ACCORDING to the town's motto it's "better in Berrigan".
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For centuries people have been attracted to the Southern Riverina community, now home to about 1000 people.
In 1888, Benjamin Carter built the Berrigan Hotel and the town grew around it.
Because of its location near the border, Berrigan was one of the pioneers in the push for an Australian federation. It was the Berrigan Federation League that decided to hold a conference at Corowa.
By 1911 there were more than 1100 people in town, the highest the population ever got, attracted by good farming land in the region.
Over the years, the community has fought hard to retain services.
The state government wanted to close the hospital but a campaign by locals secured a $7 million multipurpose medical centre in 2008.
"We went through a period about five years ago when $16 million of infrastructure was going up in a period of 18 months," deputy mayor Bernard Curtin said.
The new multipurpose building, an extension on the Amaroo Hostel, new building at the football ground, a new supermarket and a takeover of the local sports club reinvigorated the community.
