West Wyalong is the main town of the

Bland Shire Bland Shire is a local government area in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. it covers an area of . As at the the population was 5,995. It is a member of the League of Extraordinary Communities which was established by Dull, Per ...

in the

Riverina The Riverina is an agricultural region of south-western New South Wales, Australia. The Riverina is distinguished from other Australian regions by the combination of flat plains, warm to hot climate and an ample supply of water for irrigation ...

region of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, Australia. Located west of Sydney and above sea level, it is situated on the crossroads of the

Newell Highway Newell Highway is a national highway in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. It provides the major road link between southeastern Queensland and Victoria via central NSW and as such carries large amounts of freight. At in length, the Newell is th ...

between

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

and

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...

, and the

Mid-Western Highway Mid-Western Highway, sometimes Mid Western Highway, is a state highway located in the central western and northern Riverina regions of New South Wales, Australia. The highway services rural communities and links the Great Western, Mitchell, ...

between Sydney and

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

. The West Wyalong district is the largest cereal-growing centre in NSW.

Eucalyptus ''Eucalyptus'' () is a genus of over seven hundred species of flowering trees, shrubs or mallees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Along with several other genera in the tribe Eucalypteae, including '' Corymbia'', they are commonly known as e ...

oil production started in 1907 and the West Wyalong area became one of the major world exporters of the product. West Wyalong Anglican Church 001

History

The Wiradjuri people were the first to inhabit this region. (Wiradjuri northern dialect pronunciation iraːjd̪uːraj or Wirraayjuurray people (Wiradjuri southern dialect pronunciation iraːjɟuːraj are a group of indigenous Australian Aboriginal people that were united by a common language, strong ties of kinship and survived as skilled hunter–fisher–gatherers in family groups or clans scattered throughout central New South Wales. In the 21st century, major Wiradjuri groups live in Condobolin, Peak Hill, Narrandera and Griffith. There are significant populations at Wagga Wagga and Leeton and smaller groups at West Wyalong, Parkes, Dubbo, Forbes, Cootamundra, Cowra and Young. Gold was discovered at

Wyalong Wyalong is part of the Bland Shire located in the Northern Riverina Region of New South Wales, Australia. Established as a gold mining town, it is now a quiet town with historic buildings a few kilometres east of West Wyalong, the major distric ...

in September 1893 by Joseph Neeld. In 1895 West Wyalong was developed from Wyalong around the bullock track, without the benefit of town planning, resulting in curious kinks in the road where it avoided trees. As well as the mines, the White Tank water supply was located here. This is now the location of McCann Park. The goldfield was declared the most productive in the colony in 1899. As mining declined West Wyalong became the main service centre for agriculture in the surrounding district, although for many years there was rivalry between the towns. Both towns wanted the Temora railway line, but settled on a compromise of a station midway between the two towns, called Wyalong Central. Development since the 1970s has expanded Wyalong in the direction of West Wyalong with several motels built at Central Wyalong. A shared bicycle and pedestrian track was constructed in 1994 to link Wyalong with West Wyalong. The population has stabilised recently. This is due, in part, to the Cowal Gold Mine adjacent to

Lake Cowal Lake Cowal is the largest inland lake in New South Wales, Australia. The lake is ephemeral, being fed by the small Bland Creek and by the occasional flooding of the Lachlan River. Despite this, it retains a considerable amount of water in about ...

, 45 km northeast and Pace Farm's egg production facility.

Climate

West Wyalong has long, sweltering summers and cool winters with extended overcast periods not uncommon, typical of lower Outback New South Wales.

Places of interest

* The Poppet Head * Lions Park Dakota DC3 * West Wyalong Museum * West Wyalong Airport * Easel sculpture of

West Wyalong (Drysdale) ''West Wyalong'' is a 1949 in art, 1949 painting by Australian artist Russell Drysdale. The painting depicts the main street of the New South Wales town of West Wyalong, with its characteristic bend. Curator of the Art Gallery of New South Wale ...

* Wyalong Wetlands * Tivoli Theatre

Schools

* St Mary's War Memorial Catholic School (K-6) - The original St. Mary's Church School was built in 1901 of corrugated iron and staffed by the

Sisters of Mercy The Sisters of Mercy is a religious institute of Catholic women founded in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland, by Catherine McAuley. As of 2019, the institute had about 6200 sisters worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations. They a ...

. By 1903 there were 167 students. The present St. Mary's School was built in 1961. * West Wyalong Primary School (K-6) * West Wyalong High School (7-12) * Wyalong Public School (K-6)

Pubs and clubs in West Wyalong

* The Tattersalls Hotel * The Metropolitan Hotel * Royal Hotel * The White Tank Hotel * West Wyalong Services & Citizens Club * West Wyalong Lawn Bowling Club * West Wyalong Golf Club * Toppy Pub (Wyalong)

Sport

The most popular sport in West Wyalong is rugby league. The town's

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 11 ...

team competed in the

Maher Cup The Maher Cup was an Australian rugby league (originally rugby union) challenge cup contested between towns of the South West Slopes and northern Riverina areas of New South Wales between 1920 and 1971. The main teams involved were Cootamundra, Tum ...

. * West Wyalong Wildcats - (basketball) * West Wyalong Mallee Men -

* West Wyalong-Girral Bulldogs - Australian rules football &

netball Netball is a ball sport played on a court by two teams of seven players. It is among a rare number of sports which have been created exclusively for female competitors. The sport is played on indoor and outdoor netball courts and is specifical ...

* West Wyalong Weevils - senior

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

* West Wyalong Pirates - junior

* Alleena Cricket Club -

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by str ...

* Tallimba Cricket Club -

* White Tank Cricket Club -

Annual Shows and Events

January

Australia Day Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and raising of the Union Flag by Arthur Phillip following days of exploration of Port ...

Breakfast and Awards (26th), West Wyalong * David Earl Memorial Cricket Match, West Wyalong

February

* Pancake Breakfast, West Wyalong * West Wyalong Rugby League Knockout (Last Fri./Sat.) * Dean Wood Big Gig

March

Barmedman Barmedman is a rural village in the Bland Shire in the New South Wales state of Australia, located approximately half-way between West Wyalong and Temora. Barmedman began as a service centre for gold-mining operations in the area. Nowadays the ...

Modified tractor Pull (1st Sat.) * Candy Stripe Fair, West Wyalong

April

* ANZAC Day Celebrations (25th) * Wellness West Wyalong Festival * Ladies Day Out in West Wyalong

May

* Mother's Day Luncheon (2nd Sun.), West Wyalong * Masonic Debutante Ball (2nd Sat.), West Wyalong

July

* Catholic Debutante Ball, West Wyalong

August

* Weethalle Show (3rd Sat.) * West Wyalong Show Ball

September

* Barmedman Show & Beaut-Ute Comp. (1st Sat./Sun.) * West Wyalong Show (1st Wed.) * Ungarie Show (2nd Fri.) * West Wyalong Charity Campdraft

October

* Mirrool Silo Kick Challenge (2nd Sat.) * 'in the West' Festiva
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November

* Early Markets (1st Sat.), Wyalong

December

* Christmas Market/Carols by Candlelight, West Wyalong * New year Celebrations & Bi-annual Fireworks, West Wyalong

Notable people from the area

Dymphna Cusack Ellen Dymphna Cusack AM (21 September 1902 – 19 October 1981) was an Australian writer and playwright. Personal life Born in Wyalong, New South Wales, Cusack was educated at Saint Ursula's College, Armidale, New South Wales and graduated f ...

, author * Reginald Roy Rattey, Victoria Cross recipient * Terry Gathercole, champion swimmer *

Mark O'Meley Mark O'Meley (born 22 May 1981) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of Irish descent who played as a in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s he also played junior footy for the northern lakes warriors and the Wyong Roos. He also ...

, rugby league footballer *

Scott Staniforth Scott Nicholas Gelling Staniforth (born 12 December 1977 in West Wyalong) is an Australian rugby union footballer. Career Returning to Australia after two years with London Irish, Scott Staniforth was the last player to sign with the Wester ...

, rugby union footballer *

Mat McLachlan Mat McLachlan is an Australian author, historian and television presenter. His first book, ''Walking With the Anzacs: A Guide to Australian Battlefields on the Western Front'', was published by Hachette Australia in February 2007. It was reprinte ...

, author and historian *

Anthony Gelling Anthony Gelling (born 18 October 1990) is a Cook Islands international rugby league footballer who plays as a er and forward. He has previously played for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League, the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby L ...

, rugby union representatives *

Neale Daniher Neale Francis Daniher (born 15 February 1961) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was later the coach of the Melbourne Football Club between 1998 an ...

, former AFL footballer, former AFL coach and

motor neurone disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. ALS is the most commo ...

campaigner *

Terry Daniher Terrence "Terry" John Daniher (born 15 August 1957) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the South Melbourne and Essendon Football Clubs in the Australian Football League (AFL). Terry was also an assistant coach for the Ess ...

, former AFL footballer * Anthony Daniher, former AFL footballer *

Chris Daniher Christopher "Chris" James Daniher (born 31 March 1966) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). His brothers Terry, Neale and Anthony also played for Essendo ...

, former AFL footballer *

Dal Stivens Dallas George "Dal" Stivens (31 December 1911 – 15 June 1997) was an Australian writer who produced six novels and eight collections of short stories between 1936, when ''The Tramp and Other Stories'' was published, and 1976, when his last colle ...

, author - grew up in the town * Danny Meagher, Catholic bishop

Gallery

File:West Wyalong Aboriginal Artifacts Store.JPG, Aboriginal Artifacts Store File:West Wyalong Ambulance Station.JPG, Ambulance Station File:West Wyalong Anglican Church 001.JPG, West Wyalong Anglican Church File:West Wyalong Bank of New South Wales 001.JPG,

Bank of New South Wales The Bank of New South Wales (BNSW), also known commonly as The Wales, was the first bank in Australia, being established in Sydney in 1817 and situated on Broadway. During the 19th century, the bank opened branches throughout Australia and N ...

File:West Wyalong Bland Shire Council Offices.JPG, Bland Shire Council Offices File:West Wyalong Colonial Mutual Office 001.JPG, Colonial Mutual File:West Wyalong Commercial Bank of Australia 001.JPG, Commercial Bank of Australia File:West Wyalong Commercial Banking Company of Sydney.JPG, Commercial Bank of Australia File:West Wyalong Commonwealth Bank.JPG, Commonwealth Bank File:West Wyalong Court House.JPG, Court House File:West Wyalong CWA Hall.JPG, CWA Hall File:West Wyalong Elders Office.JPG, Elders Office File:West Wyalong Federation House.JPG, West Wyalong Federation House File:West Wyalong Houses & Church.JPG, Houses & Church File:West Wyalong Leadbetter Motor Garage.JPG, Leadbetter Motor Garage File:West Wyalong Main Street 002.JPG, Main Street File:West Wyalong Medical Hall.JPG, Medical Hall File:West Wyalong Mentor Chambers.JPG, Mentor Chambers File:West Wyalong Police Station 001.JPG, West Wyalong Police Station File:West Wyalong Presbyterian Church.JPG, West Wyalong Presbyterian Church File:West Wyalong Presbyterian Manse.JPG, West Wyalong Presbyterian Manse File:West Wyalong RAAF Plane.JPG, RAAF Plane File:West Wyalong Roman Catholic Church 001.JPG, West Wyalong Roman Catholic Church File:West Wyalong Post Office 003.JPG, West Wyalong Post Office File:West Wyalong Rural Bank 001.JPG, West Wyalong Rural Bank File:West Wyalong Rural Bank Detail.JPG, West Wyalong Rural Bank File:West Wyalong Tailor Shop.JPG, Main Street File:West Wyalong Thom's Corner 001.JPG, Thom's Corner File:West Wyalong Memorial Literary Institute 001.JPG, Memorial Literary Institute File:West Wyalong Tattersalls Hotel 001.JPG, Tattersalls Hotel File:West Wyalong White Tank Hotel 001.JPG, White Tank Hotel File:West Wyalong Royal Hotel 001.JPG, Royal Hotel File:West Wyalong Post Office Hotel 001.JPG, Post Office Hotel File:West Wyalong Metropolitan Hotel 001.JPG, Metropolitan Hotel File:West Wyalong Globe Hotel 001.JPG, Globe Hotel File:West Wyalong Empire Hotel 001.JPG, Empire Hotel

Media

'' The West Wyalong Advocate'' newspaper is an independent publication, printed on Fridays. It also services nearby towns including Ungarie and Barmedman. 94.5 GOLD FM is West Wyalong's community radio station. It is an independent not-for-profit community broadcaster founded in 2001. ''West Wyalong Movies'' is a project by Ross Harmer aimed at documenting the history of West Wyalong and The Bland Shire.

Surrounding towns

References

External links

Bland Shire Council
{{authority control Towns in New South Wales Towns in the Central West (New South Wales) Newell Highway