after the war some of the area around wagga wagga was designated for settlement by returned soldiers, who faced insurmountable difficulties due to poor and unwatered land, lack of farming experience and lack of access to markets. many walked off the land after years of backbreaking work. residential growth continued with a population in 1921 of 11,631. much of this residential growth was housed in the higher ground to the south, extending to the south of the railway tracks. a suburb consisting of tents and crude huts, known as "tent town", developed along the river providing housing for the poorer residents of wagga wagga. in 1922, electricity was provided for the town, with hydro-electric power available from burrinjuck dam from 1928.