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The second-largest inland city in NSW, Wagga Wagga is 471 km south-west of Sydney, which is about halfway between Sydney and Melbourne. It has a population of about 57,000 and is located on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. The Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri are the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters of the area.

Over the years, I’ve passed through Wagga a couple of times. This has mainly been in a work capacity, which has meant limited time in a place which has many points of interest. Over the next couple of posts, I’ll share some of my favourite spots — a mix of historic buildings, wetlands and the botanical gardens.

One of the buildings to catch my attention on my first visit was the historic Council Chambers. It was built on the site of a Cobb and Co staging post by Charles Hardy in 1881. Hardy had migrated from England in 1854, and established a building company which helped create many of the area’s most significant buildings. This building is now home to part of the Museum of the Riverina.

In 1882, the Commercial Bank was also built by Hardy. It is in the Classical Revival style, and was an indication of the increasing wealth and importance of the town.

Over the decades, there were several court houses built in Wagga. The first was a slab building, but this was relocated after floods in 1852-3. The present buildings date from 1901-1903, and were designed by Government Architect Walter Vernon, and built by Hardy’s company.

There are some lovely parks and public spaces around the city, including the Victory Memorial Gardens. Located on the original site of police barracks and a police paddock, the gardens were established as a memorial to those who served in World War I. A cenotaph was erected in 1922, and the Memorial Archway followed in 1926. The Eternal Flame and the lists of all who served in later wars was dedicated in 1990.

Wagga is home to numerous magnificent churches, including St Michael’s Catholic Cathedral. It was built in two stages. The original structure was built as a parish church in the late 1880s. It was converted into a Victorian Gothic sandstone cathedral in 1922-5.

When was the last time you had a wander around Wagga?

Photo: Donna, one of the many public artworks dotted around Wagga Wagga