Booligal crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
10 recorded in this period, compared with 16 in the preceding period.
LGA totals use the selected offence categories. Locality counts and population-adjusted LGA rates are different measures.
About Booligal
Booligal is a small rural locality situated in the Riverina region of New South Wales, within the Hay Shire local government area (postcode 2711). Located north of Hay along the Cobb Highway, the settlement sits on the banks of the Merrowie Creek within a remote, arid landscape characterised by vast pastoral properties and flat plains. Due to its isolation and sparse population, the demographic profile is small, comprising residents primarily engaged in extensive agriculture, particularly sheep and cattle grazing.
Local life and amenities in Booligal are minimal, reflecting its status as a remote outback community. Essential services are largely limited to the iconic historic Booligal Hotel, which serves as a vital social hub for locals and travelers passing through the region. More comprehensive retail, medical, and administrative services are accessed further south in the regional hub of Hay. The locality experiences an arid climate with hot summers and mild winters, typical of the broader western Riverina.
Historically, Booligal grew in the 19th century as a key coaching and river transport stop along the stock routes of the outback. It gained a degree of literary fame as the setting of A.B. "Banjo" Paterson’s humorous 1893 poem "Hay and Hell and Booligal," which immortalised the harsh conditions, dust, and isolation of the area. Today, the locality retains a quiet heritage character, preserving remnants of its 19th-century past for travelers exploring the historic outback stock routes of New South Wales.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Other offences | 7 | 13 |
| Malicious damage to property | 1 | 0 |
| Possession and/or use of cannabis | 1 | 0 |
| Prohibited and regulated weapons offences | 1 | 0 |
Community context
The 2021 Census recorded 98 residents. This is not a current population estimate.
Sources and interpretation
These are police-recorded incident or victim counts, not every unreported incident or a prediction of personal safety. Percentage changes are not tests of statistical significance; small counts need particular care.