the first people to live in the area were the wiraduri people. this was one of the largest tribes in new south wales. they had several regular camping sites along the lachlan and boorowa rivers. it is estimated that there were several thousand wiradjuri people at the time of european settlement. a survey in 1851 showed that there were only 300 people left. local wiradjuri people were forced onto government reserves at rye park and edgerton.