Bowral

Bowral New South Wales
Bowral Railway Station
Population	10,971(2006 census)
Postcode(s)	2576
Elevation	662 m (2,172 ft)
Location	136 km (85 mi) South West of Sydney
LGA(s)	Wingecarribee Shire
Region	Southern Highlands
State electorate(s)	Goulburn
Federal division(s)	Hume
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 25.4 °C 78 °F 1.9 °C 35 °F 912.0 mm 35.9 in
Localities around Bowral: Mittagong Berrima Bowral East Bowral Burradoo

Bowral is a town located in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. It was previously known by the name Bowrall.

Bowral is perhaps the best known of the towns and villages that comprise the Southern Highlands, and in recent years has become the commercial centre of the Wingecarribee Shire. Bowral is home to the world famous Bradman Museum which celebrates not only the achievements of Bowral's favourite son, Sir Donald Bradman, but also a wealth of world sporting information and memorabilia. Bowral is also the setting for "Tulip Time", a Spring celebration where over 100,000 tulips and 25,000 flowers are planted in the town centre. Held every September to October, Tulip Time has become one of Australia's leading floral festivals. Bowral lies at the heart of the Southern Highlands BOOKtrail, Australia's first booktown project.

Demographics

The population of Bowral is 10,971 (Census 2006) and growing rapidly this is due to the completion of the M5 freeway from Sydney and linking to Canberra.

In recent years, Bowral has become a haven for retirees and empty nesters commonly from Sydney. 14.2% of the population of Bowral is 55-64 years with the national average being 11.0% and 26.5% of being 64 years and over with the national average being 13.3% (2006 Census). Notably, Bowral is a town that caters well for the retirement demographic due to it's many retirement villages being only minutes walk from it's CBD and hospitals.

Transportation

Bowral is about 5kms drive to it's Hume Highway connection which goes northerly to Sydney and southerly to Canberra, the Snowy Mountains and Melbourne. Also, historically, Bowral is one of the antique towns that is located on the historical Old Hume Highway. In the past, Bowral served as an overnight stopover for travelers heading to the Ski Alps, Melbourne and Canberra.

Bowral has a rail station on CityRail's Southern Highlands line which under Cityrail services goes to Sydney and Goulburn and under CountryLink goes to Canberra and Melbourne.

Bowral also has bus charters that go to Nowra, Albion Park and Wollongong.

Attractions

The population swells during winter, when thousands of visitors book into the local hotels and B&Bs to enjoy romantic fires and secluded winter getaways . Spring is also very popular with gardening enthusiasts who come to view some of the world's most beautiful formal gardens designed by landscape luminaries such as Paul Sorensen who designed the gardens of Invergowrie.

Bowral is overshadowed by Mount Gibraltar which is 861m above sea level.

Notable People From Bowral

• Arthur Upfield: Author of the Bony detective novels, until his death in 1964.
• Craig Reucassel: Popular Television Satirist.
• Sir Donald Bradman: Famous Australian Cricket Pioneer.
• Jimmy Barnes: Singer and singer for famous Australian Band Cold Chisel was once home in Bowral.
• Peter Garrett: Current Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts and singer for Midnight Oil was once home in Bowral.

References

• AusStats : UCL112600 Bowral (Urban Centre/Locality)

External links

• Wingecaribee Shire Council - Administering and Based in Moss Vale
• Information on Bowral and its History
• BookTown Australia
• "The Southern Highlands News". (local newspaper). {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |1= and |coauthors= (help)

34°30′S 150°24′E