Fast facts
- The meeting places of the Murray and Darling rivers in far south-western New South Wales
- Fertile river plains offsetting arid outback conditions
- 1,075 km south-west of Sydney, population 1,400
Why go there
As an historic and important colonial-era river port, Wentworth has much to interest heritage fans. Wentworth Museum has more than 3,000 exhibits including the fossilised remains of Australian megafauna, giant animals that became extinct around 20,000 years ago. Wentworth is also a good staging point for tours of Mungo National Park.
History
Explorer Charles Sturt was the first European to discover the junction of the Murray and Darling rivers. A tree he marked in 1842 to commemorate this event still stands today.
Founded as an important river port in the early 1850s, by the late 1870s it was the busiest inland port in Australia. In 1956, a massive flood cut Wentworth off from the rest of the country, taking months to recede and causing devastation on a grand scale.
Things to do
- Cruise Australia’s greatest waterways on a riverboat tour.
- Explore numerous sites associated with the indigenous Barkindji people.
- Wander the self-guided heritage trails.
Events
- The Wentworth Show, held in August, has been held for more than 120 years.
Don’t miss
- The monument to the Massey-Ferguson tractor.
- The Australian Inland Botanic Gardens at nearby Mourquong.
- The extensive Aboriginal heritage sites in Mungo National Park.
- The abundant birdlife at Lake Nearie, 60 km north.
- The Scotia Sanctuary in an arid outback landscape.
