Carrathool, New South Wales

Carrathool is a village in the western Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia, in Carrathool Shire. In, Carrathool had a population of 296 people. It is about 5km north of the Sturt Highway between Darlington Point and Hay (on the opposite side of the Murrumbidgee River to the highway). The village is situated on the plain a few kilometres north of the river, clustered around the now-disused railway station.The place name Carrathool is derived from the local Aboriginal word meaning "Native Companion".HistoryCarrathool ReserveIn October 1852 a reserve of 4+1/2mi2 was proclaimed ; it was situated at the location known as Currathool on the north bank of the Murrumbidgee River "on a cattle run occupied by Mr. Rudd".The location of the original village of Carrathool — or ‘Currathool’ as it was often written — was at a river-crossing on the Murrumbidgee River at a place called Boree Point.Carrathool Post Office opened on 20 June 1882. Carrathool notably is sign posted on its outskirts "population 99" and for many years we hoped to reach 100, however with droughts and children often moving to larger centres this figure may never have been reached. The above census figures for 2006 would not relate to the township of carrathool and would not have a higher population than its neighbouring township of Goolgowi.Carrathool BridgeThe bridge spanning the Murrumbidgee River between Carrathool and the Sturt Highway was completed in 1924. It is an Allan-type timber truss road bridge, and has a bascule-type lift span supported on cylindrical iron piers, designed to allow river-craft to pass. Only three bascule lift span bridges remain in NSW, and the Carrathool bridge is the only one of these in a timber truss road bridge. Percy Allan, the designer of Allan truss and other bridges, was a senior engineer in the NSW Public Works Department.