Warragamba, New South Wales

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Warragamba
state = NSW


caption =
lga = Wollondilly Shire Council
postcode = 2752
est =
pop =
area =
propval =
stategov = Wollondilly
fedgov = Hume
near-nw = "Megalong Valley"
near-n = "Megalong Valley"
near-ne = Wallacia
near-w = "Megalong Valley"
near-e = Wallacia
near-sw = Silverdale
near-s = Silverdale
near-se = Silverdale
dist1 =
location1= Sydney

Warragamba is a town in New South Wales, Australia, in Wollondilly Shire. Located on the eastern edge of the Blue Mountains, Warragamba is one and a half hour's drive west of Sydney. The name Warragamba comes from the aboriginal words "Warra" and "Gamba" meaning water running over rocks. [ [http://www.warragambaparish.org.au/includes/history_page.htm Warragamba Parish History] ]

History

In 1804, George William Evans discovered the Warragamba River, penetrating upstream to the present site of Warragamba Dam. [ [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010343b.htm Evans, George William (1780 - 1852) Biographical Entry - Australian Dictionary of Biography] ]

Originally constructed as a workers' settlement during the construction of Warragamba Dam, Sydney's primary water source, in the 1940's the modern town of Warragamba remains on the same site adjacent the dam. The town was built from scratch, including homes, shops, schools and other facilities.

On completion of the dam being built many workers bought their homes from the Water Board and stayed on in the township. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/hindsight/index/subjects_History_-_20th_Century_2006.htm A Valley Lost - Building Warragamba] ] Warragamba Public School celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in September 1998 despite the fact it was to be demolished after the completion of Warragamba Dam in the 1960's. [ [http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.nsf/V3Key/LA19980923013 WARRAGAMBA PUBLIC SCHOOL FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY] ]

Warragamba is unusual for an Australian town, as the streets do not have typical names, but are numbered (such as First Street and Eighteenth Street).

Ongoing dam works (including recent safety improvements) have severely reduced weekend visitors. The town also suffered a loss of 30 homes and businesses in the Warragamba Bushfire of 2001. It was home to African Lion Safari till 1991.

A new Warragamba Dam Visitor Centre and Haviland Park will be opening by the end of this year (2008). There will be a view of the water in the Dam from the Visitor Centre. It will be a great place for visitors

Location

References

External links

[http://www.warragamba.net.au Warragamba Website - Local and Tourist Information]