R&H Suburb Profile WAGGA WAGGA

Wagga Wagga (informally called Wagga) is a city in country NSW. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, Wagga Wagga has an urban population of about 47,000 and is the state's largest - and the Australia’s fifth largest - inland city. It is also an important national agricultural, military, and transport hub. The city is located midway between Sydney and Melbourne, and is the major regional centre for the Riverina and South West Slopes regions.

Baylis Street, which becomes Fitzmaurice Street at the northern end, is the main shopping area. Wagga’s shopping facilities attract people from all over the Riverina and south-western NSW. Facilities include two notable centres of metropolitan standards - Wagga Wagga Marketplace and Sturt Mall in the CBD, as well as several suburban shopping centres. Wagga's CBD offers hundreds of specialty retailers including national chains such as Big W, Myer and Target Country.

The Australian Army base at Kapooka includes the Army Recruit Training Centre. There is a separate Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base at Forest Hill (RAAF Base Wagga).

The sole provider of university education in Wagga Wagga is the local campus of the multi-campus Charles Sturt University. The Riverina Institute, a collection of TAFE institute campuses, has its headquarters in Wagga Wagga, and the city is home to three campuses. The Primary Industries Centre at North Wagga Wagga is set on 250ha and runs courses on agriculture and horticulture. Wagga is also home to several secondary schools and more than 20 primary schools.

There are bus services from most suburbs to the CBD, Mondays to Saturdays, with no services on Sunday or public holidays. There are taxis 24/7 in the city, with taxi ranks at Station Place, Forsyth Street, Gurwood Street, Wagga Wagga Base Hospital and Kooringal Mall. Wagga Wagga railway station is on the Sydney-Melbourne railway line, with twice daily XPT fast rail services provided by CountryLink. Wagga Wagga Airport at Forest Hill has scheduled daily flights to Sydney and Melbourne.

Wagga's location, approximately midway between Melbourne and Sydney, contributes to high levels of participation in many sporting codes including rugby league, rugby union and Australian Rules football. Other popular sports include soccer, cricket, tennis, and lawn bowls.

Wagga Wagga is serviced by a public and private hospital and is the seat of a Roman Catholic diocese, with its principal church being St Michael's Cathedral.