Wallacia, New South Wales

Infobox Australian Place | type = suburb
name = Wallacia
city = Sydney
state = NSW


caption =
lga = Penrith City Council
lga2 = Wollondilly Shire Council
postcode = 2745
est = 1906
pop =
area =
propval =
stategov = Mulgoa
fedgov = Lindsay
near-nw = Mulgoa
near-n = Mulgoa
near-ne = Luddenham
near-w = "Megalong Valley"
near-e = Luddenham
near-sw = Warragamba
near-s = Silverdale
near-se = Greendale
dist1 = 68
dir1 = west
location1= Sydney CBD

Wallacia is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Wallacia is located 68 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of the City of Penrith and Wollondilly Shire Council. It is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.

Landmarks

Wallacia is a rural area that is popular with tourists. Landmarks include The Weir and Wallacia Bridge on the Nepean River, Little Bondi and Wallacia Pub - mock Tudor design by the Fowler family. It is also the first place in Australia to introduce a fish ladder next to a weir. Wallacia was once home to Bullen's Animal World, a theme park and circus, for several decades. Wallacia's iconic places

History

Wallacia takes its name from the Wallace family that lived in this area.

European Settlement

Originally the region was called Riverview, but later became known locally as Wallace after Robert Wallace who grazed cattle on the 2000 acres that he rented from Sir Charles Nicholson. His house became the unofficial Post Office from November 1885, situated at the rear of what is now the Wallacia Store and Newsagents. By 1897, a school built in the area was known as Wallace School. When the Post Office became official in November 1905, the G.P.O. named the area Boondah, as the name Wallace was already in use elsewhere in New South Wales. However, local people objected and to retain the link with Wallace, they suggested that the area be called Wallacia. This name was officially approved on 1 June, 1906.

The region was chiefly one of dairying and grazing during the nineteenth century, but in the early twentieth century - because of its rural atmosphere and proximity to Sydney - tourism developed as people opened their homes as guest houses. After the Second World War however, the increase in car ownership and the availability of air travel saw a decline in the local tourist trade. Today Wallacia’s tourism is centred on the day-tripper trade with the Wallacia Hotel and the Wallacia Golf Course the chief attractions. Growth in the area in the past few years has mainly occurred with the development of hobby farms by people seeking a retreat from city life.

To celebrate the centenary in 2006, the suburb had a parade, with floats including Local Anglican Churches, line dancing and vintage trucks.

External links

* [http://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/index.asp?id=969 Penrith Local Suburb Profiles]