Darlington Point, New South Wales
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Darlington Point New South Wales |
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The Punt Hotel
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 Darlington Point
Location in New South Wales
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| Coordinates | 34°34′S 146°00′E / 34.567°S 146.000°ECoordinates: 34°34′S 146°00′E / 34.567°S 146.000°E |
| Population | 1,016 (2011 census) |
| Postcode(s) | 2706 |
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| LGA(s) | Murrumbidgee Council |
| County | Cooper |
| State electorate(s) | Murray |
| Federal Division(s) | Riverina |
Darlington Point is a small town on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River in the Riverina district of western New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Murrumbidgee Council local government area. The centre of town is four kilometres from the Sturt Highway, along Kidman Way. Darlington Point is 631 kilometres (392 mi) south west of Sydney and 33 kilometres (21 mi) south of Griffith. At the 2011 census, Darlington Point had a population of 1,016.
The first pastoral run near present-day Darlington Point, on the north bank of the Murrumbidgee, was taken up in 1844 by John Peter; he named the run "Cuba" after the Aboriginal word for a locally-common Acacia tree. On the south bank John Peter also leased the "Tubbo" run, a property he had formed in the 1850s by the amalgamation of several runs. The site where the township later developed was a crossing-place over the Murrumbidgee River used by stockmen and teamsters. The Surveyor Townshend laid out reserves near the crossing-place during the 1850s.
In 1864 George Rogers acquired 56 acres (22.7 ha) of "Cuba" station. He built the Darlington Inn about two miles (3 km) west of "Cuba" homestead at the junction of the Wagga Wagga to Hay road and the track leading to the river-crossing. Rogers soon became discontented; he sold out a year later and left the district. The new publican of the Darlington Inn was Jacob Abrahams. Another hotel (probably the Waddai Hotel) was built on the southern bank at the crossing (eventually leading to the development of the Waddai township). A report published in August 1865 claimed that Darlington Point, by "the growth of free selection", was "fast assuming the dimensions and appearance of a township"; there were two hotels, one on either side of the river, which the writer concluded "can hardly be regarded as a favourable sign".
In 1866 a punt (previously operating at Wagga Wagga) was purchased for use at the Darlington Point-Waddai crossing; the owner of the punt was Jacob Abrahams, previously publican of the Darlington Inn, who had opened a general store at the township. The punt was said to be one of the largest in the colony, with the capacity to carry 1,700 sheep in a single trip. The license of the Darlington Inn was held by Thomas Linsell from 1866 to 1868. Edward J. Flood held the license of the Darlington Inn in 1869 (the last year this hotel appears in the annual list of licenses granted).
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