COOTAMUNDRA

town, south central New South Wales, Australia, in the Western Slopes region of the fertile Riverina, was founded in 1830 as a livestock station. Its name (Cootamundry until 1952) is Aboriginal for swamp with turtles. Proclaimed a town in 1861, it was made a municipality in 1884 and a shire in 1975. On the principal SydneyMelbourne rail line, Cootamundra is also the rail and road junction for routes serving the state's central region, which produces sheep, wheat, and some gold. The town is a major livestock auction centre and conducts one of the largest sheep shows in the state. It is linked to Sydney (190 mi northeast) by air and has flour and rice mills, butter factories, and slaughterhouses. Furniture, plaster, concrete, cordials, and small goods are manufactured. Pop. (1981) 6,540.