Griffith is a vibrant, multicultural city located within the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) in the South West of NSW. Many Italian migrants were drawn to the area to pursue the type of farming familiar to them in their homeland and their input has enriched the area to the degree that it is now regarded as one of the most successful multicultural communities in the country.  As well as people of Italian and other European descent, Griffith displays a cultural diversity with significant population groups including Indian, Afghani and Pacific Islander and a number of indigenous people of the Wiradjuri Tribe.

Griffith is the regional service centre of the Griffith Local Government Area (LGA). The Griffith LGA  is surrounded by the Shires of Narrandera and Leeton to the east, Carrathool to the north west and Murrumbidgee to the south. Griffith City Council occupies an area of approximately 1,600km2 and at the 2006 Census, the LGA population was 23,801 persons. Council’s population projections state the current population at 24,959, with a projected 1.59% growth rate for the immediate future.

Griffith was designed by the renowned architect Walter Burley Griffin, who designed Canberra. Like Canberra, Walter Burley Griffin’s design for Griffith featured a distinctive radial pattern with wide tree lined streets, ring roads and parks. The focal point of the Walter Burley Griffin design was the grand circle, the centre for government administration, with the business sector in close proximity.

The three largest employment types are the agriculture (18.0%), retail (16.2%) and manufacturing (15.2%) industries.  Dominant agricultural land uses are irrigated vineyards, fruit blocks, and rice farms. Major commodities are grapes, citrus and other fruits, rice, onions and pumpkins.  The largest employers in the region are poultry processor, Bartter Industries, and Casella Wines.  Griffith is also known for its fourteen wineries which produce a range of world-class premium wines and a wide range of bottled and bulk wines.

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Lake Wyangan 

Lake Wyangan is situated 8 kilometres north west of Griffith and has many recreational uses. The picnic area is popular for family gatherings, wedding photos, swimming, fishing or just to relax in peaceful surroundings. A playground area is also available for the children. A camping area is provided free of charge for a stay of 2 days. This area has barbeque facilities, shelters, boat ramp and an amenities block with toilets and showers (cold water only). The picnic area also has barbeque and sheltered areas. There are 3 large shelters that hold up to 100 people in each for functions. The lake also has an animal enclosure which houses deer, goats, sheep, emu and an assortment of poultry. Bird watching is also an attraction on the lake.

Jack Carson Reserve

Jack Carson Reserve is an area that has had attempts to revegetate through various programs and is the site of Griffith's first golf course. As a result, there is an interesting mixture of vegetation and remnant land use.

Campbell's Swamp

Campbell's Swamp is a small ex Black Box depression subject to irregular flooding. There is a bird hide constructed and maintained by MFN and a boardwalk to get to it. It is possible to walk all the way around the swamp and see a variety of waders and shore birds. Campbell's Swamp relies on rainfall and environmental flows for its water, so in bad years can have no water at all and remain dry. In good years, the swamp is a noisy cacophony of breeding birds and a pleasure to see.

An interesting and good little walk is to cross the western fence of the swamp (or go around) into the crown land and head to the old cattle yards and the ring of Bimble Box trees. This minor land depression is edged with a single line of Bimble Box and is an example of what local ephemeral flood depressions looked like before they became long term storages.

Nericon Swamp

Nericon Swamp also provides a bird hide. For the birds, the swamp's physical make up - an old dam with associated banking - provided nesting areas for birds away from 'swim shy' foxes and other preditors. Nericon Swamp contains extremely localised drainage from the surrounding farms. There was a time when the swamp always had water and always had birds. Better irrigation practices and increased cost of water has resulted in less drainage and less birds. At present there is no infrastructure to allow environmental inflow of water, so remains dry.

Scenic Hill/Hermits Cave

Scenic Hill, offers panoramic views of the city and farming area, as well as being criss-crossed by walking tracks for bushwalking enthusiasts. Also located on Scenic Hill is the Hermit's Cave. This small cave was home for many years to Valerio Riccetti, an Italian migrant who created cliffside gardens, while living as a recluse in the cave. Along with many of his countrymen, Ricetti was interned at the nearby town of Hay during World War II, then following the War he returned to Italy. His hillside gardens are being restored to their former glory by a local service club.