Fast facts
- Home to beautiful Finley Lake and the largest irrigation channel in Australia
- Peaceful Riverina rural town surrounded by farmland
- 670 km south-west of Sydney, population 2,250
Why go there
Located near the Murray River, Finley is the centre of the Berriquin Irrigation Area, and boasts an artificial lake perfect for various water sports and lakeside picnics.
Finley is a perfect place to take a break while travelling along the Newell Highway, south to Victoria or north to Queensland.
History
Europeans first settled the area around Finley in the early 1840s, with wheat becoming the main crop.
Periods of severe drought, combined with the Great Depression of the early 1930s, forced many farmers to abandon their holdings.
In 1935, construction on the Mulwala Canal began in order to provide employment and bring water to the area’s rich farmland.
Things to do
- Stop off at Lake Finley’s shoreline, and find a boat ramp, a pool, gardens, a well equipped picnic area and a children’s playground featuring a replica sailing ship.
- Visit the Finley Live Stock Exchange on a Firday morning and experience a cattle sale.
- Enjoy the rural scenery, and look out for fields full of rice.
Don’t miss
- The Mulwala Canal, at 155 km the largest irrigation channel in Australia.
- A replica pioneer log cabin with historical items near Mary Lawson Wayside Rest.
