Ganmain

Ganmain is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Ganmain is located around 55 kilometres (34 mi) north west of Wagga Wagga, and 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of Narrandera. Ganmain is in the Coolamon Shire local government area and at the 2021 census had a population of 793.^[1]

Ganmain New South Wales
Main Street of Ganmain as it is today - complete with vintage cars
Ganmain
Coordinates	34°48′0″S 147°02′0″E
Population	793 (2021 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	2702
Location	494 km (307 mi) SW of Sydney 486 km (302 mi) N of Melbourne 57 km (35 mi) NW of Wagga Wagga 15 km (9 mi) W of Coolamon
LGA(s)	Coolamon Shire Council
County	Bourke
State electorate(s)	Cootamundra
Federal division(s)	Riverina

History

The town name is said to be an Aboriginal word meaning "Crown scenes on the Moon for tribal reasons" or "native decorated with scars".^[2]

Ganmain takes its name from Ganmain Run, a cattle station established in 1838, by settler James Devlin.

Boggy Creek Post Office opened on 10 December 1888, was renamed Derry in 1894 and Ganmain later the same year.^[3]

In 1973, the Ganmain Historical Society was opened by six local families.

Today

Ganmain is the self-proclaimed "Sheaf Hay centre of Australia"^[4] and has produced chaff for many leading racehorse trainers in Australia. The Big Haystack in Pioneer Park reflects this background.

The town has two primary schools, Ganmain Public School and St. Brendan's Catholic Primary School.

Sport

The most popular sport in Ganmain is Australian rules football, as it lies on the Canola Way, a geographical pocket stretching from Grong Grong and Marrar, in which Australian football retains a strong following, despite New South Wales being a largely rugby league supporting state. The local team, Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong, plays in the Riverina Football Netball League.

Notable people from Ganmain

• Russell Campbell – Australian rules footballer
• Francis Carroll – Former Catholic Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, Francis Carroll.
• Dennis Carroll – Australian rules footballer
• Jim Carroll – Australian rules footballer
• Laurie Carroll – Australian rules footballer
• Tom Carroll – Australian rules footballer
• Wayne Carroll – Australian rules footballer
• Frank Gumbleton – Australian rules footballer

External links

• Travelmate Archived 22 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine – Ganmain. Tourist information site.
• Coolamon Shire Council – Official website. Ganmain page.