Important Riverina service centre surrounded by rivers, lagoons and irrigation channels - known as the Ute Capital of the World.
Deniliquin is an important rural service town located on the Edward River, an anabranch of the Murray River. The town is particularly attractive as it is built around the river and a series of lagoons which are surrounded by both parkland and state forest. Consequently the town's main attractions, apart from its famous Ute Festival, are water based and include an island wildlife sanctuary, fishing, water skiing, canoeing, boating and safe swimming at both the sandy McLean Beach and Willoughby's Beach which lie within the nearby state forest. Deniliquin is in the heart of an irrigation area which covers 725,000 hectares. The district produces rice, wool, beef, dairy products, wheat, barley, fat lambs, vegetables, fruit and timber.
Location
Deniliquin is located 719 km south-west Sydney via Wagga and Jerilderie; 291 km north of Melbourne via Echuca; and 697 km east of Adelaide. It is only 91 metres above sea level.
^ TOPOrigin of Name
It is claimed that Benjamin Boyd, who established the head station the district in 1842, named his property Deniliquin, a corruption of Denilakoon, who was a local tribal elder known for his wresting ability which came with his impressive size and strength.
^ TOPThings to See and Do
The Peppin Heritage Centre
The Peppin Heritage Centre is located at 295 George Street. It incorporates the town's Visitor Information Centre, Peppin Gallery which has travelling exhibitions and community art displays as well as a souvenir and gift shop. Open from 9.00 am - 4.00 pm Monday - Saturday, 9.00am – 2.00pm on Sundays. The Museum, which is currently being upgraded, includes permanent exhibitions on:
* the Peppin Merino Story - George Hall Peppin and his two sons were experienced English sheep breeders who settled at nearby Wanganella station in 1858. Dissatisfied with the quality of wool from the merino, they channelled their efforts into developing a new breed that was better adapted to Australian conditions, larger of frame and able to yield a greatly improved quality and quantity of wool. Their successes constitute the foundation of Australia's reputation as a quality wool exporter. Peppin sheep now predominate among the flocks of South Africa, New Zealand and South America and 60-85% of Australian merinos have Wanganella blood.
* Lawson Syphon - the Lawson's Syphon, which lies 7 km east of Deniliquin, is an impressive engineering complex that diverts 10,000 megalitres a day from Mulwala Canal into a series of canals which irrigate the area. The syphon can be visited and there is detailed information about the syphons at http://www.denitourism.com.au/local-info/lawson-syphon.
* 'Struggle for Water' - an exhibit which details the difficulties encountered by early settlers in their search for water.
* Squatters, Surveyors & Selectors – Settlements along the Edward River which covers the history of the stations on both sides of the river.
Outside exhibits which are on permanent display include:
* Wanganella Goal and the Headless Horseman - a one room weatherboard building that served as a lock up and now houses a display about Deniliquin Goal and the Headless Horseman story. A sound and light show.
* Warriston Ram Shed - a reconstruction of a typical ram shed that was used in the area from the 1860s to the 1920s.
* Mosaic TransmUTE - a community project started in 2005 by South West Arts in conjunction with the Ute Muster. It has transformed an old EH Holden Ute into a mosaic sculpture which depicts some scenes reminiscent of the Deniliquin area.
Visitors should explore www.visitdeni.com for up to date event and local information.
Historical Town Walk
The Visitor Information Centre has a pamphlet outlining an historical town walk. The highlights include:
The Court House
Located on the corner of Wellington and Poictiers Street, the Deniliquin Court House is probably the town's most impressive heritage building with its stuccoed Victorian Classical facade. Built 1883-87 it was designed by James Barnet. Additions were made in the 1890s that appear to have been part of Barnet's original conception. The entrance and portico are particularly impressive.
Town Hall and Cressy Street
Located in Cressy Street are the town hall, the council building, the former Globe Hotel, and Pastoral Times newspaper building - they represent a group of largely intact and gracious late Victorian buildings. The Town Hall was built in 1876 and is Italianate in style. The clock on the Town Hall tower was donated in 1904 by a resident, Captain Landale, to commemorate Queen Victoria's long reign. The Deniliquin Town Hall has recently had an extensive refurbishment. Monthly open days occur on the second Saturday of every month.
Deniliquin and District Historical Society Museum
Located at 3 Macauley Street is the old Police Inspector's residence, now the home of the Deniliquin and District Historical Society. Dating from the late nineteenth century it has been restored and contains historic items telling the history of Deniliquin and district. It is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 12.00 am - 4.00 pm. Tel: 0428 359 297.
Waring Gardens
Located in Cressy Street, Waring Gardens are built around a chain of lagoons which were once part of the Edward River. The park was established in 1881 and named after Deniliquin's first town clerk. A bridge was built and a band rotunda added in 1887. Numerous Moreton Bay figs, palms, willows and other trees date from the 19th century. The Three Muses in the corner of the gardens represent Literature, Science and Art and originally were part of the local School of Arts building. Lions hold a monthly Community Markets in the gardens.
Island Sanctuary
Located opposite the Town Hall, the island sanctuary is a section of natural bushland formed by the Edward River where, in 4 hectares, there are kangaroos, possums, bats, and over 100 varieties of birds in a natural river red gum forest. It contains the burial site of 'Old Jack', a member of the Melville gang, bushrangers who visited Deniliquin in 1851. Apparently Old Jack was so drunk that his compatriots tied him to a tree and threw turpentine over him, thinking it to be water. As his hollering increased one gang member approached him with a candle and Jack burst into flames. Once untied he threw himself in the river but died two days later. Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre offers walking tours of Island Sanctuary focusing on the flora which has specific natural medicinal properties.
Beaches and River Walks
The Island Sanctuary is a good place to start the riverside walk to McLean's Beach. The Murray Valley National and Regional Parks brochure explains "Experience the natural beauty of Deniliquin’s River Red Gum forests with the ‘Beach to Beach’ walk. Hugging the banks of the Edward River, the track takes you from Willoughby’s Beach to McLean’s Beach, right past the centre of town. You can even stop off at a local café before returning to the trail and completing this scenic tour. At Willoughby’s Beach you can cycle or hike along the many forest tracks before setting up camp alongside the Edward River. This is the ideal location for a swim or a spot of fishing."
Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre
Located at 394 Hay Road, Yarkuwa is a Traditional Owner organisation. It was formed in 2003 to ensure traditional owner knowledge was preserved in future generations. Visitors to the Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre can access and learn about the Indigenous heritage of the Wamba Wamba and Perrepa Perrepa People. The Centre hosts displays and records for visitors of: Cultural heritage artefacts including stone and wooden tools and woven baskets, Wamba Wamba Language learning displays, Local family information. Visitors can purchase traditional Aboriginal-based items, foods, clothing and local Indigenous artwork. A new gallery space and community facilities are underway at the venue.
Blake Botanic Reserve
Off Harfleur Street are some beautiful landscaped gardens, with natural lagoons, picnic facilities, ducks, peacocks and a Moreton Bay fig growing out of the trunk of a large gum. This is a botanic garden specialising in local native flora. With some picnic benches a quaint bridge and lovingly cared for flora, it is a lovely spot to walk and relax to the west of town.
Ute on a Pole
A variation on Australia's love of the "Big Thing" is the "Thing on a Pole". In this case a Holden WB, built in 2001, located beside the National Bridge and near the Edward River, it is the town demonstrating its claim to be the Ute Capital of the World.
Deniliquin Ute Muster & Play on the Plains Festival
It started in 1999 when owners of utes (utility vehicles) were invited to come to Deniliquin to attempt a very amusing Guinness Book of Records title for the "Largest parade of legally registered utes in the world". They achieved the record when 2,839 utes paraded. By 2010 the event had become so popular with ute owners that a staggering 10,152 utes turned up. It is essentially a working class, rural festival to celebrate the reliability of a utility as a workhorse and to gently snub the more expensive, more overtly upmarket and more middle class, Land Rover and Toyota 4WDs. Symbolic of these working class roots is the parallel Blue Singlet Count which reached 3,500 - another Guinness record. The weekend activities - it is always held on the Labour Day Weekend - include live music (always Australian and predominantly country music), driving events, bull riding and there is camping on a wonderfully flat stretch of the Riverina Plain. The Festival headquarters are open all year round in Hardinge Street, tel: (03) 5881 3388 or check out http://www.deniutemuster.com.au.
Other Attractions in the Area
Steven's Weir
Located 26 km north-west of Deniliquin via the Wakool Road are riverside gardens and picnic facilities at Steven's Weir. It was constructed in the 1930s to supply water to the Wakool Irrigation district.
History
* Prior to the arrival of Europeans the area was inhabited by the Wamba Wamba and Perrepa Perrepa Aborigines.
* In 1842 Benjamin Boyd established the head station of a run known as 'Deniliquin' 6 km upstream from the present township.
* By the early 1840s the reports of pastoralist Augustus Morris, who had followed the Edward River to its junction with the Wakool River, had started a land grab in the area.
* The settlement's first inn opened in 1845 or 1847 on the ground now occupied by the North Deniliquin School.
* In 1847 a punt was established by a Dr Coward, the first resident on the south side of the river.
* The townsite was surveyed in 1848 .
* Deniliquin was officially gazetted in 1850. That same year a two-roomed slab hut was built for Henry Wyse, who used it as a store and post office. Wyse's store was positioned at an important river crossing for stock. It was strategically located at the convergence of major stock routes from Queensland and New South Wales through to Victoria.
* The town's first gaol was built in 1856. It resulted from concerns about Henry Wyse's tendency to chain law-breakers to a log in his cow yard.
* In 1856 a courthouse was built but it was replaced in 1861.
* The town's first hospital was built in 1856.
* A second hospital opened in 1858.
* The two hospitals amalgamated in 1861.
* The first bridge across the Edward River was opened in 1861. It was replaced by a toll bridge and then by another span in 1896.
* Deniliquin was declared a municipality in 1868. By this time it had 11 hotels and about 1,000 residents.
* The first municipal election was held in 1869.
* A brewery was built in 1866 and a flour mill in 1872.
* In 1876 a private railway from Echuca reached the town. That year the town hall was built.
* New school buildings were erected in 1879. The old 1862 schoolhouse was turned into a teacher's residence.
* In 1939 the Deniboota and Denimein Irrigation Districts were established.
* In 1939 the Berriquin Irrigation District was established.
* During World War II Deniliquin was home to the No.7 Service Flying Training School.
* In 1999 the first Deni Ute Muster attracted 2,839 utes the "Largest parade of legally registered utes in the world".
* By 2010 the event had become so popular that 10,152 utes turned up for the parade.
* In 2013 the first Deni Blues and Roots Festival was held.
* By 2024 the population of Edward River was around 8,500.
^ TOPVisitor Information
Deniliquin Visitor Information and Peppin Heritage Centre, George Street, tel: 1800 650 712
^ TOPUseful Websites
The town's official website has useful information about accommodation and eating in the area. Check out http://www.denitourism.com.au.
^ TOP
Can you please send me a list of who the town streets were named after and why?
This is a brief outline of my thoughts of the history of beautiful Deni. My father was a printer and worked with the local Pastoral Times newspaper until 1946? Prior to then he was a printer for the Hay Gazette [I think that was the correct name]. He moved to Sydney to be later joined by my mother and six children in 1947 or 1948. He passed away in 1951 suffering from injuries he received whilst serving at Hay World War 2 POW camp. During his severe illness he was made an Army TPI and prior to his death was hospitalised at Concord Military Hospital for the last 3 yrs of his life. My mother and father returned to Deniliquin in early May, 1951 for a brief holiday accompanied by my sister and myself but he was too sick to return to Sydney and stayed on in Deni where he died in Deniliquin hospital on 29.05 1951 aged 46 years. His body was laid to rest at Deniliquin cemetery. ps this story is probably inappropriate for this site and it wont worry me if its lost somewhere in the system. I just thought it might be ok for the history of the town where I and some of my family were born. prior to ww2..i just realised you are probably wanting some goooood news stories sorry about that.
graham denton, what you have written is a fine and poignant piece of local history – thank you. i have 3rd cousins who emigrated to this place and now still around here and the gippsland. regards john at UK.
I found this Aussietowns website whilst checking out Wagga Wagga – we’re about to do a Riverina driving trip – and was delighted that this existed. Now I’m checking out all of the towns on this handy website. Lonely Planet guide (which I bought!) is a poor runner up on the information from here. Thank you,
Thanks Kathleen. It is heartening to know that people are using and enjoying the information. Such kind words make my job so rewarding.
Very informative historical site. Is there information available about the Indigenous people who reside in Deni or live around the Wakool area please?. It is my family story that my
Great great great Granma, was a Wakool woman who went to live/work in Fiery Creek (near Ararat) Victoria about 1845? I don’t know her name but she passed away in 1850. Indigenous history Clan, Language group would make interesting reading on this site.
I might visit and see for myself one day, sounds very picturesque.
I constantly struggle to add as much information about First Nations people but it is very hard to find. Whenever anyone offers information it goes up … very quickly.
Denise Poynter again. Lovely to see my letter here, post Covid Pandemic. Still haven’t found my Wakool Grt Grt Granma’s Country. I have managed to find her Indigenous child Janet (ne Sprake) however, who was (?adopted, by a midwife) on the Fiery creek property, perhaps ‘Trawalla’ or ‘Challicum’ not far from Ararat in Victoria. Most of Janet’s & John McCart’s children lived around Marong, Kow Swap, Echuca area, until moving to Melbourne suburbs. I have visited Janet’s and her then 2nd Husband, Ulrich Spuhl’s grave in Shepparton. I live on Wautharung Country, but always interested in Wakool and through Deni and Wakool Indigenous sites have found 2 other people on my search. My younger Brother also received a warm welcome from Indigenous folk when he stayed in Deniliquin. Thank you.
Seeking origins of family in Deni. I know my great grandfather was a cordial maker with property on Edward River. My great grandmother was known as Granny Mitchell, a much loved bush nurse/midwife approx 1880 on. My Uncle Jim was the local baker -pastry cook and left for Sydney in 1946. I would appreciate any detail of when this family actually arrived in Deniliquin? Many thanks for the info already found on the site
Hello Rosemary my grandfather Jim was your uncle. He used to work at Cables Bakery in town for many years. I have started researching the family history. I am Thelma Adamson’s daughter Susan. Mum was your cousin. My grandfather Jim met my grandmother Edith Malcolm down in Deni and that is where mum was born. There is a lot of our family history that goes back to the area. I hope to do a road trip down there later in the year to take photos and do more research.
Hi, I am looking for any photos or videos of the old deni brick works please if anyone has any. My partner and his family part owned the brick works in the late 1970s into early 1980s.
I hear lots about it and would love to put pics to the stories
It is interesting to read history of Deniliquin. My great grand father William Stewart and his wife Magdalene (Buchanan) lived in Deniliquin the late 1800s and early 1900s. Their children William, Frederick, Nellie, Pearl, Charles and Martin were born in Deniliquin.
The family moved to Melbourne before 1920.
If anyone has any stories regarding the Stewart family in Deniliquin please respond.
I am researching the Buchanan family. Magdalene was a sister of Mary Buchanan who married John Martin Knuckey. and this is my husband’s forebears.They lived in Deniliquin.
I don’t have any information on the Stewart family.
Hi Lorraine,
Good connection.
Magdalene and Mary had bother William who served in WW1 at Gallipoli and sadly did not return.
I have information that lists their place of birth as Gala Station, Lismore in Victoria.
I have Magdalene’s marriage certificate – 19th Aug 1896 in Deniliquin.
I don’t know if it’s of interest. My Mother worked as a nanny on “Shanbough”, I’m 81 & doing a family history, I wonder if any of the children she tutored have any interest in this fact.
It must have been in the 1920’s or 30’s when Mum was there. Her name was Rubeana Jeffrey. I know there were bad floods & a horrific bushfire whilst she was there.
Just interested, Mary Lewis.
Hi all, looking for the birth place and family of my Aboriginal great great grandmother Agnes Williams (Caesar). We know she came from a station near Deniliquin to Gonn Station with a daughter Emily and was born 1848. She married a scottish gentleman George W Morrison and had many other children at Gonn Station NSW where they are both buried. Interested to know anything from the early days of her life and family. Agnes’s father is recorded on the marriage certificate as William Williams (Caesar) and mother Maggie Kennedy.