BOURKE

bourke, a town of cowper county, new south wales, australia, 503 m. by rail n.w. from sydney. pop. (1901) 2614. it is situated on the south bank, and at the head of the ordinary winter navigation, of the darling river. very rich copper ore exists in the district in great abundance. bourke is the centre of a large sheep-farming area, and the annual agricultural show is one of the best in the colony. on the west side of the darling, 3 m. distant, is the small town of north bourke, and at pera, 10 m. distant, is an important irrigation settlement.