URANA
Urana is encounted when traveling the
Cowra to Narrandera route if traveling north (or south). Urana is a
crossroads town that may be encounted when traveling the roads of the
Riverina. For a while, all roads seem to go to Urana.
Urana is an old and now historic town
that has clearly seen better days. That said the quirkiness of the
place determines if nearby the diversion and visit is recommended.
Urana was first
settled by Europeans during the 1850s. In May 1859 a design for the
"Town of Urana" by Surveyor Hayes was approved by the New South Wales
Executive Council.
The name Urana comes from the Aboriginal word 'airana', meaning a
temporary shelter (usually consisting of a simple frame of branches
covered with bark, leaves, or grass).
In August 1863
near Urana the notorious bushranger, Dan 'Mad Dog' Morgan, and his
accomplice Clarke held up the Police Magistrate based at Wagga Wagga,
Henry Baylis.
In 1866 Urana
Township consisted of two public houses, the Urana Hotel
and the Royal Hotel .
In addition there was a post-office,
two large stores, 
and a police-station and lock-up.
A new
court-house was erected at Urana in 1879. During 1882 a Roman Catholic
Church was completed, with Father Burmingham celebrating the first
service on 7 January 1883.
There
is something quite nice about this small town.  _small.JPG)
The War Memorial Hall
is a good starting point to discover what was. The detail alone is
amazing. Likewise the old Royal pub.
The War Memorial is a very worthy
acknowledgement. 
The congregational church buildings
are a mix of the old and new. 
The surviving Urana pub is over 70
years old but looks older.
The Urana Museum is the old Court
House building.
The visitor will find there is
something that grabs you about this place. Be sure to visit.
Heritage diary_small.JPG)
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