Far West, New South Wales
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The only city in the Far West is Broken Hill. Other significant towns are Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Ivanhoe and Wentworth.
Ninety-five per cent of the region is uncleared. Major economic activities are mining and extensive pasturing. During good seasons in the 1870s and 1880s, large sheep stations were established with high stocking rates, partly in response to a widespread belief that the introduction of agriculture would result in climate change toward European conditions. The error of this "rain follows the plough" concept was exposed by the droughts of the 1890s. Many of the stations established during this period failed and were subsequently abandoned.
The Far West region is traversed by the Barrier Highway, the Silver City Highway, the Mitchell Highway, the Cobb Highway and the Sturt Highway. It is also served by the Sydney-Perth Railway.