for processing. [[Penfolds]] established its winery in the region in 1919.<ref name = "RWGG"/>

== Cities, towns and settlements ==
[[File:TheRockPark2010.JPG|thumb|[[The Rock, New South Wales|The Rock]]]]
At the 2016 [[census in Australia|census]], the population of the Riverina (ABS SA4 Region) was 155,934, 5.4% of whom were indigenous and 18.4% born outside Australia. In common usage the Riverina often includes parts of the Murray SA4 region, as of 2016 the population of Murray was 115,803, 3.4% of the population were indigenous and 17.7% were born outside of Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2016 Census QuickStats|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3310114.nsf/Home/2016%20QuickStats|access-date=15 December 2020|website=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref>

[[File:CulcairnStationMastersResidence.JPG|thumb|250px|left|The Station Master's Residence in the town of [[Culcairn]] in the eastern Riverina. Many of the buildings in Culcairn, including this one, are heritage listed.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/New-South-Wales/Culcairn/2005/02/17/1108500193446.html | title = Travel – Culcairn | newspaper = [[Sydney Morning Herald]]|access-date = 28 January 2007 | date=8 February 2004}}</ref>]]The Riverina includes two cities; [[Wagga Wagga]] and [[Griffith, New South Wales|Griffith]]. Other large towns include [[Leeton, New South Wales|Leeton]], [[Finley, New South Wales|Finley]], [[Deniliquin]], [[Cootamundra]], [[West Wyalong]], [[Narrandera]], [[Junee]] and [[Temora, New South Wales|Temora]]. Wagga Wagga is the largest inland city in New South Wales with an estimated resident population of 56,675 people in 2019<ref>As at the 2016 census, Wagga Wagga is the 28th in the [[List of cities in Australia by population#50 largest urban centres by population|50 largest Urban Centres by population]] as per Australian Bureau of Statistics, ''Regional Population. 2018-2019 financial year.'' [https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/2018-19 Web access]. Although [[Albury-Wodonga]] has a larger population, it includes the Victorian city of [[Wodonga]].</ref> and serves as an important employment, educational, cultural, social and entertainment centre for surrounding towns throughout the Riverina. Wagga Wagga's facilities are of metropolitan standards with shopping, cafes, recreational facilities and nightlife present within the city. The two largest centres in population in the region after Wagga Wagga are Griffith and Leeton and they provide advanced services to the outlying farming regions.

Parts of the Riverina experienced substantial population growth in the late 1990s and early 2000s; in the five-year period between 1996 and 2001, Griffith's population increased by 10.8%.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rrdb.com.au/rivprofile/griffith.htm | title = Griffith Regional Profile | publisher = Riverina Regional Development Board | access-date = 23 January 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927182909/http://www.rrdb.com.au/rivprofile/griffith.htm|archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Until recently Wagga Wagga's population was declining slowly and ageing with strong growth in age groups 40 and over.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rrdb.com.au/rivprofile/waggawagga.htm | title = Wagga Wagga Regional Profile | publisher = Riverina Regional Development Board | access-date = 23 January 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070606081034/http://www.rrdb.com.au/rivprofile/waggawagga.htm |archive-date = 6 June 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> This has now changed and Wagga Wagga has become one of Australia's leading examples of the "sponge" city phenomenon, attracting residents from smaller towns in the Riverina such as [[Urana]]. In the year ended 30 June 2006, the population of Wagga Wagga grew by 1.3%, driven by its role as the regional centre for the Riverina and its hosting of a campus of [[Charles Sturt University]] and [[Australian Defence Force]] bases.<ref name="WaggaDailyAdvertiser">{{cite news | first = Tim | last = Rowe | title = Wagga is the leading sponge city | url = http://www.riverinamediagroup.com.au/Home/news.asp?publication=The%20Daily%20Advertiser&articleType=Local&ArticleID=16339 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928071156/http://www.riverinamediagroup.com.au/Home/news.asp?publication=The%20Daily%20Advertiser&articleType=Local&ArticleID=16339 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 28 September 2007 | publisher = [[The Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga)|The Daily Advertiser]] | date = 2 March 2007 | access-date = 7 March 2007}}</ref>

The Local Government Area of Temora experienced a population decline in the early 2000s, dropping from 6288 people in 2001 to a low of 5936 in 2009. Since then the LGA has grown steadily. As of 2019 the estimated resident population of Temora has now expanded to 6307 people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Regional Population|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/latest-release|access-date=14 December 2020|website=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]}}</ref>

== Politics ==
The Riverina is politically [[conservatism|conservative]] and leans towards the [[National Party of Australia|National Party]] on both the federal and state level.

The Riverina is represented at the federal level in two divisions of the [[Australian House of Representatives]], the [[Division of Riverina]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/r/riverina.htm | title = Riverina | publisher = [[Australian Electoral Commission]] | access-date = 29 January 2007}}</ref> covering the Murrumbidgee valley; and the [[Division of Farrer]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/f/farrer.htm | title = Farrer| publisher = [[Australian Electoral Commission]] | access-date = 29 January 2007}}</ref> the area along the Murray River. As of the [[2019 Australian federal election|2019 Federal Election]], Riverina is held by the [[National Party of Australia|National Party]] and Farrer by the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]], who, in coalition, are the governing parties. At the state level, the electoral districts of [[Electoral district of Albury|Albury]], [[Electoral district of Cootamundra|Cootamundra]], [[Electoral district of Murray|Murray]] and [[Electoral district of Wagga Wagga|Wagga Wagga]] cover the Riverina region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/2130/nsw.gif |title=New South Wales Index Map |format=gif |publisher=[[New South Wales Electoral Commission]] |access-date=31 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830054147/http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0006/2130/nsw.gif |archive-date=30 August 2007}}</ref>

There are a range of [[Local government in Australia|local government authorities]] in the region, ranging from the cities of [[City of Wagga Wagga|Wagga Wagga]] and [[City of Griffith|Griffith]]; to the municipalities of [[Edward River Council|Edward River]], [[Federation Council|Federation]], [[Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council|Cootamundra-Gundagai]], [[Murray River Council|Murray River]], [[Murrumbidgee Council|Murrumbidgee]] and [[Snowy Valleys Council|Snowy Valleys]]; and the shires of [[Balranald Shire|Balranald]], [[Berrigan Shire|Berrigan]], [[Carrathool Shire|Carrathool]], [[Coolamon Shire|Coolamon]], [[Greater Hume Shire|Greater Hume]], [[Hay Shire|Hay]], [[Junee Shire|Junee]], [[Leeton Shire|Leeton]], [[Lockhart Shire|Lockhart]], [[Narrandera Shire Council|Narrandera]], [[Bland Shire|Bland]] and [[Temora Shire|Temora]]. These councils are arranged into Regional Organisations of Councils (ROC)s: Riverina and Murray ROC and Riverina Eastern ROC.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_LocalGovDirectory.asp?index=3#752 | title = Local Government Directory – Regional Organisations of Councils | publisher = Division of Local Government, New South Wales Government | access-date = 19 April 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120322120307/http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_LocalGovDirectory.asp?index=3#752 | archive-date = 22 March 2012 | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

== Health ==
In 2015, 33.1% of the region's population was [[obese]], somewhat higher than the national average.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nowtolove.com.au/health/diet-nutrition/australias-most-obese-towns-revealed-12738 | title=Do you live in Australia's fattest town? }}</ref>

== Facilities and services ==
[[Image:CSUWelcome.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The entrance sign to the Wagga Wagga campus of [[Charles Sturt University]]. The sign recognises the [[Wiradjuri]] people as the [[traditional owners]] of the area.]]

Higher education in the Riverina is provided by [[Charles Sturt University]] (CSU), with campuses serving the Riverina in Albury and Wagga Wagga.<ref name="Campus">{{cite web | url = http://www.csu.edu.au/about/campuses.htm | title = Charles Sturt University – Campuses  | work = Official website | publisher = [[Charles Sturt University]] | access-date = 15 January 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070203151714/http://www.csu.edu.au/about/campuses.htm |archive-date = 3 February 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The university was established in 1989 with the amalgamation of the Albury and Wagga Wagga campuses of the Riverina-Murray Institute of Higher Education with the Mitchell College of Advanced Education in [[Bathurst, New South Wales|Bathurst]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.csu.edu.au/research/archives/history_CSU.htm | title = Regional Archives:History of Charles Sturt University | publisher = [[Charles Sturt University]] | access-date = 30 January 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070829120433/http://www.csu.edu.au/research/archives/history_CSU.htm |archive-date = 29 August 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> CSU provides specialist services to the Riverina in areas such as [[viticulture]] and winemaking.<ref>{{cite web | year = 2007 | url = http://news.csu.edu.au/director/latestnews.cfm?itemID=6B7A5E33EDE646FD94CA298991248B93&printtemplate=release | title = New small scale winery to show the way to wine industry | publisher = [[Charles Sturt University]] | access-date = 30 January 2007}}</ref>

Other educational facilities in the region include [[TAFE NSW]], providing technical and vocational training at a number of campuses throughout the region including in West Wyalong, Cootamundra, Griffith, Hay, Leeton, Narrandera, Tumut, Temora, and Wagga Wagga.<ref name="Tafe">{{cite web|title=TAFE NSW|url=https://www.tafensw.edu.au/locations|access-date=14 December 2020|website=[[TAFE NSW]]|publisher=Riverina Institute of TAFE|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Most larger centres have public [[List of schools in the Riverina|high schools]] and most smaller centres are serviced by a public primary school.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/schoolfind/locator/?section=showRegion&region=537 | title = School Locator | publisher = New South Wales Department of Education and Training. | access-date = 23 January 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061230005446/http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/schoolfind/locator/?section=showRegion&region=537 | archive-date = 30 December 2006 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

The health service in the Riverina is administered by [https://www.mlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/ Murrumbidgee Local Health District]. Base Hospitals are located at Albury, Wagga Wagga and Griffith while Deniliquin, Hillston, Henty and Narrandera among others are home to regional hospitals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Murrumbidgee|url=https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/lhd/Pages/mlhd.aspx|access-date=14 December 2020|website=[[NSW Health]]}}</ref>

[[Image:ARTCKapooka.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The Army Recruit Training Centre in Wagga Wagga is the commencement training centre for almost all army personnel in Australia.]]
Situated between the large cities of [[Melbourne]], [[Sydney]] and [[Adelaide]], the Riverina is a transportation hub. Major transportation links in the region include the [[Hume Highway]], [[Newell Highway]] and [[Sturt Highway]]; all part of the Australian [[National Highway (Australia)|National Highway]]. Other highways include the [[Riverina Highway]], [[Cobb Highway]], [[Olympic Highway]], [[Kidman Way]], [[Irrigation Way]] and [[Burley Griffin Way]].

[[NSW TrainLink]] rail services from [[Central railway station, Sydney|Sydney]] to [[Griffith railway station|Griffith]] and [[Southern Cross railway station|Melbourne]] serve the Riverina with connecting buses reaching smaller communities.<ref name="countrylink map">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.countrylink.info/timetables/network_map 
 |title=CountryLink:Network Map 
 |publisher=[[CountryLink]]
 |access-date=31 January 2007 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930174947/http://www.countrylink.info/timetables/network_map 
 |archive-date=30 September 2012}}</ref> [[V/Line]] provide services linking Griffith, Deniliquin and the towns along the Murray with public transport access to Melbourne.<ref name="???">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/travelling/networkmap-a4-v.pdf 
 |title=Travelling with V/Line 
 |publisher=[[V/Line]]
 |access-date=31 January 2007 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326062253/http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/travelling/networkmap-a4-v.pdf 
 |archive-date=26 March 2009 
}}</ref>

[[Wagga Wagga Airport]]<ref>{{cite web | url= https://wagga.nsw.gov.au/business-investment/council-businesses/wagga-wagga-airport#:~:text=Wagga%20Wagga%20boasts%20one%20of,and%20Regional%20Express%20(Rex).| title=Wagga Wagga Airport}}</ref> and [[Griffith Airport]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.griffith.nsw.gov.au/Business/Airport | title= Griffith Airport}}</ref>
are two of the region’s main airports that provide direct flights to [[Sydney]] and [[Melbourne]].

The Riverina is host to two major [[Australian Defence Force]] training facilities. The [[Army Recruit Training Centre]] is located at [[Kapooka]], {{convert|9.5|km|mi|}} south west of Wagga Wagga<ref>{{cite web
 | url = http://www.defence.gov.au/army/artc/welcome.html
 | title = Army Recruit Training Centre – Location
 | publisher = [[Department of Defence (Australia)|Department of Defence]]
 | access-date = 2 February 2007
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060511034254/http://www.defence.gov.au/army/artc/welcome.html| archive-date = 11 May 2006}}</ref> and [[RAAF Base Wagga]] is the home of the RAAF Ground Training Wing base. These bases along with a Royal Australian Navy Defence Communications Station play an integral role in the local economy.<ref name="NSWDSRD"/>

== Sports ==
The Riverina is well known for the quality and range of its sports activity and many famous sportsmen and women have hailed from the Riverina. These include:
* Tennis champions [[Margaret Court]] and [[Evonne Goolagong|Evonne Goolagong Cawley]]
* [[Cricket]]ers [[Mark Taylor (cricketer)|Mark Taylor]], [[Geoff Lawson (cricketer)|Geoff Lawson]] and [[Michael Slater]]
* [[Rugby league]] players [[Peter Sterling (rugby league commentator)|Peter Sterling]] and [[Laurie Daley]] and the Mortimer brothers: [[Chris Mortimer]], [[Peter Mortimer (rugby league)|Peter Mortimer]] and [[Steve Mortimer]]
* [[Australian rules football]]ers [[Haydn Bunton Senior]], [[Paul Kelly (Australian rules footballer)|Paul Kelly]], [[Brett Kirk]], [[Shane Crawford]], [[Wayne Carey]] 
* [[Association football|Soccer]] players [[Archie Thompson]] and [[Joshua Kennedy]].
* Jockeys [[Scobie Breasley|Arthur "Scobie" Breasley]] and [[Roy Higgins (jockey)|Roy Higgins]].
* [[Basketball]] great [[Lauren Jackson]].

The "Wagga Effect" is a term that has been used frequently in the Australian media to describe the disproportionately large number of elite sportsmen and women that originate from the town.<ref>{{cite news  | first=Edwina| last=Farley| url=http://www.abc.net.au/rural/nt/content/2005/s1504753.htm  | title=Sports stars more likely to come from the bush  | work=ABC Rural  | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation    | date=11 November 2005  | access-date=20 January 2007}}</ref> It is speculated that the phenomenon may arise in rural areas where the population is large enough to sustain the presence of a large number of sporting codes, but small enough to ensure that talented individuals are exposed to adult-level competition at an earlier age.

[[File:BarellanEvonneGoolagongPark2.JPG|thumb|250px|left|Evonne Goolagong Park in [[Barellan, New South Wales|Barellan]], the home town of the dual [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] champion.]]
Unusually for New South Wales, [[Australian rules football]] is quite popular in the Southern Riverina as it is south of the [[Barassi Line]], and there are many clubs and leagues in the district, including the [[Riverina Football League]], [[Farrer Football League]], [[Hume Football League]], [[Northern Riverina Football League]] and [[Coreen & District Football League]]. In addition, many clubs along the border play in Victorian leagues such as the [[Ovens & Murray Football League]], [[Murray Football League]], [[Picola & District Football League]] and the [[Golden Rivers Football League]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://aflnswact.com.au/default.aspx?s=leaguesdisplay&aid=91554 | title = Senior Leagues and Clubs | publisher = AFL NSW/ACT | access-date = 29 January 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060823233226/http://aflnswact.com.au/default.aspx?s=leaguesdisplay&aid=91554 |archive-date = 23 August 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the northern part of the Riverina, [[Rugby league]] and [[Rugby Union]] are both strong, with rugby league being the most popular sport. Rugby League competitions in the district include [[Group 9 Rugby League|Group 9]] (Wagga Wagga and districts), [[Group 17 Rugby League|Group 17]] (Hillston and districts) and [[Group 20 Rugby League|Group 20]] (Griffith and districts).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.crlnsw.com.au/competitions/| title = Country Rugby League Competitions | publisher = [[New South Wales Country Rugby League]]  | access-date = 31 October 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070912041556/http://www.crlnsw.com.au/competitions/| archive-date = 12 September 2007|url-status=dead}}  Shield icons in the Riverina area of the map follow through to the individual league pages</ref> Teams from [[Corowa]] and [[Albury]] play in the [[Goulburn Murray Rugby League]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://gmrl.leaguenet.com.au/ | title = GMRL Clubs | publisher = Goulburn Murray Rugby League | access-date = 29 January 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070830044539/http://gmrl.leaguenet.com.au/ | archive-date = 30 August 2007 | df = dmy-all}}</ref> Rugby Union in the district is run by the [[ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union]], with clubs from Albury, Wagga Wagga, [[Cootamundra]], [[Temora, New South Wales|Temora]] and Hay as well as many others competing in the Southern Inland Rugby Union.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.southerninland.rugbynet.com.au/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030524194141/http://southerninland.rugbynet.com.au/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = 24 May 2003 | title = Official website | publisher = Southern Inland Rugby Union | access-date = 29 January 2007}}</ref>

Other popular sports in the Riverina include [[cycling]], [[bowls]], [[cricket]], [[netball]], [[tennis]] and [[horse racing]]. The Riverina is home to many racecourses and [[Picnic horse racing|picnic race meetings]] are held regularly at places such as Corowa, [[Berrigan, New South Wales|Berrigan]], [[Carrathool]], [[Tumut]] and [[Lockhart, New South Wales|Lockhart]].<ref>{{cite web
 | url = http://www.racingnsw.com.au/association.asp?id=8 | title = Clubs – Southern District | publisher = Racing NSW | access-date = 29 January 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060826182608/http://www.racingnsw.com.au/association.asp?id=8| archive-date = 26 August 2006}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{Further|Culture of Australia}}
[[Image:Tom Roberts - Shearing the rams - Google Art Project.jpg|250px|right|thumb|''[[Shearing the Rams]]'' (1890). Oil on canvas on composition board. The artist [[Tom Roberts]] spent some time at Brocklesby station prior to the composition of this painting.]]

The Riverina was the setting for some of Australia's great artistic and literary works of the 19th and early 20th century. Most of these works reflected the rural lifestyle and agricultural pursuits common in the Riverina at that time and projected an image of Australia and Australians that would later change rapidly.

The writer [[Joseph Furphy]] worked as a [[bullocky]] for 10 years in the area around [[Hay, New South Wales|Hay]] from 1872.<ref name="ADBFurphy">{{cite web  | last = Clark | first = Manning | author-link = Manning Clark | url = https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/furphy-joseph-6261 | title = Furphy, Joseph (Tom Collins) (1843–1912) | work = Australian Dictionary of Biography. Online Edition | publisher = [[Australian National University]] | access-date = 6 February 2007}}</ref> Later, using the [[pen name]] Tom Collins, Furphy wrote ''[[Such Is Life (novel)|Such Is Life]]'' set in the Riverina during the [[drought]] and depression of the 1890s and drawing on his experiences as a bullocky. Although a slow seller, the novel was described as "fitted to become an Australian classic" by A.G. Stephens, the literary critic of [[The Bulletin (Australian periodical)|The Bulletin]].<ref name="FurphyAge">{{cite news  | first = McGirr | last = Michael | title = Celebrating the original larrikin | url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/24/1058853193613.html | newspaper = The Age | date = 26 July 2003 | access-date = 6 February 2007 | location=Melbourne}}</ref>

Published in 1921, ''[[Around the Boree Log and Other Verses]]'' was written by [[Patrick Joseph Hartigan]], under the pen name John O'Brien. A [[Roman Catholic]] priest, after early stints at [[Thurgoona]] and [[Berrigan, New South Wales|Berrigan]], in 1917 Hartigan was appointed as the parish priest of [[Narrandera]] where he stayed until 1944. His poems recorded the everyday lives and mateship of the people of the Riverina. His friend and well-known poet [[C. J. Dennis]] hailed them in [[The Bulletin (Australian periodical)|The Bulletin]] as in 'the direct [[Henry Lawson|Lawson]]-[[Banjo Paterson|Paterson]] line mainly—unaffected talk about Australians, much as they would naturally talk about themselves'. ''Around the Boree Log'' ran to five editions and 18,000 copies by 1926.<ref name="HartiganADB">{{cite web | last = Walsh | first = G.P. | year = 1983
 | url = https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hartigan-patrick-joseph-6593 | title = Patrick John Hartigan | work = Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition | publisher = [[Australian National University]] | access-date = 8 February 2007}}</ref>

The artist and key member of the [[Heidelberg School]], [[Tom Roberts]] spent some time on a [[sheep station]] near [[Brocklesby, New South Wales|Brocklesby]] prior to and during the painting of his most celebrated artwork, ''[[Shearing the Rams]]''.<ref name="ArtistsFootsteps">{{cite web|url = http://www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/Roberts_shearingrams.htm | title = The Artists – Tom Roberts | work = Artist's footsteps | publisher = Countrytowns Productions Pty Ltd | access-date = 8 February 2007}}</ref> The painting was criticised in its time for the depiction of strong manual labour rather than the common "high art" themes of the day. It is seen now as reflecting Australia's largest industry at the time and the work of ordinary Australians. The painting is now in the collection of the [[National Gallery of Victoria]].<ref name="NGV">{{cite web | url = http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/collection/australian/painting/r/apa00106.html | title = Shearing the rams, Tom ROBERTS | publisher = [[National Gallery of Victoria]] | access-date = 8 February 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070110193402/http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/collection/australian/painting/r/apa00106.html| archive-date = 10 January 2007}}</ref>
{{wikisource|Scots of the Riverina}}
{{wikisource|Hay and Hell and Booligal}}
''[[Scots of the Riverina]]'', a poem written by one of Australia's most renowned writers, [[Henry Lawson]], is set in [[Gundagai]].<ref name="ADBLawson">{{cite web | year = 1986 | last = Matthews | first = Brian | url = https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lawson-henry-7118 | title = Lawson, Henry (1867–1922) | work = Australian Dictionary of Biography | publisher = [[Australian National University]] | access-date = 9 February 2007}}</ref> The poem describes a father's anger at his son's desertion at harvest time and later his grief when the son dies in battle in [[World War I]]. ''[[Hay and Hell and Booligal]]'', written by [[Banjo Paterson]], is a humorous take on life on the flat western Riverina plan.<ref name="Booligal">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/New-South-Wales/Booligal/2005/02/17/1108500192811.html|title=Booligal|date=8 February 2004|work=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=1 October 2008}}</ref>

Today, major cultural institutions in the Riverina include the [[Museum of the Riverina]], the Riverina Theatre Company and the [[Wagga Wagga Art Gallery]] (incorporating the National Art Glass Gallery), all located in the regional centre of Wagga Wagga with outreach to the smaller towns. Many regional towns including Hay, Deniliquin and Gundagai house museums of significant regional interest. The HotHouse Theatre group, based in Albury takes live theatre to small towns throughout the Riverina.<ref>[http://www.hothousetheatre.com.au/touring/index.htm HotHouse Theatre] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208084749/http://www.hothousetheatre.com.au/touring/index.htm |date=8 December 2006}} – Touring. Retrieved 19 January 2007.</ref> The tiny town of [[Morundah]] holds an annual night at the opera, hosting performances by OzOpera and the [[Victorian Opera (Melbourne)|Victorian Opera]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.urana.nsw.gov.au/events/pages/1080.html | title = Victorian Opera To Perform in Morundah in 2007 | publisher = Urana Shire Council | access-date = 9 February 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927021021/http://www.urana.nsw.gov.au/events/pages/1080.html |archive-date = 27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Popular music groups from the Riverina include one of Australia's most distinctive and popular bands of the '90s and 2000s, [[Spiderbait]] who come from the southern Riverina town of [[Finley, New South Wales|Finley]].<ref name="allmusicSpiderbait">{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/spiderbait-p337720 | title = allmusic – Spiderbait | publisher = All Media Guide | access-date = 9 February 2007}}</ref> The Riverina is currently home to two major regional [[LGBT|LQBTQIA+]] festivals, the [https://www.haymardigras.com.au/ Hay Mardi Gras] established in 2018 and the [https://waggamardigras.com/ Wagga Mardi Gras] established in 2019.

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Riverina}}

{{Riverina}}
{{Local Government Areas of the Riverina}}
{{Regions of New South Wales}}
{{Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA)}}
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[[Category:Riverina| ]]
[[Category:IBRA regions]]
[[Category:Newell Highway]]
[[Category:Regions of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Biogeography of New South Wales]]