Wilcannia

Wilcannia
New South Wales

Central Darling Council Chambers
Wilcannia
Coordinates 31°33′25″S 143°22′45″E / 31.55694°S 143.37917°E / -31.55694; 143.37917Coordinates: 31°33′25″S 143°22′45″E / 31.55694°S 143.37917°E / -31.55694; 143.37917
Population 604 (2011 census)[1]
Established 1866
Postcode(s) 2836
Elevation 75.0 m (246 ft)
Location
LGA(s) Central Darling Shire
County Young County
State electorate(s) Barwon
Federal Division(s) Parkes[2]
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
26.6 °C
80 °F		 12.0 °C
54 °F		 263.9 mm
10.4 in

Wilcannia is a small town located within the Central Darling Shire in north western New South Wales, Australia. This was the third largest inland port in the country during the great river boat era of the mid-19th century.[3] At the 2011 census, Wilcannia had a population of 604.[1]

History

The name Wilcannia is said to be derived from an Aboriginal term for either 'gap in the bank where floodwaters escape' or 'wild dog'. Neither meaning has been linguistically verified.[3]

In 1835, explorer Major Thomas Mitchell was the first European to the region, in which he traced the Darling River to what is now Menindee.[4] In June 1866, the township of Wilcannia was proclaimed.[4] In 1871, the population was 264, and grew to 1,424 by 1881.[5] During the 1880s, Wilcannia reached its peak, and had a population of 3000 and 13 hotels and its own newspaper,[4] the Western Grazier. It was, with Wentworth, Echuca, Mannum and Goolwa, one of the major Murray-Darling river ports which played a vital part in the transport of goods, notably wool and wheat, in the days of the paddle-steamers.

Geography

Wilcannia is located where the Barrier Highway crosses the Darling River, 965 kilometres (600 mi) from Sydney. The environment is borderline semi-arid to desert with an annual rainfall of 255 millimetres (10.0 in). Wilcannia is located within the Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion (IBRA classification, Department of Environment), consisting of landscapes adapted to flooding. Common species include River Red Gum, Yellow Box, Oldman Saltbush and Lignum.

The surrounding area is very sparsely settled by pastoralists who have large land holdings, used primarily to run sheep. These holdings fall in the Western Division and the majority are held as 99-year leases.

Climate

Wilcannia has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and mild to cool winters. Mean maximum daily temperature in summer is 34 °C and in winter is 19 °C. The highest temperature recorded in Wilcannia was 50.0 °C (122.0 °F) on 11 January 1939.[6] This was during the severe heatwave of January 1939.

Climate data for Wilcannia (Reid Street)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 48.2
(118.8)		 47.1
(116.8)		 44.4
(111.9)		 38.4
(101.1)		 31.3
(88.3)		 29.3
(84.7)		 30.6
(87.1)		 32.4
(90.3)		 39.4
(102.9)		 40.7
(105.3)		 45.2
(113.4)		 46.8
(116.2)		 48.2
(118.8)
Average high °C (°F) 35.4
(95.7)		 34.6
(94.3)		 31.3
(88.3)		 26.2
(79.2)		 21.2
(70.2)		 17.7
(63.9)		 17.1
(62.8)		 19.5
(67.1)		 23.5
(74.3)		 27.4
(81.3)		 31.2
(88.2)		 33.9
(93)		 26.6
(79.9)
Average low °C (°F) 19.8
(67.6)		 19.3
(66.7)		 16.2
(61.2)		 11.7
(53.1)		 7.9
(46.2)		 5.4
(41.7)		 4.2
(39.6)		 5.6
(42.1)		 8.4
(47.1)		 12.2
(54)		 15.6
(60.1)		 18.2
(64.8)		 12.0
(53.6)
Record low °C (°F) 9.2
(48.6)		 8.8
(47.8)		 6.4
(43.5)		 1.8
(35.2)		 −2.5
(27.5)		 −2.8
(27)		 −5.0
(23)		 −3.3
(26.1)		 −0.5
(31.1)		 3.4
(38.1)		 3.9
(39)		 8.4
(47.1)		 −5.0
(23)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 25.9
(1.02)		 26.5
(1.043)		 24.7
(0.972)		 17.1
(0.673)		 23.6
(0.929)		 22.2
(0.874)		 18.4
(0.724)		 17.5
(0.689)		 15.9
(0.626)		 25.2
(0.992)		 20.9
(0.823)		 26.0
(1.024)		 263.9
(10.39)
Average precipitation days 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.7 4.1 4.6 4.4 4.2 3.4 4.0 3.4 3.2 42.5
Source: Bureau of Meteorology[7]

Significant Weather

On 9 November 1950, a severe thunderstorm with damaging winds and large hail the size of cricket balls struck the town. Two people were injured, dozens of homes lost their roofs and nearly every house in town was damaged due to the large hail.[8]

Demography

From the 2011 Census, Wilcannia had a population of 604 with 466 (77%) people being of Aboriginal descent. Wilcannia has 211 private dwellings.[1] The suburb was listed as one of the most socially disadvantaged areas in the State according to the 2015 Dropping Off The Edge report.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "2011 Census QuickStats – Wilcannia (Urban Centre/ Locality)". Australian Bureau of Statistics. October 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "Profile of the electoral division of Parkes (NSW)". Australian Electoral Commission. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Wilcannia". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
  4. 1 2 3 "Wilcannia – Culture and History". Fairfax Media. November 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  5. ↑ "NSW 1881 census page vii". Australian National University. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  6. ↑ "Year Book Australia 2009–10" (PDF). Australian Bureau of Statistics. p. 97. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  7. ↑ "Wilcannia (Reid St)". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  8. ↑ "Hurricane And Hail Storm Lashes Far-western Town.". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 10 November 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  9. ↑ Taylor, Josie; Branley, Alison. "Dropping Off The Edge: Select suburbs stuck in cycle of disadvantage with little being done to help, report shows". ABC News. Retrieved 25 July 2015.

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