A major regional centre and service town in the Riverina district on the Hay Plains.

Where is it?: Riverina. Hay is 728 km west of Sydney at the junction of the Sturt, Cobb and Mid-Western Highways, halfway between Sydney and Adelaide; 94 m above sea-level on the Murrumbidgee River.

Originally just a pastoral centre for Merino sheep farmers, Hay's economy was substantially increased by irrigation in the 1950s which led to the introduction of rice, market garden vegetables, grains, legumes, cattle and fat lambs.

The flatness of the Hay Plains makes the tree-lined streets of Hay (very attractive in autumn) ideal for bicycles, which are a common sight around town. Hay is also the centre of an area which is known as the best medium merino wool region in Australia. Some of the local studs are famous in pastoral circles - Mungadal, Uardry and Cedar Grove. Mungadal lies west of town adjacent the Sturt Highway. The Uardry property supplied the image of the ram for the former Australian shilling.

Things To See and Do


Shear Outback, home to the Australian Shearer's Hall of Fame, showcases the stories, artefacts, technology and culture of the Australian shearing industry, the facility comprises an iconic purpose built interpretative centre and an historic woolshed relocated from the banks of the Murray River. The Shearer's Hall of Fame honours the achievements of shearers and the sheep industry.


Hay Prisoner of War and Internment Camp Interpretive Centre, housed in the former railway station, relates the story of wartime internment camps in Hay. The process got under way in 1940 with the construction of three internment camps. The first arrivals, unfortunately, were 2036 Jewish internees from Nazi Germany and Austria - mostly professionals who had simply fled for their lives - along with 451 German and Italian POWs. They were transported from England on-board the 'Dunera,' hence the moniker 'the Dunera Boys,' which was applied, in particular to the Jewish refugees. The Centre is situated within two restored train carriages, at the historic old railway station (1882).

There are several large sandy beaches along the river for swimming, boating, canoeing, waterskiing and fishing for golden perch, silver bream, Murray cod, redfin, catfish, Murray crayfish and yabbies.