Hay

Main Attraction

Shear Outback

Shear Outback offers visitors a great insight into the Australian Shearing Industry, from the legendary stations of our folk lore to the significant industrial changes the unions achieved and life for the shearing fraternity today. Through a contemporary interpretive museum and the authentic feel and smell of a traditional shearing shed the story of this huge pastoral industry unfolds. Marvel at the Shearer’s Hall of Fame, take time to enjoy a live shearing demonstration, recharge in the café and find unusual souvenirs in the gift shop. Check out what’s on in the gallery which showcases excellent temporary and travelling exhibitions.

Education/Schools

Hay offers its community a comprehensive range of quality educational facilities. 

Our young children are well catered for with a nationally accredited Long Day Care Centre for children from 6 weeks to 6 years, a Pre School Kindergarten for 3 to 6 year olds and a Mobile Children’s Service. 

As our children move on to primary school education Hay offers the choices of Hay Public School and St Mary’s Catholic School. 

The Hay War Memorial High School was established in 1923, as a co-educational comprehensive high school and has a particularly strong tradition befitting a war memorial linked to the ANZAC tradition. Today the school offers a comprehensive curriculum to cater for the changing needs of today’s youth. Hay War Memorial High School is currently providing education for 222 students. 

School of the Air is one of the major facilities for the education of isolated students. It uses a variety of communication techniques including video conferencing, satellite lessons, telephone, fax and email and written material to deliver curriculum content to 45 travelling students, as well as 22 isolated students. 

Post secondary education and vocational training is available locally through TAFE and various other providers. 

Tertiary education is offered through numerous universities located in Albury/Wodonga, Melbourne and Wagga Wagga.

Sporting

There is an opportunity to participate in a variety of sports or become immersed in cultural activities to consume your leisure time.   

Sport facilities in Hay include: 

• A golf course
• Tennis court complex
• Squash courts
• Free olympic size swimming pool and children’s and toddler’s pools
• Skate park
• Well maintained parks and ovals
• Bowling greens
• Health and Fitness Club
• Clay Target shooting and Pistol Club
• Horse sports
• A fully equipped gymnastics gym

Health & Medical

The residents of Hay are well provided for with a large range of health and community services. The Shire is serviced by two resident doctors and is part of the Greater Southern Area Health Service and receives a range of health services including dental, mental health, allied health, pathology and radiology. 

The Hay Hospital was opened in 2003 and boosts a well equipped emergency department, modern hospital wards and the McFarland Wing aged care centre.  Community and Nursing Services, Community Health Services and the Ambulance are also based at the facility. 

The Heydays’ Retirement Village offers low level permanent and respite care accommodation for our older residents.  

Hay Home and Community Care provides a number of services for the residents of Hay including: Respite Care, Community Transport, Medical Transport, Home Modification and Maintenance, Meals on Wheels, Dementia Care and Neighbour Aid Social Support.

Recreation

Hay Shire offers a vast range of recreational facilities for both visitors and locals to choose: 

The Hay Park

The Hay Park (accessible from Moppet and Pine Streets) is a large park with well kept gardens, picnic tables, free electric BBQ and toilet facilities. Children will find plenty to do. They can play in the playground, work out on the outdoor gym equipment or feed the ducks and geese in the duck pond. 

Four codes of football are played at the grounds including AFL, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Soccer.  There are also three netball courts, turf wickets for the cricket season and a community hall at the park.

Brewery Park

Brewery Park is the name of one of Hay’s newest parks. Named because it stands in close proximity to the former old Red Lion Brewery (used until 1915). This park can be found at the western end of Moppet Street. There is good parking, a picnic table and a panoramic view of the Murrumbidgee River.

Lions Park

The Lions Park is situated on the northern side of the Murrumbidgee River just near the bridge. This lovely park has a large grassed area, where visitors can relax, toilets, free electric BBQ and a rain water tank for refreshing the “billy”.

John Houston Memorial Swimming Pool

The swimming complex  is run by the Hay Shire Council and is FREE entry. There are three pools in total: olympic size, a medium size pool and a toddlers pool.  The swimming pool complex has a BBQ and children’s playground. 

Dal Wright Park

Dal Wright Park is a small park named after the man who turned this area into a delightful park and playground. The park can be found on the first left over the bridge from the south, beside the town’s water tanks.

Apex Park

The Apex Park is close to Hay’s famous attraction, The Goal Museum. Children can enjoy the swings and a pretend ride on the restored vintage tractor.

Hay Showground

The showground contains a number of buildings and facilities which are utilised throughout the year including the Annual Hay Show, the Hay Races, special events and as a camping facility. It also houses the Hay Gun Club.

Hay Tennis Courts

The Hay Tennis Club has seven synthetic and four clay courts, and is located in Lachlan Street. Junior and senior teams and individuals compete locally, regionally and at state level with several tournaments held at the complex each year.

The Hay Golf Course

Hay has one of the best 18-hole sand-green golf course in NSW. Located on the Sturt

Highway (west of Hay), it is situated on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River.

Sandy Point

Sandy Point Beach is the town’s swimming beach. There is a sandy split leading to the safe family swimming area. Majestic old River Red Gums provide shade to enjoy a

relaxing swim or a picnic break. Free electric BBQs and toilet facilities available.

Bushy Bend

Located on the northern side of the Murrumbidgee, Bushy Bend offers a meandering dirt track by the river and is home to The Long Paddock Sculptures which are strategically placed for quiet contemplation.

Transport

Hay has a taxi service for transport within the town. Daily coach services are available to Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra.  Countrylink services provide access to Sydney via coach connection to XPT. 

Hay was a well maintained airport only 4kms from the town centre, however there is no local air service.  Rex Airlines services Griffith (150km from Hay) with several flights per day to Sydney. 

There is a high level freight capacity with various carriers.

Shopping

Hay has a broad range of retail shops including supermarkets, discount shops, electrical goods and furnishings, banks, newsagents, giftware, butcher and bakery just to name a few.

 Well known for our country hospitality, customers are treated to service with a smile and retailers will often order stock in to suit individual needs.

Entertainment

Hay is an extremely active community and boosts a number of trendy cafes where you can relax over a coffee, while our restaurants offer you a memorable dining experience

Hay has two registered clubs and numerous hotels to offer the ideal venue for you to mingle with friends, enjoy great entertainment and fine food