Walcha, New South Wales

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Walcha
state = nsw


caption = Derby Street, Walcha
lga = Walcha Shire
county = Vernon
parish = Walcha
postcode = 2354
est = 1852
pop = 1,623 ⁽²⁰⁰⁶⁾
elevation= 1067.0
maxtemp = 19.2
mintemp = -2.2
rainfall = 808.0
fedgov = New England
stategov = Tamworth
dist1 = 425
location1= Sydney Walcha (pronounced "wolka") is a town and parish at the south-eastern edge of the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia.

It serves as the seat of Walcha Shire. The town is located 425 km by road from Sydney at the intersection of the Oxley Highway and Thunderbolts Way. The Apsley River passes through the town to tumble over the Apsley Falls before joing the Macleay River further on. Originally the river caused flooding in the town prior to a levee bank being constructed and saving the town from more floods.

The district population is approximately 3,304 (2006), cite web
publisher = Australian Bureau of Statistics
title=Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2004-05
url = http://abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/3218.0Main%20Features22004-05?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3218.0&issue=2004-05&num=&view=
accessdate = 2006-12-03 ] with 1,623 in the township (2006). cite web
publisher = Australian Bureau of Statistics
title=Walcha (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)
work=2001 Census QuickStats
url = http://www8.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?locationLastSearchTerm=Walcha&locationSearchTerm=Walcha&newarea=UCL179800&submitbutton=View+QuickStats+%3E&mapdisplay=on&areacode=UCL179800&geography=&method=&productlabel=&producttype=QuickStats&navmapdisplayed=true&javascript=true&breadcrumb=PL&topholder=0&leftholder=0&currentaction=104&action=401&textversion=false&subaction=1
accessdate = 2007-02-08 ] As the Main North railway line is located some distance away, a separate village called Walcha Road serves as the railhead. This is served by the daily Countrylink Xplorer service between Sydney and Armidale. The railway line was built at Walcha Road, because it was the closest point they could get to the town, due to the steep climb over the Great Dividing Range.

The clear mountain climate here has an average temperature range from -2.0 to 11.9 °C in winter (July) to 11.8 - 25.3 °C in summer (January). Average annual rainfall is about 808 mm and snow is not unusual.

History

The area is thought to have been occupied by the Ngayaywana and Dyangadi Aborigines prior to white settlement. In 1818, John Oxley became the first white person to discover the area and the falls which were later to be named Apsley Falls.

Hamilton Collins Sempill was the first settler in the New England area when he took up the 'Wolka' run in 1832, establishing slab huts where 'Langford' now stands. Other early runs around the district were Bergen-op-Zoom (1834), Ohio (1836), Europambela (c.1836), Surveyor’s Creek (1836), Emu Creek (c.1837), Ingalba (1837), Orandumbie (1837), Tiara (1837) and Winterbourne (1837). A severe depression during 1841 to 1843, and low demand for wool created hardship for many of these early settlers. In 1848 Walcha run is recorded as being 64,000 acres and in the lease of David Lanarch. During 1854 Walcha was sold to Rundle and Dangar who held the mortgage for Jamison and Connal. [Donald, J.Kay, Exploring the North Coast and New England, Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst, 1978, ISBN 0864171218] Later John Fletcher acquired Walcha and moved from Branga Plains to Oorundumby. After being sold in 1905, Oorundumby was resumed for soldier settlement in 1947 and subdivided into 22 holdings.

A ‘wool’ road to Port Macquarie (the Oxley Highway) was under construction in 1842 for the transportation of wool from New England to the coast. A postal service was established in 1851, bringing the mail from Macdonald River (now Bendemeer). Walcha was gazetted as a village site in 1852, when town allotments were sold, with annual sales following. At that time there was a blacksmith's, a store and a flour mill. A Catholic chapel was erected in 1854, a police station and the first Presbyterian church in 1857 and the Walcha National School in 1859.

In 1861 the population was recorded at 355 and the Anglican church was built in 1862 of stone taken from the demolished homestead, 'Villa Walcha', erected on the Wolka run in the 1840s. The old church has fine stained-glass windows which bear tribute to some of the town's pioneers.

Numbers dropped in the 1860s but the town soon began to grow for two reasons: firstly, cedar-getters were active in the area's rainforests by about 1870. Gold was discovered near Walcha in the 1870s at Glen Morrison, Tia, The Cells River and Nowendoc. Antimony, copper, graphite, manganese, silver and high quality slate was also mined in the district.

On 5 April 1878 Walcha was proclaimed a town, when it was gazetted, the boundaries defined and a courthouse was built. A rail link to Sydney and Uralla opened at Walcha Road in 1882. The town became a municipality in 1889. On 19 March 1890 the Walcha Pastoral & Agricultural Association was formed. This annual show has excellent exhibits of livestock, produce, vegetables, flowers, wool and handicrafts. Walcha Cottage Hospital founded in 1890 and was situated on the southern hill in South street. The Shire of Apsley was constituted by proclamation on 7 March 1906. It is in the counties of Vernon, Hawes, and Inglis and comprises about 60 parishes. The area is 1,605,590 acres. The Shire of Walcha was constituted by the Union of the Municipality and the Shire of Apsley as from on 1 June 1955.

Other district villages are: Niangala, Nowendoc and Woolbrook with settlements at Brackendale, Glen Morrison, Ingalba, Tia and Yarrowitch.

History was made at Walcha in 1950 when a Tiger Moth was the first aircraft used to spread superphosphate by air in Australia. The ‘super’ was dropped on “Mirani” and other landholders soon followed suit to greatly increase the stock carrying capacity of the district.

During 2008 Walcha recorded the one of the state's highest rises in property values at 20 per cent over the last 5 years, according to a report from Australian Property Monitors. [Walcha News, Walcha Property Amongst the Best in NSW, 15 May 2008]

The Australian Heritage listing of Walcha places, buildings and objects of natural, indigenous and historic significance:
* Apsley Gorge National Park (1977 boundary), Oxley Highway
* Betts Farm, Irish Town, Thunderbolts Way.
* Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves (Hastings-Macleay Group)
* Europambela Homestead including outbuildings, grounds and Cemetery, Moona Plains Road.
* Langford Homestead, Garden and Cemetery, Nowendoc Rd
* Ohio Homestead, Ohio Road
* Rowleys Creek Gulf Nature Reserve.
* St Andrews Anglican Church (former), South Street.
* St Andrews Rectory (former) including Garden and Trees, Fitzroy St
* St Pauls Presbyterian Church and Fletcher Memorial Hall, Hill St
* The Hole Creek Nature Reserve (1977 boundary), Winterbourne Rd
* Walcha Courthouse, Apsley Street.

Demographics

The population of Walcha is overwhelmingly Christian (80.4%) and Australian-born (90.6%).The median age of 42 years is slightly older than the Australian average of 37. Less than one third (31.9%) of Walcha residents are over the age of 55, compared to a national average of 24%. [2006 Census QuickStats : Walcha (A) (Local Government Area): [http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?locationLastSearchTerm=walcha&locationSearchTerm=walcha&newarea=LGA17850&submitbutton=View+QuickStats+%3E&mapdisplay=on&collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=LGA17850&geography=&method=Place+of+Usual+Residence&productlabel=&producttype=QuickStats&topic=&navmapdisplayed=true&javascript=true&breadcrumb=PL&topholder=0&leftholder=0&currentaction=104&action=401&textversion=false&subaction=1] ]

Industries

Walcha is known as the "Pasture Wonderland" as the dominant industry in the area is livestock grazing along with an expanding timber industry. The district usually runs about 937,241 sheep [New England County Information, Summerland Printers, Ballina, NSW ] (mostly Merinos) and around 85,500 stud and commercial beef cattle. Livestock produced in the Walcha district is some best in the country and local superfine wool has been acknowledged as some of the best in the world. There are also several large trucking businesses, a communications business, along with an engineering business. All regular retail services are also available in the town.

ervices

* A modern hospital was opened in 2007 to replace the old one.
* There is a modern Central School, a Catholic primary school and a pre-school.
* Two full time doctors have surgeries in the town.
* Aged Care-permanent and respite services are available at the Riverview Hostel.
* Ambulance Station with two full-time Ambulance Officers in attendance. The Shire is also serviced by the Angel 3 Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service which is based in Tamworth.
* Community Nurse
* Police Station - (3 policemen). A local Court House which is open every Thursday.
* State Emergency Services have a brigade in Walcha.
* Walcha and surrounding districts are serviced by the NSW Rural Fire Service and a Brigade of Volunteers run the local Fire Station.
* Walcha Home and Community Care Service

Attractions

Natural attractions abound in the area and include the Apsley Falls located about 20 kilometres east of Walcha just off the Oxley Highway. The first drop of the Falls is about 85 metres in depth, and the second, about half a mile further on, drops around 65 metres to the bottom of the gorge. Walcha is the southern gateway to the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park and Werrikimbe National Park, which are registered with Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves (CERRA). Composing of mainly scenic gorge country, 900 km² of it, part of it is listed on the register of World Heritage sites in recognition of its importance to nature conservation.

Walcha has four Churches representing the (Catholic, Anglican, and Presbyterian) denominations. There are many other tourist attractions including scenic 4WD trips, hiking, the State Forests, fishing, the unique Open Air Gallery, fossicking opportunities, Amaroo Museum & Cultural Centre, Pioneer Cottage museum and the local history archives.

The Walcha Jockey Club, Walcha Rodeo, Walcha Show Society and the Campdraft Club hold large annual events that extend over several days each. The New England Merino Field days which display local studs, wool and sheep are held every two years. A biennial Timber Expo was established to showcase the local timber industry. There are numerous other sporting and general interest clubs in the town.

Notable people from Walcha

* Peter Fenwicke, rugby union player [ [http://www.scrum.com/1200_1205.php?player=21882&includeref=dynamic Peter Fenwicke] Retrieved on 2 September 2008] captained the Australian team on its first world tour in 1957-58.
* Goodwin brothers, Paul, Maurice, Noel and Brian along with Bob Gill and John Nixon were part of the highly successful Walcha and New England polocrosse team, whose wins included the NSW championships (twice) and Australian championships (as the first club team to do so) in 1962. [Maitland Mercury, 6 August 1962]
* John Heffernan, writer [ [http://www.spudplus.com/ John Heffernan] Retrieved on 2 September 2008]
* Sam Payne, former Australia national rugby union team ("Wallaby") halfback [ [http://tamworth.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/other/walcha-welcomes-home-former-wallaby/653942.aspx NDL Walcha welcomes home former Wallaby] Retrieved on 2 September 2008]
* Norman Roy held the NSW boxing title on two occasions.
* Mrs Esther Stace, who jumped 6 ft 6 inches, an unbroken world record in sidesaddle show jumping.
*Casey Stoner, Grand Prix motorcyclist (1985-); 2008 Young Australian of the Year.
* Dudley Towers represented NSW and Queensland in Rugby League as well as being one top runners in Australia.Hogan, EL, et al, Where They Grow Old Gracefully, Walcha District Hospital, 1992, ISBN 0 646 100 327]
* Siblings, Graham and Kathryn Watts placed first and second in the World Bowhunting Championships in Sweden in 1984.

Walcha residents who have been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) are:
* Ruth Louise Cotterill, in recognition of service to the community
* Cecily Faith Hoare for service to the community of Port Macquarie
* Erle Lewis Hogan for service to the community
* Irene Doris Hoy for community service and also awarded the Australian Sports Medal
* Lindsay Edward McMillan for service to veterans and to the community.
* Stuart Norman Nivison for service to horse racing
* Jillian Anne Munro Nivison Oppenheimer for service to heritage conservation and the environment, particularly through the National Trust of Australia.

Citations

References

"A Warm Welcome to Walcha 'the Pasture Wonderland of Australia'"

Southern New England, November 1911

External links

* [http://www.nnsw.com.au/apsleyfalls/index.html Information about Apsley Falls]
* [http://www.walchansw.com.au/ Discover Walcha]
* [http://wikitravel.org/en/Walcha Walcha] Walcha in Brief http://www.walcha.nsw.gov.au/files/1009/File/NewResidentInfo2.pdf

Images from around Walcha