Booligal

Postcode: 2711

Booligal is a village in the Riverina area of western New South Wales (NSW), Australia. It is located on the Cobb Highway, on the Lachlan River north of Hay. Booligal is a part of the Hay Shire Council local government area. The name of the village is an Aboriginal word meaning either 'windy place', or 'large swamp', 'place of flooded box trees'.

The site where Booligal township developed was originally a crossing-place on the Lachlan River on the "Boolegal" pastoral run (which had been taken up by the Tom brothers). The township developed on the opposite side of the river to "Boolegal" station (later known as "Bank" station). The builder Edward Roset and his family were living at the locality by about 1856. Edward Roset’s wife Bridget died on 27 February 1857, just one week after her 22-month old daughter had died of dysentery; Bridget Roset and her daughter were the first interments in the Booligal cemetery. Edward Roset constructed a hotel at Booligal (possibly in collaboration with Neil McColl), which probably operated initially as a sly-grog shop. In 1859 Robert Whiteus was operating a punt at the locality.

The township of Booligal was laid out by Surveyor Edward Twynam and gazetted as a township in July 1860. In December 1860 it was reported that a store and two public-houses were being erected in the new township. Licenses for the two hotels were initially refused by the Bench of Magistrates at Hay “on account of there being no police belonging to the locality”. On appeal however the applications for licenses at Booligal were granted. Neil McColl became the licensee of the Drovers’ Arms Hotel (possibly the renovated Roset’s hotel) and John Ledwidge was granted a license for the Booligal Hotel. On 31 January 1861 – “the first red letter day at this new township on the Lower Lachlan” – both hotels were opened to the public.

In March 1861 the Adelaide firm of Randell and Scott opened at store at Booligal. The manager, Thomas Hitchcox, was briefly postmaster. In August 1862 it was reported that both hotels at Booligal were closed and the two publicans were insolvent. Hitchcock resigned as storekeeper to take over the license of the Booligal Hotel. Another Adelaide firm, Morgan and Pollard, opened a second store at Booligal by 1863, managed by Henry N. Smith, who became postmaster until his death in June 1868.

The village of Booligal has a general store and post office. There is a cricket oval for the occasional social game, shaded eating areas, playground and toilet facilities. The Booligal Hotel offers cold beverages, food and accommodation. A one-teacher primary school was recently re-opened in the village.

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