Junee is a small town and Local Government Area near central New South Wales, Australia, in the Riverina District, approximately 470 km southwest of Sydney and 250 km northwest of Canberra. Its name originates from the local Aboriginal phrase "speak to me".

While it was initially a pastoral lease, Junee grew as a town during the gold rushes that took place in the area from mid 1860 to mid 1880. The significantly prosperous time for the town began in the early 1880s when a main railway line was built through Junee that gave access to the significant markets of Sydney (NSW capital) and Melbourne (capital of Victoria). This proved a boon to local agricultural producers who could now easily trade on an interstate basis.

The railway defined the character of Junee for nearly 100 years. Evidence of this is still in existence with hotels and railway buildings that are still faithfully maintained in accordance with architectural standards of their day. While the railway still contributes to the local economy, the signs of change were evident in the early 1970s and it became clear that Junee would have to broaden its horizons and embrace modern economic realities.

In 1970 the town of Junee took the clever step of appointing a new Town Clerk, AJJ Thompson (known by his second name of John). Many locals credit John Thompson as the "Father of Modern Junee" for his vision of the town's future and the hard decisions that needed to be taken to keep the town alive.

This period saw Junee accept that income from the railways was on the decline and that growth was going to come from diverse areas. Land was allocated for new development and housing with assistance from State Government. Local producers were encouraged to diversify and increase the quality of their produce. New businesses were sought for the town. As a result, Junee is now known for its lamb and high quality crops of wheat, canola, oats, barley and triticale. A manufacturing sector has also evolved with emphasis on steel engineering, meat processing and organic flour. It is also the location of the ACM Correctional Facility.

Housing development has increased steadily and community facilities have matured and developed to make Junee a sought after lifestyle choice and tourist destination of the Riverina District.