Cowra

Cowra ranks 65th of 128 overall in NSW, with community services the area most needing attention.

"Japanese garden city — POW heritage, cool-climate wine, and the Lachlan River"

New South Wales · regional council · Pop. 13,000

Data last updated: 2023-24 · Data confidence: high

Overall Score

51 out of 100

#38 of 79 regional councils in NSW

#65 in New South Wales

Score Breakdown

CategoryScore
Sustainability59/100
Community Services44/100
Lifestyle & Amenity55/100
Core Operations45/100

What This Means For You

Among regional councils, Cowra performs strongest in financial sustainability (better than 59% of peers), with room to improve in community services (currently at the 44th percentile).

What Makes This Place Unique

Japanese garden city — POW heritage, cool-climate wine, and the Lachlan River

Cowra is known nationally for its Japanese Garden and the WWII POW breakout. It's a pleasant central west town with emerging wine credentials.

Known For

  • Cowra Japanese Garden — largest in the Southern Hemisphere
  • WWII POW breakout site
  • Cowra wine region — emerging cool-climate wines
  • Lachlan River recreation

Living Here

Cowra offers a uniquely cultural experience for a country town. The Japanese Garden is genuinely world-class. Affordable living.

Hidden Gem

The Cowra breakout memorial walk — a moving heritage trail telling the story of the largest POW escape of WWII.