yanga national park

Located over several separate parks, one of the main focuses is on the original Yanga homestead and shearing sheds. Well preserved in both locations, it gives you a look into the past that gives you an understanding of the Australian term of "living on the sheeps back" You can imagine the shearing shed abuze with activity and then the tranquility back at the old homestead. The homestead over looks over a beautiful lake that offers swimming, fishing, boating and water skiing. There are also several picnic and camping areas in the different areas of the park. A great place to spend a few days.

We loved our visit to Yanga National Park. We were totally impressed that the Homestead and Shearing Shed had been so recently purchased and declared as a National Park. The information boards were fantastic and provided a great insight into the history of shearing, aboriginal culture and the environmental assets in the Riverina. Parks Victoria could learn alot about their interstate counterparts - NSW National Parks are the best of any I have seen, with so many facilities and great tours, info boards, etc. Well done Parks.

Must see- Yanga National Park, Homestead and Shearing Shed!About 5 mins drive to the Shearing Shed and about another 7 mins to the Homestead - from Balranald

We went with Family to visit Yanga Homestead and take the Ranger guided Tour, which is on every morning at 10.30am when possible, the Ranger was so knowledgeable about Yanga History and the Heritage Roses in front of the Homestead are so lovely and the scent is intoxicating. We spent Hours there, the Exhibition in the Cook's Cottage is a must do, the walk along the Lake edge to the Bird Hide is great and the Lookout with Telescope meant we were able to see around the Lake and the Wildlife on and around the Lake.Next we will be having a visit to Regatta Beach and the old Woodshed.

In May 2014 while staying at the Balranald Caravan Park (see separate review) we heard about this station and the shed along with the homestead.So, we packed up and took of to explore both. Me, more so than wife, having a very keen interest in old shearing sheds, was fascinated with the condition of the shed from the floor up and all the pens in between, the smell of the lanoline, the feel of small pieces of fleece left behind.The information that was available, detailing the working history of 40 shearers, 20 each side of the shed, in the early days to 20 odd for the last shearing was excellent. It was interesting to see where the bales of wool, in the days of the river boats, were moved through double doors, at the rear of the shed, down a ramp onto the waiting boat to take the bales to auction.It was also very interesting to check out the outbuilding such as the shearers quarters, bathrooms, kitchen and meal areas, milking shed and the like.We also called at the homestead, unfortunately it was too late in the day for a visit.We both recommend a visit to anyone passing through or stopping at nearby Balranald.

Yanga Station is lovingly preserved, virtually as it was when the Black family walked out in 2005, selling the property literally, lock, stock and barrel to Bob Carr's state government. It had been in their hands since 1919, the longest period of ownership in the station's history. The journey for Yanga has been a rougher one since it was declared a national park in 2007 and opened to the public two years later. Local timber getters have been most unhappy about the government take over of the station, as their livelyhood can no longer be resourced there. As with all new neighbours, the national park have done their best to fit in to the local community but you don't have to scratch the surface too hard in nearby Balranald or even as far away as Mildura to spark a testy reaction from locals.Surrounding the homestead on two thirds of its sides is Lake Yanga, a kidney shaped body of water dependant on the Lachlan/Murrumbidgee systems for its supply. Today, the lake is full of water which provides a home for the water birds of the area and a place of recreation for locals - the later segregated to one section. When full, ski boats skate well over the fence posts and barbed wire underneath, for when the lake is dry, as it was from the late 1990's for ten years, it is cropped.The main shearing shed, located ten kilometres away by road, is more than a hundred years old and was used for the last time in 2005 and the national park was declared in 2009' making Yango one of NSW most recent parks. It's not the original shed on the site, the first burning down before this behemoth was built. Today, it stands as a history of the sheep industry, not just from long into the past but right up to the present day, with changes over time apparent from the different buildings on the site. The characters who worked these boards are evident in the structures left standing but emphasised in the clever use of unobtrusive iPads placed at various points about the shed which show dramatised accounts of the men and their relationships with each other and their families.Our tour was guided by a park staff member who was both shared both information and a witty grasp of the anecdotal.Men wrote romantically of such places in poems we still revere. They intended for city dwellers to understand life among the sweat and hard work of the places that bank rolled a nation from it's infancy right up until the end of the 1960's, when the bankers became more important than the men who built them.Tonight, as I sit beside this old river, I re-read the stories Henry and Banjo told, backlit from technology we could not have imagined ourselves just a few years ago. It's little wonder they, with their pens and ink are so far removed. In moments, however, murmurs whisper in my ear, in my heart and I can hear the click of the shears and smell of the lanolin and the taste of the sweat.

probably the newest national park in the land. the woolshed and homestead are two separate parts of the one property and offer an insight into life on the land from 1870 or so until 2005.you can wander the grounds or tour the homestead with a ranger or use a local operator and tour the roads around the property,but well worth the effort.The woolshed is huge--40 shearers and tens of thousands of sheep,with videos and information boards.Very interesting indeed

You can see Yanga Nat. Park in 2 main parts:-(1) the Woolshed - it's HUGE. And has several iPad information stations & information boards. Used to shear bout 3,000 sheep a day!We spent about an hour there. Only 5 minutes from Baltanald. Only a very short but well maintained dirt road.(2) Yanga Homestead. Tours every Thursday & Friday at 10:30 am. We were there almost 3 hours - tour of the building with the knowledgable Sam for 2 hours. Then a quick walk along the lake shore to the bird hide. And time to check the wee exhibition & videos. If you miss the tours, the buildings are open during the day & you can use the audio tour gizmos (collect from NP&W office).Again a shortish drive (only a couple of km) on a well maintained road. VERY intersesting. Must have been a very hard & lonely life - especially for the women.

Fabulous peek into the history of sheep farming in the region - the Woolshed was magical and the information and short film clips really interesting. We hardly noticed the rain, there was so much to see and learn.

We discovered this historic homestead in Yanga NP. For a gold coin donation my husband and I wondered around the vast grounds beside the Yanga Lake. Yanga had been one of the largest sheep stations in its heyday. Well worth a look. There is plenty of information on the property.

Travelled there with my family and they all just loved it. Great nature. Friendly rangers and great setup like picnic tables and toilets. Park is amazing with the animals. We will be back soon.

Yanga station is in 2 parts the closest to town is the shearing sheds. You then have to come back onto the highway and go about 5km to the old homestead. Both places are well worth a look at.

Good sites for camper trailers or tents. Fires allowed and plenty of wood on site. Pit toilets. No water available.Also consider the nearby caravan park in Balranald - we discovered it afterwards and it had grassy banks down to the river - very nice.