The Rock, New South Wales
Town in New South Wales, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Rock is a town with a population of 1,347,[1] in the Riverina region of southern New South Wales, Australia, in Lockhart Shire. It is 32 kilometres (20 mi) south-west of Wagga Wagga, on the Olympic Highway.
The Rock | |
|---|---|
View across the rail lines and grain silos to The Rock Hill c.. 2005 | |
  The Rock | |
| Coordinates: 35°16′0″S 147°06′0″E | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| LGA | |
| Location |
|
| Government | |
| • State electorate | |
| • Federal division | |
| Elevation | 236 m (774 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,347 (2021 census)[1] |
| Postcode | 2655 |
| County | Mitchell |
The town is named after the large rocky hill overlooking it, now called The Rock Hill[2] but called Yerong in the local indigenous language. The reserve that includes The Rock Hill is an attraction for bush-walking, rock-climbing and the observation of wildlife. It is also an Aboriginal sacred site, called Kengal.[3]
History
The Rock Post Office opened on 1 September 1890.[4]
Prior to 1919, the town had been known as Kingston, probably named after the King family, which had operated the local farming property known as "The Rock".[5][6] The name Kingston is shown on a 1916 map of the Riverina district. The King name survives with the hotel on the Olympic Highway at the town still named The King's Own.
Heritage listings
The Rock has a number of heritage-listed sites, including The Rock railway station on the Main Southern railway[7]
Sport and recreation
The Rock Football Club was an Australian Rules Football club that was established in 1900 after a meeting at the King's Own Hotel.[8] The club has played in the following football competitions -
- 1900: Wagga United Football Association.[9]
- 1901: McLaurin Football Competition:[10] Runners Up[11]
- 1902–09: Club active, playing friendly matches against local clubs and towns, but no evidence of playing in an official competition.
- 1910–12: The Rock Football Association:
- 1913: Wagga United Football Association: Runners Up: 1913[12]
- 1914: Nathan Cup Competition – Premiers: 1914[13]
- 1915: Wagga Football Association.[14]
- 1916: Club active, but no official competition due to WW1.
- 1917: The Culcairn Patriotic Football Association[15]
- 1918: Yerong Creek & District Football Association. The Rock played against Mangoplah and Yerong Creek.[16]
- 1919–1921: Wagga United Football Association. The Rock withdrew form the Wagga United FA in June[17] & joined The Rock & District Football Association.[18]
- 1921: The Rock & District Football Association.
- 1922: Riverina Main Line Football Association[19]
- 1923–1925: Wagga United Football Association. Runners Up: 1925[20][21][22]
- 1926–1927: The Rock Football Association. Runners Up: 1927[23]
- 1928 – Wagga & District Football Association. Runners Up: 1928[24] As the minor premiers, Magoplah were entitled to challenge The Rock to another game and ultimately won the Grand Final replay.[25]
- 1929–1937: The Rock & District Football League: Premiers: 1932,[26][27] 1936[28][29][30] Runners Up: 1934,[31] 1937[32]
- 1938–1940: Albury & District Football League: 1938–1940.
- 1941–1944: Club in recess due to WW2.
- 1945–1947: Milbrulong & District League: Premiers: 1945,[33] 1947 (undefeated)[34]
- 1948–1957: Albury & District Football League: Runners Up: 1948, 1956 & 1957.
- 1957–1961: Farrer Football League
- 1962 – Farrer Football League: The Rock FC & Yerong Creek FC merged in 1962 to form The Rock Yerong Creek FC.
The Rock Cricket Club won the 1938/39 Henty & District Cricket Association premiership, defeating Henty. The Rock scored 7/441 in their second innings, with the three Taylor brothers all scoring centuries![35]
The Rock also had a rugby league team, which competed in the Group 13 Rugby League competition. The club wore maroon jerseys with a sky-blue V.
Transport
There is a railway junction at The Rock, being the place where the Boree Creek line branches from the Main South line. The Rock railway station is served by the twice-daily NSW TrainLink XPT service between Melbourne and Sydney.
