Cunnamulla originated as a settlement in the 1860’s soon after William Landsborough’s exploration of the district in 1858.  The town was established by Cobb & Co, at the intersection of two major stock routes, one running from east to west from St. George to Thargomindah and the other north to south from Charleville to Bourke.  The first coach drove through from Bourke (NSW) in 1879.

The name “Cunnamulla” is derived from an Aboriginal term meaning “long stretch of water” referring to the Warrego River, which passes through the town.

The architecture of the town has remained unchanged for over half a century and the wide tree-lined streets evoke memories of a bygone era.

Caption: Wool trucks at Tinnenburra 1913

A Proud Pastoral History

Cunnamulla has a proud pastoral history, however wool growing is no longer the main industry.

Tinnenburra woolshed, completed in 1896 by James Tyson, was at one point the largest in the world with 101 blade shearing stands. The Tyson properties carried 500,000 sheep and once stretched from Wyandra to beyond the NSW border on the western side of the Warrego River, covering approximately 10,000 square miles.

After shearing, the wool was carted by teamsters to North Bourke, then by paddle steamer to the seaboard where it was shipped overseas for sale.

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