Extolling therapeutic benefits similar to an Epsom salt bath – the Barmedman Mineral Pool is a must on any Riverina visitor’s bucket list. Photo: Barmedman Mineral Pool Facebook.
In Barmedman, a town where echoes of the gold rush still linger, a hidden gem quietly shimmers in the local spotlight.
Rich in minerals and offering welcome relief, it could be the Riverina’s best-kept secret.
Tucked along the Newell Highway, roughly 45 km northwest of Wagga Wagga and 60 km south of West Wyalong, Barmedman really is a small Riverina village with a big story.
Its name, from the Wiradjuri word meaning “long water”, hints at the underground streams that would one day feed the town’s most famous attraction.
In the late 19th century, miners chasing gold frequently struck water deep in their shafts – a nuisance at the time, but one that locals would eventually turn into a golden opportunity for the town.
Even in its early days, locals talked about the water’s unique qualities.
Later testing confirmed it was germ-free and naturally rich in minerals, extolling therapeutic benefits similar to a cool Epsom salt bath, said to soothe aches and pains, ease muscle tension, improve circulation and relax the body.
Half a century later, the town harnessed that water, transforming the flooded White Cross mine shaft on the western edge of town into a purpose-built mineral pool.
Lifeguards at the official opening of the Barmedman Mineral Pool in 1952. Photo: Barmedman Mineral Pool Facebook.
About 110 yards long and 66 yards wide (100 metres by 60 metres) the Barmedman Mineral Pool – which had already opened to locals a year earlier – officially opened in December 1952 with a swimming carnival, attracting locals from across the Bland Shire – places such as West Wyalong and Temora.
Newspapers of the day described the event as “a highlight in Barmedman’s summer calendar”, marking the start of the facility as a central hub of community life.
According to Bland Shire Council, it is the largest mineral pool in the world, just edging out Glenwood Hot Springs Pool in Colorado by a few hundred square metres.
In May this year, it was brought to the attention of state parliamentarians after being publicly acknowledged by Cootamundra MP Steph Cooke.
Not just popular with locals, this large oasis is a must visit for those journeying along the Newell Highway and day-trippers harking from neighbouring towns.
The pool is surrounded by shady grassy areas on a four-hectare reserve offering barbecue and change facilities and a small but picturesque campsite.
The facilities are open year-round.
Beyond the pool, Barmedman offers several attractions.
Its historic main street showcases early 20th-century buildings, while the Barmedman Museum preserves gold mining and agricultural heritage.
Barmedman also hosts a Modified Tractor Pull competition each year which features customised tractors pulling a weighted sled.
