Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Cowra

Cowra

Cowra, located at the junction of the Mid Western and Olympic Highways in central western New South Wales, lies on the banks of the Lachlan River and is the centre for the local crop growing and sheep industries. The town was built in 1849 over the original Coura Rocks station, at the point where a natural crossing over the Lachlan River existed to service a major trade route between NSW and Victoria. Growth to the town occurred after the bridge over the Lachlan River was completed in 1870 and when the railway was pushed west from Bathurst. Cowra was also selected during WW2 to host a Japanese POW camp, of which ended in disaster when a mass breakout resulted in tragedy. Of interest around town are Bellevue Hill (great lookout), the Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre, the Kendal St shopping precinct, the POW camp ruins and the Avenue of Cherry Trees.

Population: 9,200
State: New South Wales
Name Origin: Named after the nearby river crossing "Coura Rocks"
Pronunciation: Cow-ra
Postcode: 2794
Local Government: Cowra Shire Council
Location: 320km west of Sydney
Main Roads: Mid Western Hwy , Olympic Hwy , Lachlan Valley Way
Main Watercourses: Lachlan River
Radio Stations (Music): Star FM (99.5, 105.1 & 93.9), 2GZ-FM (105.9), Triple J (101.9)

Photos from Cowra (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

Looking south along the Lachlan Valley Way, Cowra (2003).

Heading west along the Mid Western Hwy, approaching the Lachlan Valley Way & Olympic Way junctions, Cowra (2002).

Looking east along Kendal Street (Mid Western Hwy) from the Lachlan River bridge (2000).

Looking south along Lachlan Street as it approaches Redfern St, Cowra (2003).

Looking west along Kendal St (Mid Western Hwy), Cowra (2002).

Looking east along Kendal Street from Darling Street, Cowra (2006).

Looking south-west along Lynch Street (Mid Western Hwy), Cowra (2006).

View south-east over Cowra from Bellevue Hill Lookout (2003).

View south over Cowra town centre from Bellevue Hill Lookout (2003).

View south-west over Cowra and the Lachlan River from Bellevue Hill Lookout (2003).

	Looking south along the Lachlan Valley Way, Cowra (2003).
	Heading west along the Mid Western Hwy, approaching the Lachlan Valley Way & Olympic Way junctions, Cowra (2002).
	Looking east along Kendal Street (Mid Western Hwy) from the Lachlan River bridge (2000).
	Looking south along Lachlan Street as it approaches Redfern St, Cowra (2003).
	Looking west along Kendal St (Mid Western Hwy), Cowra (2002).
	Looking east along Kendal Street from Darling Street, Cowra (2006).
	Looking south-west along Lynch Street (Mid Western Hwy), Cowra (2006).
	View south-east over Cowra from Bellevue Hill Lookout (2003).
	View south over Cowra town centre from Bellevue Hill Lookout (2003).
	View south-west over Cowra and the Lachlan River from Bellevue Hill Lookout (2003).