The city of Griffith is set against a backdrop of lush vineyards, thriving orchards and golden fields.
Griffith is in the heart of Australia’s food bowl growing citrus, stone fruits, rockmelons, nuts, onions, carrots, pumpkins, capsicums, gherkins and tomatoes to name just a few.
The city of Griffith was designed by Walter Burley Griffin, the renowned American architect who also designed Canberra and neighbouring town, Leeton. Tree-lined streets and radial patterns were his trademark.
Named after Arthur Griffith, Griffith is located on the traditional land of the Wiradjuri people. Griffith and its villages have grown and developed over the past century thanks largely to irrigation, the work of soldier settlers and later, Italian immigrants.
Today, their combined legacy is alive and well in the people and traditions of this thriving cosmopolitan city.
Useful Facts
Size : 1,605 km 2
Population : 26,000
Climate : Warm summers, colourful autumns and springs, and mild winters. Average temperature range is 15° to 32°C in summer and 3° to 16°C in winter. The average annual rainfall is 400mm.
Transport
Road: 573km from Sydney, 463km from Melbourne, 358km from Canberra
Rail: Griffith has a regular CountryLink train service to and from the town.
Airport : Griffith
Local : Griffith Buslines provides the main public transport in and around the town.
Education
- Griffith University
- Charles Sturt University Griffith (Regional University Study Centre)
- TAFE NSW Riverina Institute Griffith Campus
- Western Riverina Community College
Employment
The main fields of employment in Griffith are manufacturing, retail trade, agriculture, forestry and fishing and health care and social assistance.
Dining
The very essence of Griffith is all about food, wine, friends and family. More than sixty percent of the people of Griffith have Italian heritage, and the early migrants brought with them their traditions of viticulture and market gardening and their passion for food.
Griffith, affectionately known as ‘Little Italy’ makes fabulous pizza, pasta and simple Italian dishes at the many cafes through the city. There is also great Indian, Thai, Chinese and many fabulous places for good coffee.
Sport
Sport brings the community together and Griffith residents are sports mad and spoilt for choice with facilities including:
- Sporting grounds for touch football, hockey and soccer
- Beach volleyball court
- Basketball stadium
- Cycleways
- City gyms and indoor pools
- Tennis courts
- Cricket fields
- AFL, ARL, rugby union
- Netball courts
- Go kart course
- Bocce courts and bowling greens
- Sailing club and speed boating facilities at Lake Wyangan
- Gun clubs
- Golf course
- Griffith Aeroclub Training Facility
- Dalton Park Racecourse and Trotting Track
Arts & Culture
There is plenty to see in and around Griffith. Highlights include the Griffith Regional Theatre, Girffith Regional Art Gallery, Catania Fruit Salad Farm, Pioneer Park, Lake Nyangan and several wineries.
Aboriginal Culture
Griffith is located in the heart of the Wiradjuri Nation - the largest nation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. Many members of the community are Wiradjuri people. Many originate from surrounding areas such as Narrandera and Darlington Point. The Griffith community also includes people who are descended from other language groups such as Yota Yota people, Ngiyampaa people and Paakantji people.
The Griffith Aboriginal Community Working Party is the peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative forum for the Griffith Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. It advocates for the interest of the community, maintains strategic oversight of community development, and negotiates improvement in service delivery and coordination on behalf of the community.
