Conargo, New South Wales

Conargo is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The town is in the Edward River Council local government area. It is on the Billabong Creek, a tributary of the Murrumbidgee River. The nearest towns are Jerilderie and Deniliquin. At the 2006 census, Conargo had a population of 188 people.The Aboriginal name for the locality of Conargo was 'Gooriara', meaning "hopping" or "kangaroo ground".The actual town itself is quite small, with only a pub, a convenience store that sells fuel and a small number of houses. There are five nearby villages - Blighty, Mayrung, Pretty Pine, Wanganella and Booroorban.The surrounding rural area consists of large sheep stations, including some Merino studs.HistoryIn 1859 William McKenzie opened the Conargo Inn there . A township at Conargo was laid out in 1860 by the surveyor McCulloch. During 1865 another hotel was built at the village - the Riverine Hotel . At about the same time the Conargo Inn, together with 320acre, was sold for £1,857 to T. Robertson. Conargo Post Office opened on 1 September 1864 and closed in 1988. In 1866 Conargo was reported as having a population of thirty persons, with a post-office, a store, and two hotels. In 1867 the Billabong Hotel was added to Conargo's hotels . In 1869 the Baker brothers built a store there. In 1872 Conargo was described as a small village with a store and three hotels.