Hay, how brightly you shine...
Hay (pop: 2,800) is a rural town in the western Riverina region of south–western NSW on the north bank of the meandering Murrumbidgee River. In his exploration of the river in 1829, Charles Sturt passed by here. By 1840, there was Lang`s Crossing, a punt crossing the river on a busy route to the Victorian goldfields, and a town was forming. Hay was officially named in 1859 in honour of politician John Hay, not after any produce grown here. Street names in Hay commemorate the town`s pioneers.
It goes without saying that the indigenous people of the Hay district, predominantly hunter-gatherers Nari Nari and Wiradjuri, suffered immense disruption and tragedy with the white encroachment. The expansion of pastoralism and the establishment of townships destroyed traditional food sources, sacred sites, and displaced the aborigines. Systematic dispossession and removal of children fragmented communities and severed cultural ties. Descendants of the original inhabitants still live in the region, continuing to fight for the recognition of their culture, language, and connection to country.
Hay is roughly halfway on the long road between Sydney and Adelaide, but to regard Hay are merely a stop on the way to somewhere else is to belittle the town - the Hay region is famed for its exceptional merino wool production and sheep meat industry, not to mention irrigation along the Murrumbidgee which supports diverse crops including vegetables, cotton, grains, and legumes. We saw trucks hauling cotton passing through the town, and masses of little cotton fluffs line the roads out of town, presumably blown out from the speeding trucks. The town`s rich pastoral history is a testament to its long-standing connection to the land and the industry. To honor this heritage, Hay is home to the Australian Shearers` Hall of Fame. But hey! We were just here to sleep the night, twice!
The Hay town map shows Lachlan St crossing the Murrumbidgee River and neading north through the CBD.
Cement panel from the original 1899 Ringer Store which survived to 1971 when it was demolished to build a very ordinary looking motel. A ringer was the top gun in a shearing shed. This artwork is the best thing about the site. [5043]
Reflecting the sun, a B-Double negotiates the main street of Hay. [5047]
A now dead river gum fallen into the Murrumbidgee River in Hay. [5077]
Walking around Hay...
Hay is a flat, easy town to navigate by foot. The CBD is in the main street, Lachlan St. Heavy vehicles make up much of the traffic. One is struck by the town`s charming blend of heritage and rural calm, and wide, tree-lined streets are dotted with historic buildings. The main street offers a mix of cafés, country pubs, and local shops, many set in restored federation-era buildings. Hay`s role in war is proudly memorialised.
The Riverina Hotel was our choice for dinner on two occasions, separated by about 6 weeks. The front bar area is quite compact and was both times very busy, indeed crowded. The publican was incredibly friendly and advised us how to beat the mob in the Bistro which opened sharp at 18:00, no nonsense beforehand. Both times we were lucky enough to get seating right in front of the log fire.
Like all small towns, there isn`t that much choice for accommodation in Hay, and some establishments did not survive COVID. On a couple of occasions, we stayed at the single story U shaped Saltbush Motel, run by a friendly lady who insisted on calling Mike `young man`. She said that was more polite than the more truthful `old man`! We got the same room both times and it was as good as you can hope for in a town such as Hay. It was renovated and spacious, well air-conditioned, and had a very smart TV. The bathroom, windowless, was very schmick, with big bright modern tiles. The free WiFi was dodgy, and we switched to our Telstra 4G modem for smoother streaming.
Hay Railway Station is heritage listed but sadly receives no trains. [1970]
Encouraging mural on a shop wall in Hay. 'A Farmer Works So You Can Eat`. [4995]
Not every town has its post office still in a heritage building, but Hay has. This was the town`s first courthouse. [5048]
Broad awnings are common in Hay`s shopping centre, all the better to keep the bright sun off. [5045]
One of Hay's grandest buildings, the 1892 Federation style courthouse. [1962]
Sheep reading 'The Power Of One' is part of a the `Mrs McGrath Returns` sculpture by John Wood. Mrs McGrath used a pet sheep to lead large mobs across the Hay bridge in 1920-30s. [5052]
This blue building looks like a now gone tyre workshop. [5084]
See in Hay, this wall made of galvanized ripple iron. [5054]
There has been a butchery on this site in Hay since 1876, although maybe not as colorful as the current one. [5058]
The Riverina Hotel was recommended, by our motel, for dinner. Good pub grub, popular with locals, very cosy by the fire, freezing outside. [5053]
"Hay, A Town that went to war" is commemorated as silo art by Adnate. From various angles, the huge mural depicts four WW2 heroes from the Hay district. [1968]
Statue commemorating the WW1 Battle of Beersheba marks one corner of Hay Park. [1932]
The Saltbush Motel on Lachlan Street Hay was our abode for two one-night stays. [5060]
On the banks of the Murrumbidgee...
The meandering Murrumbidgee River almost wraps itself around the town, and developed parklands allow for many opportunities to approach the banks. The river itself, rather like the Darling, offers scenic views but doesn`t look too healthy, with not enough rain and probably too much used for irrigation. Climate change and maybe too many dams means that the years between flooding has doubled since historical times. The Bidgee Riverside Trail is a walking track that hugs the curves of the river inviting visitors to wander through the Bushy Bend reserve to Sandy Point beach. The trail features large public sculptures by artists John Wood and John Woodward.
Still water relections on the peaceful Murrumbidgee River as it wanders its way past Hay Park, to eventually meet the Murray River. [1944]
A noisy flock of corellas settle in trees along the muddy banks of the Murrumbidgee River in Hay under brilliant blue skies. [1958]
To chilly today for a did in the river, but this swimming pontoon on the Murrumbidgee near Leonard St Hay would be popular in summer. [5082]
Only the overhanging branches at the bottom of this Murrumbidge River Bushy Bend view reveal that the image is upside down, so still is the water, so clear is the reflection. [5013]
Steel and wood sculpture (2012, by John Wood) welcomes walkers to the Bidgee Riverside Trail on the south side of Hay. [4997]
With the 1973 bridge behind, near the location of Langs Crossing is this John Wooler sculpture of the 1840 punt. [5003]
Simmo`s Seat and anvil, a sculpture by John Wood, celebrating the roles of blacksmiths in the Hay of the mid 1800s. [5030]
A dirt road and the walking track merge on the Bidgee Riverside Trail. Mottled light through the trees under bright sunshine. [5034]
Cobb`s Wheels by John Wooller is a celebration of the importants of Cobb and Co to the history of Hay. Note the broken and bogged wheels! [5038]
In Bushy Bend on the Murrumbidgee is this fire damaged eucalypt. [5001]
Crossroads of New South Wales...
It`s a 15 hour drive from Sydney to Adelaide, and Hay is roughly halfway. It`s also on the main route from Melbourne to outback Queensland. Hay is strategically positioned at the confluence of the Sturt (A20, to Wagga Wagga and Mildura), Cobb (B75 to Echuca and Wilcannia), and Mid-Western (B64 to Cowra) Highways. As such, its motels are populated by travellers staying overnight (but not often longer) on the way to somewhere else. These highways and the twon`s roads are also busy with heavy transports shipping agricultural stock and goods. It lies amid the wide, flat Hay Plains which you truly get to appreciate by driving across these vast flatlands.
Leaving Hay and heading west is this Visy Logistics B-Double truck on the Sturt Highway. [4994]
North of Hay is this "Sunset Viewing Spot" which enjoys 360 degrees of almost nothing, the flat and mostly empty plains around Hay. [1977]
Water pumping windmills adorn the barren lands north of Hay. The tank saves the precious fluid.[1978]
The cumulus clouds over Hay are predictors of good weather ahead. [4991]
