Kyalite, New South Wales

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


caption = Wakool Hotel at Kyalite
lga = Balranald Shire Council, Wakool Shire Council
postcode = 2734
pop = 78 (within 7 km radius) [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/AS/2/Kyalite.html www.fallingrain.com/world/AS/2/Kyalite] ]
est =
elevation= 68
maxtemp =
mintemp =
rainfall =
county = Caira
stategov = Murray-Darling
fedgov =
dist1 = 37
location1= Balranald
dist2 = 21
location2= Tooleybuc

Kyalite is a village community on the Wakool River, 37 kilometres south of Balranald, in the Riverina district of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Balranald Shire Council. Kyalite was formerly known as Wakool Crossing.

History

Wakool Crossing

The village of Wakool Crossing (the site of present-day Kyalite) was founded by Henry Talbett, who in about 1848 established a punt service across the Wakool River at the location. When he became established Talbett brought out his family from Ireland, including his parents and siblings. His brother John came to Wakool Crossing with his family and assisted Henry Talbett to construct an inn and a general store on land Henry had purchased near his punt. [Feldtmann, Arthur, "The Balranald Story", 1976 (a souvenir of the 'Back to Balranald' celebration - 28 September to 5 October 1976).]

In 1854 John Talbett was the licensee of the Wakool Inn. [Butts and Certificates of Publicans' Licenses.]

In 1860 Henry Talbett was the licensee of the Wakool Inn. [Butts and Certificates of Publicans' Licenses.]

Henry Talbett held the license of the Wakool Hotel between 1865 to at least 1870. In 1882 Talbett sold the hotel to Thomas Spinks who held the license until 1889. In 1890 the publican of the Wakool Hotel was John James, and from 1891 to 1893 it was John Spinks (possibly Thomas’ brother). The original hotel was burnt down and re-built in the 1890s by Thomas Spinks (possibly in the period 1891-3). [Lists of Hotel Licensees, "NSW Government Gazettes"; Feldtmann, "op. cit".]

Burke and Wills

On 13 September 1860 the Burke and Wills expedition to the Gulf of Carpentaria arrived at Wakool Crossing and dined at Henry Talbett's hotel. The next day they crossed the Wakool River by Talbett’s punt and Burke paid £9.6.0 “for portage, provisions &c.”. [Despatch written by Robert O'Hara Burke (expedition leader) from Balranald, 16 September 1860.]

Later developments

In 1976 Kyalite was described in the following terms: “It… consists of a Post Office, Public Hall, General Store (with petrol pumps), Hotel, tennis courts, cricket oval, about five private houses and has 66 persons on the Electoral Roll”. [Feldtmann, "op. cit".]

References