View source for Cowra

{{This|the town|the local government area|Cowra Shire}}
{{For|the unrelated historic Cowra sheep station on the Murray River| Merbein}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                     = town
| name                     = Cowra
| state                    = NSW
| coordinates    = {{coord|33|50|02|S|148|42|00|E|display=inline,title}}
| image                    = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Kendal Street, the heart of the CBD.jpg
| photo2a = Cowra Welcome.jpg|thumb
| photo3a = |thumb
| photo3b = Canola Fields (Cowra).jpg|thumb
| photo4b = Cowra World Peace Bell.jpg|thumb
| photo6a = Lachlan River.jpg|thumb
| size = 300
| position = center
| spacing = 3
| color = #FFFFF0
| border = 3
}}
| caption                  = <small>From top to bottom, left to right: Kendal Street divides the CBD; the Eastern entrance to the town, near Europa Park; Crops of canola creating ''fields of gold''; Australia's [[Japanese Peace Bell|World Peace Bell]] proudly housed in Cowra's Civic Square; and the [[Lachlan River]] which flows through the heart of the town</small>
| mapframe = yes
| pop                      = 8,254
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes            = <ref name=census>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=UCL114007|name=Cowra|accessdate=1 December 2018|quick=on}}[[File:CC-BY icon.svg|15px]] Material was copied from this source, which is available under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License].</ref>
| poprank                  = 
| density                  = 
| density_footnotes        = 
| established              = 1846
| established_footnotes    = 
| abolished                = 
| gazetted                 = 1849
| postcode                 = 2794
| elevation                = 310
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| area                     = 
| area_footnotes           = 
| timezone                 = [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]]
| utc                      = +10
| timezone-dst             = [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]]
| utc-dst                  = +11
| dist1                    = 72
| dir1                     = SW
| location1                = [[Orange, New South Wales|Orange]]<ref name=DistfromOra>{{cite web|url=http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/distancedraw2?rec1=108333&placename=cowra&placetype=0&state=0&place1=ORANGE&place1long=149.101196&place1lat=-33.281799|title=Great Circle Distance between ORANGE and COWRA|access-date=16 August 2011|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|work=Geosciences Australia website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020195939/http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/distancedraw2?rec1=108333&placename=cowra&placetype=0&state=0&place1=ORANGE&place1long=149.101196&place1lat=-33.281799|archive-date=20 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| dist2                    = 96
| dir2                     = SW
| location2                = [[Bathurst, New South Wales|Bathurst]]<ref name=DistfromBat>{{cite web|url=http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/distancedraw2?rec1=108333&placename=cowra&placetype=0&state=0&place1=BATHURST&place1long=149.580714&place1lat=-33.416811|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615164033/http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/distancedraw2?rec1=108333&placename=cowra&placetype=0&state=0&place1=BATHURST&place1long=149.580714&place1lat=-29.416811|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2013|title=Great Circle Distance between BATHURST and COWRA|access-date=16 August 2011|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|work=[[Geosciences Australia]]}}</ref>
| dist3                    = 170
| dir3                     = N
| location3                = [[Canberra]]<ref name=DistfromCan>{{cite web|url=http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/distancedraw2?rec1=108333&placename=cowra&placetype=0&state=0&place1=CANBERRA&place1long=149.133331&place1lat=-35.299999|title=Great Circle Distance between CANBERRA and COWRA|access-date=16 August 2011|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|work=Geosciences Australia website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020195948/http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/distancedraw2?rec1=108333&placename=cowra&placetype=0&state=0&place1=CANBERRA&place1long=149.133331&place1lat=-35.299999|archive-date=20 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| dist4                    = 305
| dir4                     = W
| location4                = [[Sydney]]<ref name=DistfromSyd>{{cite web|url=http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/distancedraw2?rec1=108333&placename=cowra&placetype=0&state=NSW&place1=SYDNEY&place1long=151.209595&place1lat=-33.873199|title=Great Circle Distance between SYDNEY and COWRA|access-date=16 August 2011|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|work=Geosciences Australia website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020195953/http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/distancedraw2?rec1=108333&placename=cowra&placetype=0&state=NSW&place1=SYDNEY&place1long=151.209595&place1lat=-33.873199|archive-date=20 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| lga                      = [[Cowra Shire]]
| seat                     = 
| region                   = 
| county                   = [[Forbes County, New South Wales|Forbes]], [[Bathurst County, New South Wales|Bathurst]]
| division                 = 
| stategov                 = [[Electoral district of Cootamundra|Cootamundra]]
| fedgov                   = [[Division of Riverina|Riverina]]
| visitation_num           = 
| visitation_year          = 
| visitation_footnotes     = 
| managing_authorities     = 
| url                      = 
| maxtemp                  = 23.0
| maxtemp_footnotes        = 
| mintemp                  = 8.3
| mintemp_footnotes        = 
| rainfall                 = 598.3
| rainfall_footnotes       = 
| near-n                   = 
| near-ne                  = 
| near-e                   = 
| near-se                  = 
| near-s                   = 
| near-sw                  = 
| near-w                   = 
| near-nw                  = 
| near                     = 
| footnotes                = 
}}

'''Cowra''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|aʊ|r|ə}})<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Cowra|chapter-url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780195517965.001.0001/m-en_au-msdict-00001-0012554|title=Australian Oxford Dictionary|edition=2nd|year=2004|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|isbn=0-19-551796-2}}</ref> is a town in the [[Central West, New South Wales|Central West]] region of [[New South Wales]], Australia. It is the largest population centre and the council seat for the [[Cowra Shire]], with a population of 8,254.<ref name=census/>

Cowra is located approximately {{convert|310|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above sea level, on the banks of the [[Lachlan River]], in the Lachlan Valley. By road it is approximately {{convert|310|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} west<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Cowra+NSW/Sydney+NSW/@-29.1121716,148.8210381,8z | title=Cowra to Sydney }}</ref> of the state capital, [[Sydney]], and {{convert|189|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of the nation's capital, [[Canberra]].<ref>[https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Cowra+NSW/Canberra+ACT/@-34.4464296,147.639039,8z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b1091574157384d:0x40609b4904378e0!2m2!1d148.6912183!2d-33.8347103!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b164d69b05c9021:0x500ea6ea7695660!2m2!1d149.1286843!2d-35.2819998 Google Maps @ (34.4464296,147.639039)]</ref> The town is situated at the intersection of three state highways: the [[Mid-Western Highway]], [[Olympic Highway]] and the [[Lachlan Valley Way]].

Cowra is included in the rainfall recorder and weather forecast region for the Central West Slopes and Plains division of the [[Bureau of Meteorology]] forecasts.<ref>[http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/forecasts/centralwestslopes.shtml Central West Slopes and Plains] Bureau of Meteorology</ref>

==History==
===Prisoner of War camp===
During [[World War II]], Cowra was the site of a [[prisoner-of-war camp|prisoner of war (POW) camp]]. Most of the detainees were captured Japanese and Italian military personnel. However, in July 1942, Indonesian political prisoners from the Dutch [[Tanahmerah]] prison on the [[Digul]] river, in West Papua, were transported as "prisoners-of-war" to the Cowra prison camp, at the behest of [[Netherlands East Indies government-in-exile]] (with others who were ill being sent to [[Liverpool, New South Wales|Liverpool]]).<ref name="ba" /> These Indonesian prisoners arrived in mid 1942 and were released on 7 December 1943, and subsequent to their release, played an important role in the [[Black Armada|black bans]] which effectively frustrated the Dutch reimposition of colonial rule in the Indies.)<ref name="ba">Lockwood, R. (1975) Black Plague. Australasian Book Society Ltd., Sydney, Australia. {{Listed Invalid ISBN|9 09916 68 3}}</ref>

====The Cowra breakout====
{{Main|Cowra breakout}}

On 5 August 1944, at least 545 Japanese [[POW]]s attempted a mass breakout from the camp. Simultaneously, other Japanese prisoners committed suicide, or were killed by their countrymen, inside the camp.

The actions of the POWs in storming [[machine gun]] posts, armed only with improvised weapons, showed what [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] [[John Curtin]] described as a "suicidal disregard of life".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20211026012018/https://www.naa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/fs-198-cowra-breakout-1944.pdf Cowra breakout, 1944] [[National Archives of Australia]]</ref>

During the breakout and subsequent recapture of POWs, four Australian guards and 231 Japanese died, and 108 prisoners were wounded. The dead Japanese were buried in Cowra in the specially created Japanese War Cemetery. This is the only such cemetery in Australia, and also holds some of the dead from the World War II air raids on [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]].

An [[Avenue of Honour]] also commemorates those who died in [[World War I]]. There is an annual ceremony to commemorate the breakout, involving local school students, council members, local dignitaries and guest Japanese visitors.

== Heritage listings ==
[[File:Cowra Railway Station 01.jpg|thumb|[[Cowra railway station]]]]
Cowra has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
*[[Blayney-Demondrille railway line]]: [[Lachlan River railway bridge, Cowra]]<ref name="nswshr-1031">{{cite NSW SHR|5045435|Cowra rail bridge over Lachlan River|hr=01031|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref>
*Blayney-Demondrille railway line: [[Cowra railway station]]<ref name="nswshr-1122">{{cite NSW SHR|5011979|Cowra Railway Station and yard group|hr=01122|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref>
*Evans Street: [[Cowra Prisoner of War Camp Site]]<ref name="nswshr-619">{{cite NSW SHR|5045173|Cowra Prisoner of War Camp Site|hr=00619|fn=S90/00661;S91/06355|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref>

According to the [[2016 Australian census|2016 census]] of Population, there were 10,063 people in Cowra.
* Italian people made up 5% of the population.
* 85.2% of people were born in Australia. The next most common country of birth was England at 1.4%.
* 89.0% of people spoke only English at home.
* The most common responses for religion were Catholic 29.7%, Anglican 26.0% and No Religion 16.0%.<ref name="census" />

==Education==
[[File:Women training at the Cowra Experiment Farm, 1919.jpg|thumb|Women training at the Cowra Experiment Farm, 1919]]
;Primary schools
*Cowra Public School
*Mulyan Public School
*Holman Place Public School
*St Raphael's Catholic School (K–6)

;Secondary schools
*Cowra High School (7–12)
*St Raphael's Catholic School (7–12)

Cowra also has a campus of the [[Western Institute of TAFE]].

==Media==
===Radio stations===
Radio stations with transmitters located in or nearby to Cowra include:

'''AM:'''
* [[ABC Local Radio]] 549 AM
* [[2LF]] 1350 AM

'''FM:'''
* [[Hit Network]] 105.9 FM
* [[Triple M Central West]] 105.1 FM
* [[Roccy FM]] 99.5 FM
* [[ABC Classic FM]] 102.7 FM
* [[Radio National]] 104.3 FM
* [[Orange Community Radio|FM107.5]] 107.5 FM
* [[Triple J]] (2JJJ) 101.9 FM

===Television===
Cowra receives five free-to-air television networks and their affiliates which are relayed from Orange, and broadcast from nearby [[Mount Canobolas]]:

* [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] – [[ABC TV (Australian TV channel)|ABC TV]], [[ABC Family (Australian TV channel)|ABC Family]], [[ABC Kids (Australia)|ABC Kids]], [[ABC Entertains]] and [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]
* [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]] – [[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS TV]], [[SBS Viceland]], [[SBS Food]], [[National Indigenous Television|NITV]],  [[SBS World Movies]] and [[SBS WorldWatch]] 
* [[Seven Network]] – [[Seven Network|Seven]], [[7two]], [[7mate]], [[7Bravo]], [[7flix]], [[ishop TV]] and [[Racing.com]]
* [[Network 10]] – [[10 HD]], [[10 Drama]], [[10 Comedy]], [[Nickelodeon (Australian TV channel)|Nickelodeon]] and [[Sky News Australia|Sky News Regional]] 
* [[WIN Television|WIN]] – [[9HD]], [[9Gem]], [[9Go!]], [[9Life]] and [[Gold (Australian TV channel)|Gold]]
* Local half-hour long news bulletins are broadcast by Seven and WIN but Network 10 shows local news updates instead from its [[Hobart]] studios.

===Print===
The local newspaper is the ''Cowra Guardian'', published by [[Australian Community Media]].

==Viticulture==
{{further|Cowra wine region}}
Viticulture is a significant industry in the Cowra area. The first vineyards were planted in the 1970s and were predominantly [[Chardonnay]]. Since this time, a range of varieties have had success, including [[Mourvedre]] and [[Tempranillo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.winesofcowra.com.au/ |title=Vineyards of Cowra and Canowindra, NSW Central Ranges |publisher=Cowra Region Vineyard Association Inc. |access-date=29 October 2016}}</ref>

==Transport==
Cowra at the intersection for three highways: the [[Mid-Western Highway]], [[Olympic Highway]] and the [[Lachlan Valley Way]].

Cowra was a major rail centre being the focal point of the [[Blayney-Demondrille railway line]] as well as the junction for branch lines to [[Eugowra]] and [[Grenfell railway line|Grenfell]].<ref>Byways of Steam: Cowra ''[[Roundhouse (periodical)|Roundhouse]]'' January 1980 pages 4-27</ref>

The Cowra to [[Blayney railway station|Blayney]] section was closed in the 1980s by the [[State Rail Authority]], before being reopened by the [[Lachlan Valley Railway]] as a heritage railway in September 1993, before closing again in April 1997 after a bridge was destroyed by fire.<ref>LVR re-opens line to Blayney ''[[Railway Digest]]'' November 1993 page 461</ref><ref>Cowra line LVR bridge destroyed by fire ''Railway Digest'' May 1997 page 9</ref> In April 2000, the section reopened in a project funded by the [[Government of New South Wales]].<ref>Premier Officialy Re-Opens Cowra - Blayney Line ''Railway Digest'' June 2000 page 7</ref> It closed again without ever having gained a regular source of traffic. The Cowra to Demondrille section closed in 2007.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20250429064359/https://www.fullyloaded.com.au/nsw-moves-to-reopen-cowra-rail-freight-lines/ NSW moves to reopen Cowra rail freight lines] ''[[Australasian Transport News]]'' 3 September 2013</ref>

==Climate==
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Cowra has a [[humid subtropical]] (''Cfa'') climate, with a [[semi-arid climate|cold semi-arid]] (''BSk'') influence. Average maximum temperatures ranging from {{convert|32|°C|0|abbr=on}} in high summer to {{convert|14|°C|0|abbr=on}} in mid winter, while minima range from {{convert|16|°C|0|abbr=on}} to {{convert|2|°C|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/content/research/centres/cowra/our-location |title=Climate at the Cowra Agricultural Research & Advisory Station &#124; NSW Department of Primary Industries |access-date=26 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530080054/http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/content/research/centres/cowra/our-location |archive-date=30 May 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Cowra sits on the border zone between the cool, wet highlands of the [[Great Dividing Range]] and the hot, dry plains of western New South Wales. As a result, Cowra experiences climate characteristics of both regions: with cold sub-10&nbsp;°C maximum temperatures, frequent [[frost]] and even [[snow]] in winter, and frequent 40+ °C temperatures in summer. Other towns that experience this 'border' climate are [[Inverell]] and [[Mudgee]] further north, [[Yass, New South Wales|Yass]] and [[Tumut]] further south, [[Corryong]] in [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]] and [[Dalby, Queensland|Dalby]] in [[Queensland]]. 

Rainfall is mild and distributed fairly evenly all year round, however it slightly peaks in summer with [[thunderstorms]] and again in winter with [[cold fronts]]. The average annual rainfall is {{convert|598.3|mm|0|abbr=on}}, while Cowra's wettest month on record was January 1984, with {{convert|371.0|mm|0|abbr=on}} recorded. Extreme temperatures have ranged from {{convert|46.6|°C|0|abbr=on}} to {{convert|-8.0|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Cowra is considerably sunny, having 145.8 clear days on an annual basis.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_065091_All|site_name=COWRA AIRPORT COMPARISON|access-date=26 April 2013|date=April 2013}}</ref>
{{Weather box
| location = [[Cowra Airport]] Comparison (1966–2011); 300 m AMSL; 33.85° S, 148.65° E
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| rain colour = green
| Jan record high C = 46.6
| Feb record high C = 44.2
| Mar record high C = 39.5
| Apr record high C = 36.0
| May record high C = 27.0
| Jun record high C = 24.0
| Jul record high C = 22.0
| Aug record high C = 34.4
| Sep record high C = 33.5
| Oct record high C = 36.7
| Nov record high C = 43.8
| Dec record high C = 41.8
| year record high C = 46.6
| Jan high C = 32.2
| Feb high C = 31.4
| Mar high C = 28.1
| Apr high C = 23.6
| May high C = 18.6
| Jun high C = 14.7
| Jul high C = 13.7
| Aug high C = 15.5
| Sep high C = 18.6
| Oct high C = 22.7
| Nov high C = 26.7
| Dec high C = 30.2
| year high C = 23.0
| Jan low C = 15.6
| Feb low C = 15.6
| Mar low C = 12.5
| Apr low C = 8.3
| May low C = 5.1
| Jun low C = 3.1
| Jul low C = 2.1
| Aug low C = 2.8
| Sep low C = 4.5
| Oct low C = 7.0
| Nov low C = 10.2
| Dec low C = 13.1
| year low C = 8.3
| Jan record low C = 5.0
| Feb record low C = 5.0
| Mar record low C = 0.6
| Apr record low C = -3.0
| May record low C = -5.0
| Jun record low C = -5.5
| Jul record low C = -8.0
| Aug record low C = -6.0
| Sep record low C = -3.0
| Oct record low C = -2.0
| Nov record low C = -2.0
| Dec record low C = 2.0
| year record low C = -8.0
| Jan rain mm = 59.6
| Feb rain mm = 52.9
| Mar rain mm = 40.4
| Apr rain mm = 42.8
| May rain mm = 46.3
| Jun rain mm = 40.5
| Jul rain mm = 52.5
| Aug rain mm = 47.8
| Sep rain mm = 52.5
| Oct rain mm = 56.3
| Nov rain mm = 53.3
| Dec rain mm = 53.4
| Jan rain days = 6.5
| Feb rain days = 5.7
| Mar rain days = 5.8
| Apr rain days = 5.5
| May rain days = 7.6
| Jun rain days = 9.4
| Jul rain days = 11.0
| Aug rain days = 10.2
| Sep rain days = 9.1
| Oct rain days = 8.2
| Nov rain days = 7.8
| Dec rain days = 6.5
| unit rain days = 0.2mm
| humidity colour = green
| Jan afthumidity = 34
| Feb afthumidity = 37
| Mar afthumidity = 39
| Apr afthumidity = 44
| May afthumidity = 54
| Jun afthumidity = 63
| Jul afthumidity = 62
| Aug afthumidity = 57
| Sep afthumidity = 53
| Oct afthumidity = 47
| Nov afthumidity = 39
| Dec afthumidity = 32
| year afthumidity = 47
| source 1 = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
| date = April 2013
}}

== Retail ==
Cowra has a wide variety of retailers both large and small, including:

* [[Coles Supermarkets|Coles]] – supermarket
* [[Woolworths Supermarkets|Woolworths]] – supermarket
* [[Aldi]] – supermarket
* [[Bunnings]] – hardware
* [[The Reject Shop]] – discount variety store
* [[Total Tools]]

==Japanese War Cemetery==
A cemetery was initially created holding the 231 prisoners who died in the [[Cowra Breakout]] and was tended by members of the Cowra [[Returned and Services League of Australia|RSL]] after World War II.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=COWRA WAR CEMETERIES |url=https://visitcowra.com.au/cowra-war-cemetries |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Visit Cowra |language=en-AU}}</ref> The site is next to the Australian War Cemetery, which houses local servicemen, personnel who died in the area, and four of the guards of the Cowra breakout.<ref name=":0" /> There are also a few Indonesian prisoner graves of people who were detained by the Dutch authorities.<ref name=":0" />

Formalisation of the site as an official war grave began in 1959 and the site opened as the Japanese War Cemetery on  22 November 1964.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Cowra Japanese War Cemetery Online Database |url=https://cowrajapanesecemetery.org/history-of-the-cowra-japanese-cemetery/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Cowra Japanese War Cemetery |language=en-AU}}</ref> Eventually, 524 bodies were interred there, including civilian internees and all other Japanese combatants who were buried in other parts of Australia (since their graves were later moved there).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The Cowra Japanese War Cemetery Online Database |url=https://cowrajapanesecemetery.org/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Cowra Japanese War Cemetery |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=webadmin |date=2012-04-11 |title=Cowra Japanese War Cemetery |url=https://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/memorials/cowra-japanese-war-cemetery |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} Cowra Japanese Garden |url=https://www.cowragarden.com.au/history |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=CJG |language=en}}</ref> Not all dead were Japanese nationals, but include 25 Taiwanese and 1 Korean (which at the time were colonies of Japan).<ref name=":1" />

The cemetery is on [[Crown land]] owned by the New South Wales government under trusteeship of the [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]]. Use of the land,  was granted to Japan in 1963 on a payment-of-costs basis.<ref name="rix">{{cite book |last1=Rix |first1=Alan |title=The Australia-Japan political alignment : 1952 to the present |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1134641734}}</ref><ref name="ceded">{{cite web |title=Cowra Japanese War Cemetery and Shrine Area |url=https://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/content/cowra-japanese-war-cemetery-and-shrine-area |website=Register of War Memorials in NSW |publisher=Government of New South Wales |access-date=22 September 2018 |language=en |date=11 April 2012}}</ref> In 1971, the Cowra Tourism Development decided to celebrate this link to Japan, and proposed a Japanese garden for the town. The Japanese government agreed to support this development as a sign of thanks for the respectful treatment of their war dead; the development also received funding from the Australian government and private entities.

== Japanese Garden ==
Located 3 kilometres south of the war cemetery is the [[Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre]]. It was designed in 1977 by [[Ken Nakajima]] (1914–2000), a "world renowned architect"<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Cowra Japanese Garden & Cultural Centre |url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/initiatives/cowra-japanese-garden-and-cultural-centre/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=National Trust |language=en-AU}}</ref> of Japanese gardens at the time.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Construction {{!}} Cowra Japanese Garden |url=https://www.cowragarden.com.au/construction |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=CJG |language=en}}</ref> The first stage was opened in 1979,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre {{!}} NSW Holidays & Accommodation, Things to Do, Attractions and Events |url=https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/cowra-area/cowra/attractions/cowra-japanese-garden-and-cultural-centre |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=www.visitnsw.com |language=en-AU}}</ref> with a second stage opened in 1986.<ref name=":3" /> The gardens were designed in the style of the [[Edo period]] and are a ''komatsu'' ("small pine-tree") or strolling garden. The rocky hillside, manicured hedges, waterfalls and streams, and the two lakes provide a serene environment for a myriad of birdlife. Special features of the garden include a Bonsho Bell, a traditional Edo Cottage, an authentic open air Tea House and a Bonsai House.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=NSW Department of Customer |date=2023-02-23 |title=Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre {{!}} NSW Government |url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/locations-and-attractions/cowra-japanese-garden-and-cultural-centre |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=www.nsw.gov.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> They are designed to show 'A Sense of Season' throughout the year<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Cowra Japanese Garden |url=https://www.cowragarden.com.au/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=CJG |language=en}}</ref> as well as representative landscape types of Japan.<ref name=":2" /> At 5&nbsp;hectares (12&nbsp;acres), the garden is the largest Japanese garden in the Southern Hemisphere.<ref name=":4" /> They were added to the National Trust Register in June 2013.<ref name=":2" />

After cherry trees were planted in 1988, an annual ''[[Sakura|Sakura Matsuri]]'' (cherry blossom festival) was first held in 1990<ref name=":2" /> and is an event in Cowra's tourism calendar and is held in the gardens during September.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Sakura Matsuri |url=https://artsoutwest.org.au/events/2024-sakura-matsuri/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Arts OutWest |language=en-US}}</ref> The festival celebrates the birth of spring. Locals, Australian and international visitors alike have the opportunity to experience traditional elements of Japanese culture. ''Sakura'' at the Cowra Japanese Garden is celebrated annually when the cherry blossoms are at their peak.

{{gallery
|align=center
|File:02. Japanese Garden, Cowra, NSW, 22.09.2006.jpg|Japanese lake with [[Tōrō|stone lantern]]
|File:05. Japanese Garden, Cowra, NSW, 22.09.2006.jpg|Looking across the lake to the teahouse 
|File:06. Japanese Garden, Cowra, NSW, 22.09.2006.jpg|Lower lake with spring blossoms
|File:03. Japanese Garden, Cowra, NSW, 22.09.2006.jpg|Big bird rests on a stone lantern in the upper lake
|File:07. Japanese Garden Pano, Cowra, NSW, 22.09.2006.jpg|Panoramic view from the Symbolic Mountain at the Japanese Gardens
}}

== Sport ==
The most popular sport in Cowra is [[rugby league]]. The local team, the Cowra Magpies, compete in the [[Peter McDonald Premiership]], of which they are a part of the [[Group 10 Rugby League|Group 10]] Division.

=== Sporting clubs ===
*Cowra Magpies are a rugby league team playing in the [[Peter McDonald Premiership]] ([[Group 10 Rugby League|Group 10]]) competition.
*Cowra Eagles are a rugby union team playing in the [[Central West Rugby Union]] competition.
*Cowra Blues are an Australian rules football team playing in the [[AFL Central West]] competition.
*Cowra Eagles are a soccer club playing in the Orange District Soccer Senior Men's (1st Grade) competition.
*Cowra Netball association play in State Age Championships competition.
*Cowra Squashed Frogs are a hockey team playing in the Western Division.

==Population==

{{Historical populations
|type= Australia
|1921|3716
|1933|5056
|1947|5473
|1954|6097
|1961|6288
|1966|7076
|1971|7295
|1976|7734
|1981|7900
|1986|8207
|1991|8422
|1996|8544
|2001|8691
|2006|8430
|2011|8107
|2016|8225
|2021|8254
|source=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] data.<ref name="ABS Census data">{{cite web |title=Statistics by Catalogue Number |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ViewContent?readform&view=ProductsbyCatalogue&Action=Expand&Num=2.2 |access-date=7 May 2024}}</ref><ref name="ABS Census data recent">{{cite web |title=Search Census data |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/search-by-area |access-date=7 May 2024}}</ref>
}}

The first European explorer to the area, [[George Evans (explorer)|George William Evans]], entered the [[Wyangala#Water resources|Lachlan Valley]] in 1815. He named the area the Oxley Plains after his superior the surveyor-general, [[John Oxley]]. In 1817 he deemed the area "rather unfit for settlement". A military depot was established not long after at Soldiers Flat near present-day [[Billimari]]. Arthur Ranken and James Sloan, from [[Bathurst, New South Wales|Bathurst]], were amongst the first white settlers on the Lachlan. They moved to the area in 1831.

The township of "Coura Rocks" had its beginnings in 1844.  Around 1847, the township site became known as Cowra, and in 1849, was proclaimed a village.<ref name="SMHtravel">{{cite news|title=Cowra|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/New-South-Wales/Cowra/2005/02/17/1108500193420.html|department=Travel|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=24 October 2011|date=8 February 2004}}</ref>

In the 1850s many gold prospectors passed through headed for gold fields at Lambing Flat ([[Young, New South Wales|Young]]) and [[Grenfell, New South Wales|Grenfell]]. The first school was established in 1857. The first bridge over the Lachlan River was built in 1870. Gold was discovered at [[Mount McDonald, New South Wales|Mount McDonald]] in the 1880s. The rail head from Sydney reached Cowra in 1886. Local government was granted in 1888. The first mobile telephone exchange was established in 1901. The town water supply was established in 1909, the gasworks in 1912 and town supplied electricity was introduced in 1924. From 1904 to 1966 the Cowra Experiment Farm was im operation, experimenting with [[wheat]] and with [[fallow]] crops.<ref>{{cite web | title=Cowra Experiment Farm | website=Research Data Australia | url=https://researchdata.edu.au/cowra-experiment-farm/165999 }}</ref>

Cowra hosts an annual Festival of International Understanding, featuring a parade, a fireworks display, balloons for the kids and events showcasing a particular foreign culture. In 2020 it was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web | title =Festival of International Understanding | publisher =Australian Broadcasting Corporation Central West NSW | year =2002 | url =http://www2b.abc.net.au/EventCentral/View/event.aspx?p=25&e=4380450 | access-date =23 November 2010 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110615114035/http://www2b.abc.net.au/EventCentral/View/event.aspx?p=25&e=4380450 | archive-date =15 June 2011}}</ref>

=== Notable people ===

* [[Ellie Carpenter]] (born 2000), soccer player who plays for [[Olympique Lyonnais Féminin|Olympique Lyon]] and for the [[Australia women's national soccer team|Australia national team]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-26 |title=Why it's easy to forget that the world's best full-back, Ellie Carpenter, is just 22 |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37638261/why-easy-forget-matildas-star-ellie-carpenter-just-22 |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{wikivoyage inline|Cowra}}
*[http://www.cowraregion.com.au/ Cowra Shire Council]
*[http://www.cowratourism.com.au Cowra Tourism Corporation]
*[http://www.cowragarden.com.au Cowra Japanese Garden]

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cowra| ]]
[[Category:Towns in the Central West (New South Wales)]]