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Wilcannia

Wilcannia is a small town located within the Central Darling Shire in north western New South Wales, Australia. Located on the Darling River, the town was the third largest inland port in the country during the river boat era of the mid-19th century.[3] At the 2016 census, Wilcannia had a population of 745.[1]

Wilcannia
New South Wales
Central Darling Council Chambers
Wilcannia
Coordinates31°33′25″S 143°22′45″E / 31.55694°S 143.37917°E / -31.55694; 143.37917
Population745 (2016 census)[1]
Established1866
Postcode(s)2836
Elevation75.0 m (246 ft)
Location
LGA(s)Central Darling Shire
CountyYoung County
State electorate(s)Barwon
Federal division(s)Parkes[2]
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
26.6 °C
80 °F
12.0 °C
54 °F
263.9 mm
10.4 in

History edit

The area lies in the traditional lands of the Barkindji people, who call the river "Baaka".[4] The name Wilcannia is said to be derived from an indigenous term for either "gap in the bank where floodwaters escape" or "wild dog". Neither meaning has been linguistically verified.[3]

In 1835, explorer Major Thomas Mitchell was the first European to reach the region, when he traced the Darling River to what is now Menindee.[5]

In late January 1859, Captain Francis Cadell, in charge of the river boat Albury, entered the Darling River at its junction with the Murray and, after eight days travel, reached the Mount Murchison pastoral station, held by Hugh and Bushby Jamieson. Flour and other stores were delivered to the station and one hundred bales of wool were loaded for the return journey.[6] Cadell's pioneering journey was the beginning of river boat transport on the Darling River (when river conditions allowed). The site of the future township developed as the location for the unloading and loading of river-borne cargo. The settlement was initially known as Mount Murchison, taking its name from the nearby pastoral run. As economic activity increased, the location attracted business and trades providing services and amenities to the surrounding stations.

In June 1866, the New South Wales Department of Lands formally declared "portions of Crown Lands" to be set apart as a site for the town of Wilcannia.[7] Despite the official proclamation, the older name for the settlement persisted. In March 1867, a correspondent from the town wrote that: "the township of Mount Murchison is fast springing into importance, owing to the splendid country surrounding it, and which is fast being taken up for pastoral pursuits. We have public houses, stores, butchers' shops, boarding houses, a cordial manufactory in full operation, and a colonial ale brewery in course of erection".[8]

 
Wilcannia Post and Telegraph Office (built 1880), and adjoining residence

The Post Office had opened as Mount Murchison on 1 January 1860. It was moved 5 kms to the town and changed name to Wilcannia on 1 June 1868. There was, however, no telegraph office - "the want of which is sorely felt by the business people of the town, and in fact the whole district". The Telegraph line reached Wilcannia on 2 February 1878 and was combined with the Post Office on 16 March 1878 in a temporary location. The "handsome building" shown here was constructed from freestone in 1880 and was occupied on 27 June. [9]

In 1871, the population of Wilcannia was 264, consisting of 176 males and 88 females.[10] In January 1874, the township's first newspaper, the Wilcannia Times, began publication.[11]

An account of Wilcannia in December 1874 described the buildings in the town as "on the whole being of a very poor description, principally small weatherboard places, many of them looking rather dilapidated". Three stores were operating in the township, as well as three public houses: the Mount Murchison Hotel, Wilcannia Hotel and Britannia Hotel. There were signs of increased commercial activity in the township: two banks, the Australian Joint Stock Bank and the Commercial Bank, had recently opened branches, and four stock and station agents had started businesses "within the last three months". Wilcannia had a public school, but no churches. There were two doctors, "but as it is a very rare thing to find them otherwise than drunk, they are worse than useless".[12]

Early on Wilcannia had a significant Chinese community. "The Chinamen here are doing a very thriving trade, and they are extending themselves gradually, but very surely. They are taking root very firmly, especíally in the baking and refreshment line, and they seem to be patronised by everybody here. We have a China doctor, who is a "perfect cure," so people say that know all about it. Nearly all the cooks at the hotels are restaurants are Chinese ; all the gardeners are Chinese to a man. We have another institution added to us in the shape of a Chinese laundry. He, the laundry man, performs his work very well, and gets paid very handsomely for it.” This same report claimed the population of Wilcania at the time to be around 1,000 people with 70 of these being Chinese.[13]

In December 1880, a second local newspaper, the Western Grazier, began publication in Wilcannia.[14] By early 1881 patients were being treated in the newly built local hospital.[15] At the census of 1881 the population of Wilcannia was recorded as 1,424 (976 males and 448 females).[10] Wilcannia was incorporated as a municipality in February 1883, with Edmond O'Donnell elected its first mayor.[16] The first major project of the municipality was the construction of water supply system for the township.[17] A July 1884 report stated that Wilcannia had a population "of about 1200", and was described as a township "of well-laid-out streets and good buildings", situated "in the centre of a large sheep country". In addition to the well-constructed Post and Telegraph Office, several of the stores ("notably Frew, Wright, and Co., J. Palmer and Co., and Cramsie, Bowden, and Co.") were described as "not only extensive but of considerable architectural beauty". It was explained that a quarry of freestone "of excellent quality", within two miles (3 km) of the township "has been largely used for building purposes". The only local industry of note was a brewery.[18]

 
The bridge over the Darling River, opened 1896

Wilcannia was the location of a customs station on the Darling River. It was described as a "large and important centre of trade, where in 1881 £13,100 was collected as Customs revenue".[19] The river trade during the 1880s was so extensive at Wilcannia that its Customs House was "probably the largest inland Customs Station in New South Wales".[20]

When river conditions permitted travel by steamers Wilcannia was a major port on the Darling River. A visitor to the town described the river scene in 1890:

There are several wharves (so-called) which were merely graduated slopes cut out of the river bank, and in the wool season the river, in their vicinity, is thronged with steamers and barges, waiting for or unloading the season's clip, for the bulk of it goes away either to Bourke, for Sydney, or to Wentworth, or Goolwa. A barge, laden with from 1,200 to 2,000 bales of wool is a pretty sight; and a still more interesting spectacle is a string of 30 or 40 camels, each carrying two bales, proceeding into town from some far back station.[21]

At the time of the 1891 census the municipality of Wilcannia had a non-Aboriginal population of 1,287 (775 males and 512 females).[10] In 1907, the number of Aboriginal people living at Wilcannia was 18.[22]

Vehicles and stock were crossed over the Darling River at Wilcannia by a punt operated by Charles Smith until the mid-1890s.[23] In 1895 a bridge was constructed at Wilcannia and opened to traffic in January 1896. The bridge consisted of five spans, a total length of 310 feet (94.5 metres) with a centre lift span "to permit of steamers passing when the river is high".[24]

In January 1917 it was reported that the Wilcannia Hospital was "without a doctor". The hospital was "full of patients, some diphtheria cases among them, and the Matron is having a very hard and anxious time".[25]

In December 1939 Wilcannia was described as "merely a shopping centre for the wide district, although people travelling into Queensland and lonely sections of New South Wales often rest there".[26]

Geography edit

Wilcannia is located where the Barrier Highway crosses the Darling River, 965 kilometres (600 mi) from Sydney. The environment is borderline semi-arid to desert with an annual rainfall of 255 millimetres (10.0 in). Wilcannia is located within the Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion (IBRA classification, Department of Environment), consisting of landscapes adapted to flooding. Common species include river red gum, yellow box, oldman saltbush, and lignum.[citation needed]

The surrounding area is very sparsely settled by pastoralists who have large land holdings, used primarily to run sheep. These holdings fall in the Western Division and the majority are held as 99-year leases.[citation needed]

Facilities edit

Wilcannia Central School includes a pre-school and caters for students up to Year 12 (with the last two years through distance education).[27] At the 2020 ARIA Music Awards, Wilcannia Central School's Sarah Donnelley won Music Teacher of the Year.[28][29]

The Maari Ma wellness centre is being renovated as of August 2023.[30]

Construction work began on the Baaka Cultural Centre in August 2023, on the main road through Wilcannia. Its shape will resemble the foot of an emu, and it will function as a tourist centre as well as a gallery for local art and artefacts. Local people are being employed, as well as specialists in stonemasonry and rammed earth construction from South Australia and the NSW south coast.[30] Baaka is the Paakantyi word for the Darling River.[31]

The only local radio station is community radio station Wilcannia River Radio, broadcasting on 103.1 MHz,[32][33] which has provided factual information and aired discussions about matters such as COVID-19, climate change, and other matters.[34][35] Other radio stations include Outback Radio 2WEB on 99.9 MHz, ABC Radio National, and ABC Western Plains.[36]

Demographics and disadvantage edit

From the 2016 Census, Wilcannia had a population of 549 with 407 (74.4%) people being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, mostly from the Barkindji nation.[37] Wilcannia has 223 private dwellings.[1] The town was listed as one of the most socially disadvantaged areas of New South Wales according to the 2015 Dropping Off The Edge report.[38]

Predominantly populated by Aboriginal Australians, Wilcannia has received national and international attention for government deprivation of its community's needs, and the low life expectancy of its residents.[39] For Indigenous men, that figure is 37 years of age.[40][41]

Residents have reported that water quality in Wilcannia is unsafe,[42] leading locals to rely on boxed water transported from Broken Hill, nearly 200 kilometres (120 mi) away.[43] In 2021 the town was one of the worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales, and the government's refusal to ban tourists from the area to preserve the health of its struggling residents was criticised.[44][45] In September 2021, the New Matilda website published an investigation into allegations of discrimination against Wilcannia residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing leaked documents from Central Darling Shire Council.[46]

In the media edit

The town's social issues were highlighted in the first episode of a two-part BBC3 documentary made by Reggie Yates, Reggie Yates: Hidden Australia, entitled "Episode 1: Black in the Outback", which was first broadcast online on 16 January 2017.[47] In March 2017 the BBC, in response to complaints about the biased and misleading view portrayed, investigated the claims and suspended the production company pending the outcome of the review.[48] The BBC apologised for allowing the programme to go to air.[49]

In July 2017, ABC Radio National highlighted Wilcannia's positive social aspects in a 6-part series called Positively Wilcannia, produced by the podcast The Real Thing.[50][51]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, multiple media outlets highlighted how poor living conditions and overcrowding in houses in Wilcannia resulted in the town having Australia's highest per-capita case rate, with one-sixth of residents testing positive to the virus; about 90% of them were Aboriginal.[52][53][54] A parliamentary inquiry into New South Wales' handling of the pandemic was told that community leaders warned authorities a year earlier about how Wilcannia's overcrowding situation could lead to a crisis if the virus entered the town.[55]

Climate edit

Wilcannia has a hot desert climate (BWh) under the Köppen climate classification, featuring very hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. The annual average rainfall is 284.6 millimetres (11.2 in) which would make it a semi-arid climate except that its high evapotranspiration, or its barrenness, makes it a desert climate.

Mean maximum daily temperature in summer is 34 °C and in winter is 19 °C. The highest temperature recorded in Wilcannia was 50.0 °C (122.0 °F) on 11 January 1939.[56] This was during the severe heatwave of January 1939.

Climate data for Wilcannia (Reid St), New South Wales, Australia (1991–2015 normals, extremes 1957–present[note 1]); 75 m AMSL
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 50.0
(122.0)
47.1
(116.8)
44.4
(111.9)
38.4
(101.1)
31.3
(88.3)
29.3
(84.7)
30.6
(87.1)
32.8
(91.0)
39.4
(102.9)
42.4
(108.3)
45.4
(113.7)
46.8
(116.2)
50.0
(122.0)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 42.1
(107.8)
40.7
(105.3)
37.3
(99.1)
32.2
(90.0)
26.9
(80.4)
22.2
(72.0)
21.2
(70.2)
24.9
(76.8)
30.2
(86.4)
34.4
(93.9)
38.8
(101.8)
40.6
(105.1)
42.1
(107.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 36.2
(97.2)
34.8
(94.6)
31.3
(88.3)
26.7
(80.1)
21.6
(70.9)
18.2
(64.8)
17.6
(63.7)
20.3
(68.5)
24.4
(75.9)
27.8
(82.0)
31.1
(88.0)
33.8
(92.8)
27.0
(80.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 28.6
(83.5)
27.5
(81.5)
23.8
(74.8)
19.1
(66.4)
14.6
(58.3)
11.8
(53.2)
10.8
(51.4)
12.7
(54.9)
16.5
(61.7)
20.0
(68.0)
23.5
(74.3)
26.1
(79.0)
19.6
(67.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 20.9
(69.6)
20.1
(68.2)
16.2
(61.2)
11.5
(52.7)
7.5
(45.5)
5.4
(41.7)
4.0
(39.2)
5.1
(41.2)
8.6
(47.5)
12.1
(53.8)
15.8
(60.4)
18.3
(64.9)
12.1
(53.8)
Mean minimum °C (°F) 15.0
(59.0)
14.6
(58.3)
11.4
(52.5)
7.0
(44.6)
3.2
(37.8)
1.1
(34.0)
0.2
(32.4)
1.2
(34.2)
3.9
(39.0)
7.3
(45.1)
10.2
(50.4)
13.0
(55.4)
0.2
(32.4)
Record low °C (°F) 9.2
(48.6)
8.8
(47.8)
6.4
(43.5)
1.8
(35.2)
−2.5
(27.5)
−2.8
(27.0)
−5.0
(23.0)
−3.3
(26.1)
−0.5
(31.1)
3.4
(38.1)
3.9
(39.0)
8.4
(47.1)
−5.0
(23.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 29.5
(1.16)
27.7
(1.09)
23.9
(0.94)
15.9
(0.63)
20.0
(0.79)
24.2
(0.95)
19.9
(0.78)
13.7
(0.54)
20.4
(0.80)
27.7
(1.09)
29.4
(1.16)
32.3
(1.27)
284.6
(11.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 2.5 2.4 2.1 1.9 2.9 3.2 3.6 2.3 2.8 3.2 3.5 2.9 33.3
Average relative humidity (%) 32.5 37.0 38.5 41.5 55.5 65.5 63.0 49.5 42.0 35.5 34.5 31.0 43.8
Average dew point °C (°F) 9.5
(49.1)
10.6
(51.1)
8.4
(47.1)
7.0
(44.6)
6.9
(44.4)
6.5
(43.7)
4.7
(40.5)
3.5
(38.3)
4.4
(39.9)
4.7
(40.5)
6.8
(44.2)
7.1
(44.8)
6.7
(44.0)
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (temperature, precipitation, humidity- 1991–2020 normals),[57] (1957–present extremes),[58] (1939 record)[59]

Significant weather edit

On 9 November 1950, a severe thunderstorm with damaging winds and large hail the size of cricket balls struck the town. Two people were injured, dozens of homes lost their roofs and nearly every house in town was damaged due to the large hail.[60]

Notable people edit

Gallery edit

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ The all-time maximum temperature record of 50.0 °C (122.0 °F) set in January 1939 is included, but other extremes data shown are only from 1957 to the present. The January record high during only the 1957-present period is 48.2 °C (118.8 °F).

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Wilcannia (State Suburbs)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Profile of the electoral division of Parkes (NSW)". Australian Electoral Commission. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Wilcannia". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 24 July 2009.  
  4. ^ Volkofsky, Aimee (12 May 2020). "Indigenous community sets up camp on Darling River to avoid coronavirus risk in overcrowded homes". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Wilcannia – Culture and History". The Sydney Morning Herald. November 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  6. ^ 'Navigation of the Darling', Sydney Morning Herald, 12 March 1859, page 7.
  7. ^ New South Wales Government Gazette, 29 June 1866 (Issue No. 127), page 1512.
  8. ^ "The Barrier Ranges". The Leader. 30 March 1867. p. 6. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  9. ^ Johnstone, James Dr. "Telegrams in Australia". Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  10. ^ a b c Australian Bureau Of Statistics; Australian Data Archive; Smith, Len; Rowse, Tim; Hungerford, Stuart (2021). Historical and Colonial Census Data Archive (HCCDA) (Report). Australian National University. doi:10.26193/MP6WRS. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  11. ^ Wagga Wagga Express and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser, 31 January 1874, page 2.
  12. ^ "Wilcannia". The Empire. 28 December 1874. p. 4. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Wilcannia". Australian Town and Country Journal. 25 October 1879. p. 39. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  14. ^ 'The Western Grazier', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miner’s Advocate, 22 December 1880, page 2.
  15. ^ 'Wilcannia', Sydney Morning Herald, 19 February 1881, page 6.
  16. ^ New South Wales Government Gazette, 25 May 1883 (Issue No. 222), page 2917.
  17. ^ 'Wilcannia', Australian Town and Country Journal, 27 August 1887, page 28.
  18. ^ 'Wilcannia', Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 19 July 1884, page 116.
  19. ^ 'New South Wales Shipping', Riverine Herald (Echuca), 22 January 1883, page 3.
  20. ^ 'Elaborate Plans for "Back to Wilcannia" Week', Barrier Miner (Broken Hill), 23 October 1939, page 5.
  21. ^ Philip Cox & Wesley Stacey (1973), Historic towns of Australia, Melbourne, Lansdowne, p.100. ISBN 0701801840
  22. ^ Report of Board For The Protection of Aborigines. For Year 1907. Legislative Assembly, New South Wales. 1908. p. 18.
  23. ^ 'Wilcannia in 1880' by Watson A. Steel, Sydney Mail, 13 July 1938, page 2.
  24. ^ 'The New River Darling Bridge', Evening Journal (Adelaide), 10 January 1896, page 3.
  25. ^ 'Wilcannia', Western Herald (Bourke), 17 January 1917, page 3.
  26. ^ 'Romantic Story of River Town: Churches Have Played Part', Barrier Miner (Broken Hill), 9 December 1939, page 36.
  27. ^ "Teaching at Wilcannia Central School". Wilcannia Central School. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  28. ^ "And the 2020 ARIA Awards Go To…". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  29. ^ Donnelley, Sarah (2022). Big things grow: a memoir of teaching on Country in Wilcannia. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin. p. 185. ISBN 9781761065354.
  30. ^ a b Ormonde, Bill (17 August 2023). "Ground finally broken for Wilcannia's unique emu foot-shaped Baaka Cultural Centre". ABC News (Australia). ABC Broken Hill. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  31. ^ Volkofsky, Aimee (12 May 2020). "Indigenous community sets up camp on Darling River to avoid coronavirus risk in overcrowded homes". ABC News. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  32. ^ "Wilcannia River Radio". First Nations Media Australia. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  33. ^ "Is Wilcannia River Radio the state's most remote radio station?" (video). The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  34. ^ "COVID, climate change and Australia's community radio sector". Enlighten. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  35. ^ "Wilcannia River Radio counters disinformation over COVID". The Wire. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  36. ^ "3 radio stations". Raddio. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  37. ^ "The Barkindji people are losing their 'mother', the drying Darling River".
  38. ^ Taylor, Josie; Branley, Alison. "Dropping Off The Edge: Select suburbs stuck in cycle of disadvantage with little being done to help, report shows". ABC News. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  39. ^ "'Scared and angry': warnings ignored before Delta ripped through Wilcannia". the Guardian. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  40. ^ "Town with life expectancy at 37 for its men". The Stringer. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  41. ^ Williams, Mike (23 July 2017). "Rugby league initiative takes the anxiety out of men's health checks in Wilcannia". ABC News. from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  42. ^ Oboohov, Paul (5 November 2020). "Indigenous water defender demands court hearing in Wilcannia". Green Left. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  43. ^ Feik, Nick (9 March 2019). "Wilcannia: The town with no water". The Saturday Paper. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  44. ^ Hörchner, Cherie von (27 August 2021). "The Covid disaster unfolding in Wilcannia goes way past incompetence. It is a disgrace". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  45. ^ "Indigenous Australians 'going through hell' as Wilcannia Covid outbreak worsens". the Guardian. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  46. ^ Graham, Chris (29 September 2021). "#MeanwhileInWilcannia: Leaked minutes from emergency meetings reveal govt officials blocked Wilcannia pleas for COVID help". New Matilda. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  47. ^ "BBC Three - Reggie Yates: Hidden Australia, Black in the Outback". BBC. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  48. ^ Wainwright, Sofie (8 June 2017). "BBC suspends relationship with producers of Wilcannia documentary". ABC News. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  49. ^ Davidson, Helen (8 March 2017). "BBC apologises for misleading documentary on 'drunken' Aboriginal community". The Guardian.
  50. ^ "#16: Positively Wilcannia". ABC Radio National. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  51. ^ "More from The Real Thing". ABC Listen. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  52. ^ Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Sean; King, Tynan (28 October 2021). "'Our opinion was never valued': Wilcannia speaks out". ABC News Australia. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  53. ^ Miller, Michael E. (27 September 2021). "'Covid hit us like a cyclone': An Aboriginal town in the Australian Outback is overwhelmed". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  54. ^ Green, Susan (16 September 2021). "COVID in Wilcannia: a national disgrace we all saw coming". The Conversation. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  55. ^ Gerathy, Sarah (13 September 2021). "Aboriginal elders warned of Wilcannia COVID-19 dangers a year ago, inquiry told". ABC News Australia. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  56. ^ "Year Book Australia 2009–10" (PDF). Australian Bureau of Statistics. p. 97. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  57. ^ "Wilcannia (Reid St), NSW Climate (1991–2020 normals)". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  58. ^ "Climate statistics for Australian locations - WILCANNIA (REID ST)". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  59. ^ "Australia climate extremes" (PDF). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. p. 1. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  60. ^ "Hurricane And Hail Storm Lashes Far-western Town". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 10 November 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  61. ^ (PDF). New Dawn. Vol. 1, no. 10. January 1971. pp. 2–3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 August 2018.
  62. ^ "New indigenous political party targets gold mine". Blayney Chronicle. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2023.

External links edit

  Media related to Wilcannia, New South Wales at Wikimedia Commons

  • Visit NSW Wilcannia
  • Gooch, Declan (10 November 2019). "Wilcannia River Radio's role in its community recognised in CBAA national radio awards". ABC News (Broken Hill). Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  • The Wilcannia Mob: Intergeneration - 'Our Country, Our Way' (2016) on YouTube – a Desert Pea Media community project with a group of young Indigenous people enrolled at Wilcannia High School, and a group of community leaders from Wilcannia and Broken Hill

wilcannia, small, town, located, within, central, darling, shire, north, western, south, wales, australia, located, darling, river, town, third, largest, inland, port, country, during, river, boat, 19th, century, 2016, census, population, south, walescentral, . Wilcannia is a small town located within the Central Darling Shire in north western New South Wales Australia Located on the Darling River the town was the third largest inland port in the country during the river boat era of the mid 19th century 3 At the 2016 census Wilcannia had a population of 745 1 Wilcannia New South WalesCentral Darling Council ChambersWilcanniaCoordinates31 33 25 S 143 22 45 E 31 55694 S 143 37917 E 31 55694 143 37917Population745 2016 census 1 Established1866Postcode s 2836Elevation75 0 m 246 ft Location958 km 595 mi from Sydney196 km 122 mi from Broken Hill261 km 162 mi from Cobar335 km 208 mi from BourkeLGA s Central Darling ShireCountyYoung CountyState electorate s BarwonFederal division s Parkes 2 Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall26 6 C 80 F 12 0 C 54 F 263 9 mm 10 4 in Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Facilities 4 Demographics and disadvantage 4 1 In the media 5 Climate 5 1 Significant weather 6 Notable people 7 Gallery 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References 11 External linksHistory editThe area lies in the traditional lands of the Barkindji people who call the river Baaka 4 The name Wilcannia is said to be derived from an indigenous term for either gap in the bank where floodwaters escape or wild dog Neither meaning has been linguistically verified 3 In 1835 explorer Major Thomas Mitchell was the first European to reach the region when he traced the Darling River to what is now Menindee 5 In late January 1859 Captain Francis Cadell in charge of the river boat Albury entered the Darling River at its junction with the Murray and after eight days travel reached the Mount Murchison pastoral station held by Hugh and Bushby Jamieson Flour and other stores were delivered to the station and one hundred bales of wool were loaded for the return journey 6 Cadell s pioneering journey was the beginning of river boat transport on the Darling River when river conditions allowed The site of the future township developed as the location for the unloading and loading of river borne cargo The settlement was initially known as Mount Murchison taking its name from the nearby pastoral run As economic activity increased the location attracted business and trades providing services and amenities to the surrounding stations In June 1866 the New South Wales Department of Lands formally declared portions of Crown Lands to be set apart as a site for the town of Wilcannia 7 Despite the official proclamation the older name for the settlement persisted In March 1867 a correspondent from the town wrote that the township of Mount Murchison is fast springing into importance owing to the splendid country surrounding it and which is fast being taken up for pastoral pursuits We have public houses stores butchers shops boarding houses a cordial manufactory in full operation and a colonial ale brewery in course of erection 8 nbsp Wilcannia Post and Telegraph Office built 1880 and adjoining residence The Post Office had opened as Mount Murchison on 1 January 1860 It was moved 5 kms to the town and changed name to Wilcannia on 1 June 1868 There was however no telegraph office the want of which is sorely felt by the business people of the town and in fact the whole district The Telegraph line reached Wilcannia on 2 February 1878 and was combined with the Post Office on 16 March 1878 in a temporary location The handsome building shown here was constructed from freestone in 1880 and was occupied on 27 June 9 In 1871 the population of Wilcannia was 264 consisting of 176 males and 88 females 10 In January 1874 the township s first newspaper the Wilcannia Times began publication 11 An account of Wilcannia in December 1874 described the buildings in the town as on the whole being of a very poor description principally small weatherboard places many of them looking rather dilapidated Three stores were operating in the township as well as three public houses the Mount Murchison Hotel Wilcannia Hotel and Britannia Hotel There were signs of increased commercial activity in the township two banks the Australian Joint Stock Bank and the Commercial Bank had recently opened branches and four stock and station agents had started businesses within the last three months Wilcannia had a public school but no churches There were two doctors but as it is a very rare thing to find them otherwise than drunk they are worse than useless 12 Early on Wilcannia had a significant Chinese community The Chinamen here are doing a very thriving trade and they are extending themselves gradually but very surely They are taking root very firmly especially in the baking and refreshment line and they seem to be patronised by everybody here We have a China doctor who is a perfect cure so people say that know all about it Nearly all the cooks at the hotels are restaurants are Chinese all the gardeners are Chinese to a man We have another institution added to us in the shape of a Chinese laundry He the laundry man performs his work very well and gets paid very handsomely for it This same report claimed the population of Wilcania at the time to be around 1 000 people with 70 of these being Chinese 13 In December 1880 a second local newspaper the Western Grazier began publication in Wilcannia 14 By early 1881 patients were being treated in the newly built local hospital 15 At the census of 1881 the population of Wilcannia was recorded as 1 424 976 males and 448 females 10 Wilcannia was incorporated as a municipality in February 1883 with Edmond O Donnell elected its first mayor 16 The first major project of the municipality was the construction of water supply system for the township 17 A July 1884 report stated that Wilcannia had a population of about 1200 and was described as a township of well laid out streets and good buildings situated in the centre of a large sheep country In addition to the well constructed Post and Telegraph Office several of the stores notably Frew Wright and Co J Palmer and Co and Cramsie Bowden and Co were described as not only extensive but of considerable architectural beauty It was explained that a quarry of freestone of excellent quality within two miles 3 km of the township has been largely used for building purposes The only local industry of note was a brewery 18 nbsp The bridge over the Darling River opened 1896 Wilcannia was the location of a customs station on the Darling River It was described as a large and important centre of trade where in 1881 13 100 was collected as Customs revenue 19 The river trade during the 1880s was so extensive at Wilcannia that its Customs House was probably the largest inland Customs Station in New South Wales 20 When river conditions permitted travel by steamers Wilcannia was a major port on the Darling River A visitor to the town described the river scene in 1890 There are several wharves so called which were merely graduated slopes cut out of the river bank and in the wool season the river in their vicinity is thronged with steamers and barges waiting for or unloading the season s clip for the bulk of it goes away either to Bourke for Sydney or to Wentworth or Goolwa A barge laden with from 1 200 to 2 000 bales of wool is a pretty sight and a still more interesting spectacle is a string of 30 or 40 camels each carrying two bales proceeding into town from some far back station 21 dd At the time of the 1891 census the municipality of Wilcannia had a non Aboriginal population of 1 287 775 males and 512 females 10 In 1907 the number of Aboriginal people living at Wilcannia was 18 22 Vehicles and stock were crossed over the Darling River at Wilcannia by a punt operated by Charles Smith until the mid 1890s 23 In 1895 a bridge was constructed at Wilcannia and opened to traffic in January 1896 The bridge consisted of five spans a total length of 310 feet 94 5 metres with a centre lift span to permit of steamers passing when the river is high 24 In January 1917 it was reported that the Wilcannia Hospital was without a doctor The hospital was full of patients some diphtheria cases among them and the Matron is having a very hard and anxious time 25 In December 1939 Wilcannia was described as merely a shopping centre for the wide district although people travelling into Queensland and lonely sections of New South Wales often rest there 26 Geography editWilcannia is located where the Barrier Highway crosses the Darling River 965 kilometres 600 mi from Sydney The environment is borderline semi arid to desert with an annual rainfall of 255 millimetres 10 0 in Wilcannia is located within the Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion IBRA classification Department of Environment consisting of landscapes adapted to flooding Common species include river red gum yellow box oldman saltbush and lignum citation needed The surrounding area is very sparsely settled by pastoralists who have large land holdings used primarily to run sheep These holdings fall in the Western Division and the majority are held as 99 year leases citation needed Facilities editWilcannia Central School includes a pre school and caters for students up to Year 12 with the last two years through distance education 27 At the 2020 ARIA Music Awards Wilcannia Central School s Sarah Donnelley won Music Teacher of the Year 28 29 The Maari Ma wellness centre is being renovated as of August 2023 update 30 Construction work began on the Baaka Cultural Centre in August 2023 on the main road through Wilcannia Its shape will resemble the foot of an emu and it will function as a tourist centre as well as a gallery for local art and artefacts Local people are being employed as well as specialists in stonemasonry and rammed earth construction from South Australia and the NSW south coast 30 Baaka is the Paakantyi word for the Darling River 31 The only local radio station is community radio station Wilcannia River Radio broadcasting on 103 1 MHz 32 33 which has provided factual information and aired discussions about matters such as COVID 19 climate change and other matters 34 35 Other radio stations include Outback Radio 2WEB on 99 9 MHz ABC Radio National and ABC Western Plains 36 Demographics and disadvantage editFrom the 2016 Census Wilcannia had a population of 549 with 407 74 4 people being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent mostly from the Barkindji nation 37 Wilcannia has 223 private dwellings 1 The town was listed as one of the most socially disadvantaged areas of New South Wales according to the 2015 Dropping Off The Edge report 38 Predominantly populated by Aboriginal Australians Wilcannia has received national and international attention for government deprivation of its community s needs and the low life expectancy of its residents 39 For Indigenous men that figure is 37 years of age 40 41 Residents have reported that water quality in Wilcannia is unsafe 42 leading locals to rely on boxed water transported from Broken Hill nearly 200 kilometres 120 mi away 43 In 2021 the town was one of the worst hit by the COVID 19 pandemic in New South Wales and the government s refusal to ban tourists from the area to preserve the health of its struggling residents was criticised 44 45 In September 2021 the New Matilda website published an investigation into allegations of discrimination against Wilcannia residents during the COVID 19 pandemic citing leaked documents from Central Darling Shire Council 46 In the media edit The town s social issues were highlighted in the first episode of a two part BBC3 documentary made by Reggie Yates Reggie Yates Hidden Australia entitled Episode 1 Black in the Outback which was first broadcast online on 16 January 2017 47 In March 2017 the BBC in response to complaints about the biased and misleading view portrayed investigated the claims and suspended the production company pending the outcome of the review 48 The BBC apologised for allowing the programme to go to air 49 In July 2017 ABC Radio National highlighted Wilcannia s positive social aspects in a 6 part series called Positively Wilcannia produced by the podcast The Real Thing 50 51 During the COVID 19 pandemic in Australia multiple media outlets highlighted how poor living conditions and overcrowding in houses in Wilcannia resulted in the town having Australia s highest per capita case rate with one sixth of residents testing positive to the virus about 90 of them were Aboriginal 52 53 54 A parliamentary inquiry into New South Wales handling of the pandemic was told that community leaders warned authorities a year earlier about how Wilcannia s overcrowding situation could lead to a crisis if the virus entered the town 55 Climate editWilcannia has a hot desert climate BWh under the Koppen climate classification featuring very hot dry summers and short cool winters The annual average rainfall is 284 6 millimetres 11 2 in which would make it a semi arid climate except that its high evapotranspiration or its barrenness makes it a desert climate Mean maximum daily temperature in summer is 34 C and in winter is 19 C The highest temperature recorded in Wilcannia was 50 0 C 122 0 F on 11 January 1939 56 This was during the severe heatwave of January 1939 Climate data for Wilcannia Reid St New South Wales Australia 1991 2015 normals extremes 1957 present note 1 75 m AMSL Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high C F 50 0 122 0 47 1 116 8 44 4 111 9 38 4 101 1 31 3 88 3 29 3 84 7 30 6 87 1 32 8 91 0 39 4 102 9 42 4 108 3 45 4 113 7 46 8 116 2 50 0 122 0 Mean maximum C F 42 1 107 8 40 7 105 3 37 3 99 1 32 2 90 0 26 9 80 4 22 2 72 0 21 2 70 2 24 9 76 8 30 2 86 4 34 4 93 9 38 8 101 8 40 6 105 1 42 1 107 8 Mean daily maximum C F 36 2 97 2 34 8 94 6 31 3 88 3 26 7 80 1 21 6 70 9 18 2 64 8 17 6 63 7 20 3 68 5 24 4 75 9 27 8 82 0 31 1 88 0 33 8 92 8 27 0 80 6 Daily mean C F 28 6 83 5 27 5 81 5 23 8 74 8 19 1 66 4 14 6 58 3 11 8 53 2 10 8 51 4 12 7 54 9 16 5 61 7 20 0 68 0 23 5 74 3 26 1 79 0 19 6 67 3 Mean daily minimum C F 20 9 69 6 20 1 68 2 16 2 61 2 11 5 52 7 7 5 45 5 5 4 41 7 4 0 39 2 5 1 41 2 8 6 47 5 12 1 53 8 15 8 60 4 18 3 64 9 12 1 53 8 Mean minimum C F 15 0 59 0 14 6 58 3 11 4 52 5 7 0 44 6 3 2 37 8 1 1 34 0 0 2 32 4 1 2 34 2 3 9 39 0 7 3 45 1 10 2 50 4 13 0 55 4 0 2 32 4 Record low C F 9 2 48 6 8 8 47 8 6 4 43 5 1 8 35 2 2 5 27 5 2 8 27 0 5 0 23 0 3 3 26 1 0 5 31 1 3 4 38 1 3 9 39 0 8 4 47 1 5 0 23 0 Average precipitation mm inches 29 5 1 16 27 7 1 09 23 9 0 94 15 9 0 63 20 0 0 79 24 2 0 95 19 9 0 78 13 7 0 54 20 4 0 80 27 7 1 09 29 4 1 16 32 3 1 27 284 6 11 2 Average precipitation days 1 0 mm 2 5 2 4 2 1 1 9 2 9 3 2 3 6 2 3 2 8 3 2 3 5 2 9 33 3 Average relative humidity 32 5 37 0 38 5 41 5 55 5 65 5 63 0 49 5 42 0 35 5 34 5 31 0 43 8 Average dew point C F 9 5 49 1 10 6 51 1 8 4 47 1 7 0 44 6 6 9 44 4 6 5 43 7 4 7 40 5 3 5 38 3 4 4 39 9 4 7 40 5 6 8 44 2 7 1 44 8 6 7 44 0 Source Australian Bureau of Meteorology temperature precipitation humidity 1991 2020 normals 57 1957 present extremes 58 1939 record 59 Significant weather edit On 9 November 1950 a severe thunderstorm with damaging winds and large hail the size of cricket balls struck the town Two people were injured dozens of homes lost their roofs and nearly every house in town was damaged due to the large hail 60 Notable people editAnnie Moysey known as Wilcannia s Grandmother 61 The Wilcannia Mob a hip hop musical group of five Indigenous Australians Owen Whyman initiator of political party Indigenous Aboriginal Party of Australia 62 Gallery edit nbsp from the bed of the Darling River nbsp Street Scene nbsp Street Scene nbsp Former warehouse now Residence and Art Studio nbsp Wilcannia Police Station with Melia azedarach nbsp Now a Pharmacy and residence 2016 nbsp Residence near the Anglican Church nbsp Old Post Office nbsp Old warehouse nbsp The Bourke Wilcannia road near Bourke nbsp Wilcannia AthenaeumSee also editWilcannia Athenaeum List of extreme temperatures in AustraliaNotes edit The all time maximum temperature record of 50 0 C 122 0 F set in January 1939 is included but other extremes data shown are only from 1957 to the present The January record high during only the 1957 present period is 48 2 C 118 8 F References edit a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics 27 June 2017 Wilcannia State Suburbs 2016 Census QuickStats Retrieved 25 November 2017 Profile of the electoral division of Parkes NSW Australian Electoral Commission 25 February 2016 Retrieved 12 July 2016 a b Wilcannia Geographical Names Register GNR of NSW Geographical Names Board of New South Wales Retrieved 24 July 2009 nbsp Volkofsky Aimee 12 May 2020 Indigenous community sets up camp on Darling River to avoid coronavirus risk in overcrowded homes ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 13 May 2020 Wilcannia Culture and History The Sydney Morning Herald November 2008 Retrieved 25 March 2013 Navigation of the Darling Sydney Morning Herald 12 March 1859 page 7 New South Wales Government Gazette 29 June 1866 Issue No 127 page 1512 The Barrier Ranges The Leader 30 March 1867 p 6 Retrieved 22 August 2021 Johnstone James Dr Telegrams in Australia Retrieved 12 May 2023 a b c Australian Bureau Of Statistics Australian Data Archive Smith Len Rowse Tim Hungerford Stuart 2021 Historical and Colonial Census Data Archive HCCDA Report Australian National University doi 10 26193 MP6WRS Retrieved 25 February 2021 Wagga Wagga Express and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser 31 January 1874 page 2 Wilcannia The Empire 28 December 1874 p 4 Retrieved 22 August 2021 Wilcannia Australian Town and Country Journal 25 October 1879 p 39 Retrieved 23 January 2024 The Western Grazier Newcastle Morning Herald and Miner s Advocate 22 December 1880 page 2 Wilcannia Sydney Morning Herald 19 February 1881 page 6 New South Wales Government Gazette 25 May 1883 Issue No 222 page 2917 Wilcannia Australian Town and Country Journal 27 August 1887 page 28 Wilcannia Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser 19 July 1884 page 116 New South Wales Shipping Riverine Herald Echuca 22 January 1883 page 3 Elaborate Plans for Back to Wilcannia Week Barrier Miner Broken Hill 23 October 1939 page 5 Philip Cox amp Wesley Stacey 1973 Historic towns of Australia Melbourne Lansdowne p 100 ISBN 0701801840 Report of Board For The Protection of Aborigines For Year 1907 Legislative Assembly New South Wales 1908 p 18 Wilcannia in 1880 by Watson A Steel Sydney Mail 13 July 1938 page 2 The New River Darling Bridge Evening Journal Adelaide 10 January 1896 page 3 Wilcannia Western Herald Bourke 17 January 1917 page 3 Romantic Story of River Town Churches Have Played Part Barrier Miner Broken Hill 9 December 1939 page 36 Teaching at Wilcannia Central School Wilcannia Central School Retrieved 18 August 2023 And the 2020 ARIA Awards Go To Australian Recording Industry Association ARIA Archived from the original on 26 November 2020 Retrieved 26 November 2020 Donnelley Sarah 2022 Big things grow a memoir of teaching on Country in Wilcannia Crows Nest NSW Allen amp Unwin p 185 ISBN 9781761065354 a b Ormonde Bill 17 August 2023 Ground finally broken for Wilcannia s unique emu foot shaped Baaka Cultural Centre ABC News Australia ABC Broken Hill Retrieved 19 August 2023 Volkofsky Aimee 12 May 2020 Indigenous community sets up camp on Darling River to avoid coronavirus risk in overcrowded homes ABC News Retrieved 19 August 2023 Wilcannia River Radio First Nations Media Australia Retrieved 19 August 2023 Is Wilcannia River Radio the state s most remote radio station video The Sydney Morning Herald 16 December 2014 Retrieved 19 August 2023 COVID climate change and Australia s community radio sector Enlighten 3 November 2021 Retrieved 19 August 2023 Wilcannia River Radio counters disinformation over COVID The Wire 11 July 2022 Retrieved 19 August 2023 3 radio stations Raddio Retrieved 19 August 2023 The Barkindji people are losing their mother the drying Darling River Taylor Josie Branley Alison Dropping Off The Edge Select suburbs stuck in cycle of disadvantage with little being done to help report shows ABC News Retrieved 25 July 2015 Scared and angry warnings ignored before Delta ripped through Wilcannia the Guardian 10 September 2021 Retrieved 21 December 2021 Town with life expectancy at 37 for its men The Stringer Retrieved 4 July 2021 Williams Mike 23 July 2017 Rugby league initiative takes the anxiety out of men s health checks in Wilcannia ABC News Archived from the original on 1 September 2021 Retrieved 4 July 2021 Oboohov Paul 5 November 2020 Indigenous water defender demands court hearing in Wilcannia Green Left Retrieved 4 July 2021 Feik Nick 9 March 2019 Wilcannia The town with no water The Saturday Paper Retrieved 4 July 2021 Horchner Cherie von 27 August 2021 The Covid disaster unfolding in Wilcannia goes way past incompetence It is a disgrace The Guardian Retrieved 21 December 2021 Indigenous Australians going through hell as Wilcannia Covid outbreak worsens the Guardian 21 August 2021 Retrieved 21 December 2021 Graham Chris 29 September 2021 MeanwhileInWilcannia Leaked minutes from emergency meetings reveal govt officials blocked Wilcannia pleas for COVID help New Matilda Retrieved 19 August 2023 BBC Three Reggie Yates Hidden Australia Black in the Outback BBC Retrieved 27 March 2020 Wainwright Sofie 8 June 2017 BBC suspends relationship with producers of Wilcannia documentary ABC News Retrieved 27 March 2020 Davidson Helen 8 March 2017 BBC apologises for misleading documentary on drunken Aboriginal community The Guardian 16 Positively Wilcannia ABC Radio National 5 July 2017 Retrieved 27 March 2020 More from The Real Thing ABC Listen Retrieved 19 August 2023 Rubinsztein Dunlop Sean King Tynan 28 October 2021 Our opinion was never valued Wilcannia speaks out ABC News Australia Retrieved 25 November 2021 Miller Michael E 27 September 2021 Covid hit us like a cyclone An Aboriginal town in the Australian Outback is overwhelmed The Washington Post Retrieved 25 November 2021 Green Susan 16 September 2021 COVID in Wilcannia a national disgrace we all saw coming The Conversation Retrieved 25 November 2021 Gerathy Sarah 13 September 2021 Aboriginal elders warned of Wilcannia COVID 19 dangers a year ago inquiry told ABC News Australia Retrieved 25 November 2021 Year Book Australia 2009 10 PDF Australian Bureau of Statistics p 97 Retrieved 25 March 2013 Wilcannia Reid St NSW Climate 1991 2020 normals Australian Bureau of Meteorology Retrieved 16 May 2022 Climate statistics for Australian locations WILCANNIA REID ST Australian Bureau of Meteorology Retrieved 16 May 2022 Australia climate extremes PDF Australian Bureau of Meteorology p 1 Retrieved 17 June 2022 Hurricane And Hail Storm Lashes Far western Town The Sydney Morning Herald National Library of Australia 10 November 1950 p 1 Retrieved 25 March 2013 The most beautiful lady PDF New Dawn Vol 1 no 10 January 1971 pp 2 3 Archived from the original PDF on 3 August 2018 New indigenous political party targets gold mine Blayney Chronicle 22 June 2021 Retrieved 19 August 2023 External links edit nbsp Media related to Wilcannia New South Wales at Wikimedia Commons Visit NSW Wilcannia Gooch Declan 10 November 2019 Wilcannia River Radio s role in its community recognised in CBAA national radio awards ABC News Broken Hill Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Wilcannia Mob Intergeneration Our Country Our Way 2016 on YouTube a Desert Pea Media community project with a group of young Indigenous people enrolled at Wilcannia High School and a group of community leaders from Wilcannia and Broken Hill Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilcannia amp oldid 1219711398, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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