town, southern New South Wales, Australia, on the Murrumbidgee River, near its junction with the Murray. Settled in 1847 and proclaimed a town in 1851, it was an important livestock-ferrying point in the 1860s. Gazetted a municipality in 1882, it became a shire in 1957. Balranald serves a region of sheep, cattle, wheat, and irrigated fruit farming; lumbering and mining are also local activities. On the Sturt Highway, 418 miles (673 km) southwest of Sydney, it is served by the rail system of the state of Victoria. The closest rail link to the New South Wales system is at Hay (84 miles 【135 km】 east). Pop. (2006) local government area, 2,441.