Jerilderie is a small regional town in the southern Riverina area of New South Wales, Australia. The town is the administrative centre of the local council that shares its name and had a population recorded as 768 in the source summary. Jerilderie functions as a service and trade hub for surrounding farms and grazing properties.

Location and access

Jerilderie lies on the inland plain and is readily reached from the major north–south trunk road, the Newell Highway. It is about 674 kilometres (419 miles) south‑west of Sydney and roughly 45 kilometres (28 miles) north of the Victorian state border. The town’s postcode is 2716. Its position on the Riverina plain places it in an area dominated by broadacre cropping, livestock and irrigation schemes.

History and heritage

The district sits on lands long occupied by Indigenous peoples prior to European settlement; later 19th‑century pastoral expansion brought closer settlement and the establishment of towns. Jerilderie is widely known in Australian colonial history through its association with the Kelly Gang — the town was the scene of a bank robbery and is linked to the so‑called "Jerilderie Letter" composed by Ned Kelly. Today the town preserves buildings and sites that reflect its late 19th and early 20th century development.

Economy, community and culture

Jerilderie’s economy is principally agricultural, with broadacre cereals, sheep and cattle enterprises and irrigated crops where water is available. Local businesses provide retail, health and education services to a large rural catchment. Community life includes small museums, heritage walks and local events that attract visitors interested in rural history and outback culture.

Notable facts and visitor information

  • Heritage buildings and interpretation: several former commercial and civic buildings are preserved and interpreted for visitors.
  • Kelly connection: the town is part of wider Ned Kelly tourism and historical study in Victoria and southern New South Wales.
  • Access: Jerilderie is accessible by car via the Newell Highway and serves as a stopping point for travellers crossing the Riverina.

For those researching regional Australian towns, Jerilderie offers an example of a small service centre with strong agricultural roots and a notable place in national folklore and colonial history. Local information centres and museums provide further context about the town’s past and current community life.