BOOROWA
With a colourful Irish heritage, wide open landscapes on the Boorowa River, a long tradition of pastoral activity, a vibrant township and pure country charm, Boorowa is an early Australian country town located just seventy minutes north-west of Canberra.
Irish cousins Roger Corcoran and Ned Ryan, Rebels who’d been transported to the colony of NSW each gained a “ticket-of-leave” the first step to citizenship, in 1821. The first Europeans to settle in the district, they invited friends and family to make a new life in the region. The two took prominent roles in the settlement and growth of the town. This proud Irish heritage, which brings many travellers from the homeland, comes to the fore at the annual Irish Woolfest. Boorowa is home to fine merino wool; renowned studs form the core of the region’s pastoral economy. In celebration of this and its Irish heritage, flocks of sheep fill Boorowa’s main street in the spectacular Running of the Sheep. The day culminates with the ecumenical Blessing of the Fleece. A sheep is shorn and its fleece is thrown on stage as a thanksgiving for the fine wool of the district. Complete with Irish music, dancers and a Growers’ Market, the Irish Woolfest is the highlight of Boorowa’s year.
ANTIQUES AND DEVONSHIRE TEAS AWAIT
Boorowa is a delight for travellers, offering a vibrant and well-preserved township brimming with cultural attractions. The fine classical Boorowa Courthouse holds a cafe and information centre. Rail enthusiasts can visit the heritage listed Boorowa Underbridge, with its rare timber deck Howe Truss. The Historical Museum occupies the last pisé building in Boorowa and the Glenara Gallery along the main road is in a fine Early Victorian gentleman’s residence. The octagonal War Memorial, a terra cotta-roofed English Georgian building, a most unusual style for Australia, dominates the vista along the main street near the bridge across the Boorowa River. Boorowa has antique shops and several popular country pubs. You’ll find Devonshire teas and homemade scones served with fresh cream and local berry jams. Along the Lachlan Valley Way from the Hume Highway, Boorowa is a treat for the senses.
