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Wilcannia, New South Wales

Wilcannia
New South Wales
WilcanniaCouncil.JPG
Central Darling Council Chambers
Wilcannia is located in New South Wales
Wilcannia
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)
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
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. At the 2011 census, Wilcannia had a population of 604.

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.

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. In June 1866, the township of Wilcannia was proclaimed. In 1871, the population was 264, and grew to 1,424 by 1881. During the 1880s, Wilcannia reached its peak, and had a population of 3000 and 13 hotels and its own newspaper, 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.

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.


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