Hay is located in the western Riverina region of New South Wales.  The township began as a crossing-place on the Murrumbidgee River, for stock being driven south to markets in Victoria during the gold-rushes of the 1850s.  The site was eventually surveyed in 1859 and Hay quickly developed as an important hub for the surrounding pastoral holdings, with their fat-stock and wool production.

Hay in 1877, viewed to the south along Lachlan Street towards the newly-constructed bridge.

During its earliest days Hay's economy was linked to the navigation by steam-boats of the Murrumbidgee, and it became an important port.  The town and district was also extensively serviced by horse- and bullock-driven waggons.  In 1882 the railway was extended to Hay, linking the town directly with regions to the east, including Sydney.  Please refer to our History Pages for more specific and detailed information about Hay and the surrounding region, as well as indexes and lists of family history interest.

Our Research Services page outlines what is available if you require research to be carried out on your behalf.  The Society has a number of CD-ROMs and publications for sale, containing valuable material of local interest ( for details refer to the Sales page).  The Society has an ongoing Pioneers Project which seeks to document the lives of the early pioneers of the district.   Family history information is sought regarding any person born before 1880 who lived at Hay or the surrounding district.  Our Links page has connections to other web-sites of local, regional and general interest in the fields of family research and Australian history.