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Attractions in Narrandera

 

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The Koala Reserve

One of the attractions in Narrandera is the Koala Reserve.
The Koala Reserve Narrandera

One of the great attractions in Narrandera is the Koala Reserve.

Our national icon, the Koala, has not always been able to survive the advance of the European into its domain. By the turn of the century many an area populated by koalas saw the total annihilation of the marsupial. It had succumbed to destruction of natural habitat, accidental poisoning, and the gun.

This was the case in the Narrandera district, where between about 1900 and 1972 not a single Koala was in evidence. It took the foresight of local Councillor Ken Keisling to advance the notion of introducing Koala to breed in a reserve specially set aside for the purpose. The first koalas were introduced to the reserve in1972. Three females and one male were the first to arrive. Over the next two years a further nineteen adults were brought in. More than 25 years on, the numbers are still increasing and it is clear that the original koalas have bred successfully.

The Reserve hugs the Murrumbidgee River and provides an ideal diet of River Red Gum leaves. It has been subject to both flood and fire during the past 28 years. Despite this, it is now colonised by upward of 200 healthy koalas. It is clear from the number of sightings both upstream and downstream of the reserve, that the territorial habits of the koala have led to a spread of the population well beyond its boundaries.

The Narrandera community has taken the Reserve and its inhabitants to heart. Locals and visitors alike lend their eyes to the annual Koala Count. Supervised by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the count involves groups of spotters spreading quietly throughout the reserve. Once sighted a koala’s location is marked with a ribbon and sightings tallied at the end of the day.

Location: via Oakbank St, Narrandera NSW

Tiger Moth Memorial

Narrandera Tiger Moth Memorial Country Airstrips Australia
Narrandera Tiger Moth Memorial

Attractions in Narrandera – especially for aviation enthusiasts – don’t get much better than the Tiger Moth Memorial.

The Tiger Moth is the focal point of the memorial for those who trained at Narrandera’s No 8 EFTS (Elementary Flight Training School) during the Second World War. The display features the DH 82 Tiger Moth, a comprehensive collection of model airplanes and a range of photographic memorabilia relating to the training school at Narrandera.

On October 3, 1940, the first fiver Tiger Moth Aircraft (DH82-A) were flown in. The first intake of 60 Trainee Pilots, Course 5 (P) arrived on October 18, 1940 to commence their eight week course.  By the end of October the schools strength was 24 Officers and 336 other ranks. In the four and half years of operation, 3,818 young men were trained in the elementary stages of flying.

It was a self contained unit with its own post office, hospital, gymnasium, swimming pool and sewerage system.  

As the name No 8 EFTS suggests, the Narrandera Air School was one of a number established in Australia as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme which was established in April, 1940.   The scheme created a world wide air training plan in which more than 250,000 young men were trained as pilots, navigators, wireless operators and air gunners for the various theatres of operations such as Europe, the Middle East, Burma and the South West Pacific.

The official opening of the Narrandera Memorial on October 2nd 1988, was performed by Air Chief Marshal (retd) Sir Neville McNamara, a former Chief of Air Staff who trained at  Narrandera in 1942.   He later returned as a Sergeant pilot instructor prior to operational flying in the South West Pacific area.

Opening Hours: 9:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Saturday, 10:00am to 1:30pm on Sundays. Times may vary due to COVID

Location: Cadell St, Narrandera (adjacent to the Narrandera Visitor Information Centre in Marie Bashir Park)