Consolidation: 1881 to 1914 Hay, New South Wales

the hay post office in lachlan street (built in 1881)

during 1881-2 railway line extended narrandera hay , new railway station constructed @ hay. new line, connecting hay directly sydney, opened in july 1882. extension of nsw railway hay signalled decline in importance of transportation of wool river-steamer , shift in local economic focus melbourne sydney. railway sydney operated differential price structure, ensuring rail became desirable mode of transporting wool many of riverina stations.

in 1883 extensive anglican diocese of goulburn divided, western half designated major portion of newly created diocese of riverina. hay chosen episcopal seat of new diocese , bishop sydney linton consecrated on 1 may 1884 @ st paul s cathedral, london. linton , family travelled sydney , on hay, bishop enthroned on 18 march 1885 in old st paul s church.  new st. paul’s – pro-cathedral of new diocese – completed end of 1885. in 1889 residence completed bishop linton @ south hay; design , materials used in constructing corrugated-iron clad ‘bishop’s lodge’ attempt cope hay’s climatic extremes.  hay remained seat of anglican diocese of riverina until 1953 when transferred narrandera, new south wales.

the writer joseph furphy lived @ hay in 1870s while working carrier in charge of team of bullocks.  furphy later used area surrounding hay setting novel such life (published in 1903).