Location

Griffith City is located in the Riverina Region of south-western New South Wales, about 450 kilometres north of the Melbourne CBD, and 570 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD. Griffith City is bounded by Carrathool Shire in the north, west and south-west, Narrandera Shire and Leeton Shire in the east, and the Murrumbidgee Council area in the south.

Included Areas

Griffith City includes the townships and localities of Beelbangera, Benerembah (part), Bilbul, Griffith, Hanwood, Kooba, Lake Wyangan, Myall Park (part), Nericon, Tabbita (part), Tharbogang, Warburn, Warrawidgee (part), Whitton (part), Widgelli, Willbriggie (part), Yenda (part) and Yoogali.

Land Use

Griffith City is a predominantly rural area, with rural-residential and residential areas in several townships and villages. Most of the population lives in the main urban area of Griffith, and the smaller villages of Beelbangera, Bilbul, Hanwood, Lake Wyangan, Nericon, Tharbogang, Widgelli, Yenda and Yoogali. The City encompasses a total land area of about 1,600 square kilometres. Rural land is used largely for agriculture, horticulture and viticulture, particularly rice, citrus fruit, canola, vegetable and grape growing, with some sheep and cattle grazing.

Name Origin

Griffith is named after Arthur Griffith, the first New South Wales Minister for Public Works.

Indigenous Meaning

The original inhabitants of the Griffith area were the Wiradjuri Aboriginal people.

Settlement

European settlement dates from the 1820s, with land near the rivers used mainly for sheep grazing. Land became used for agriculture from the 1860s. Population was minimal until the early 1900s. Growth took place from 1912, due largely to the opening of the railway line and the establishment of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, which supplied water from the Murrumbidgee River for farming. The township of Griffith was established in 1916, with residential and industrial growth particularly during the 1920s. Expansion continued during the post-war years. Gradual growth took place during the 1980s and 1990s, with the population of the City increasing from about 20,000 in 1981 to nearly 24,000 in 2001. The population was relatively stable between 2001 and 2006, and then increased slightly to about 24,300 in 2011.

Major Features

Major features of the City include numerous wineries, Hermit's Cave, Catania Fruit Salad Farm, Belle Amour Garden, Griffith Pioneer Park Museum, Griffith Italian Museum, Griffith Base Hospital, Griffith Regional Aquatic Leisure Centre, Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Griffith Regional Theatre, TAFE NSW Riverina Institute (Griffith Campus), Griffith Arboretum, City Park, Jubilee Park, Scenic Hill Reserve, Yenda Flora Fauna Park, Griffith Golf Club, Pines Speedway, Dalton Park Racecourse & Trotting Track, Griffith Airport, Barren Box Swamp, Nericon Swamp, Lake Wyangan, the Griffith township, Griffith Central (Shopping Centre), Griffin Plaza and Driver Shopping Centre.

Transport

Griffith City is served by Irrigation Way, Kidman Way and the Griffith Xplorer train.