In the midst of this ongoing conflict, new land was made available in the Wyangala area by the colonial government. In 2015, village residents created a working group to launch a campaign to attract new students to the school, this campaign has continued until the present. Parents, carers and the community. Housing for the workers and their families was provided in temporary demountable dwellings within the village. Wednesday, March 30, 2016 - 04:14. The small settlement of Wyangala, located downstream of the dam wall, was established to house workers during the dam construction. Students come from the nearby rural area, the villages of Wyangala and Darbys Falls, and the Mt McDonald hamlet. LachlanPaul. The unrelenting tide of Europeans overwhelmed the indigenous population, resulting in the occupation of traditional lands, the destruction of sacred sites, and perhaps most damaging of all, the introduction of new diseases. This new policy was to coincide with a significant upgrade and increase in height of the Dam wall. The median rent in Wyangala is $100 per week and the median mortgage repayment is $910 per month. News. The surface area of Lake Wyangala is 5,390 ha (13,300 acres) and the catchment area is 8,300 km2 (3,200 sq mi). The name 'Wyangala' (pronounced /ˈwaɪæŋɡɑːlə/)[6] originates from a Wiradjuri word of unknown meaning. [78], The difference in precipitation between the driest month and the wettest month is 17.5 mm (0.69 in). However, in the same area, there was a scattered pioneering settlement known as Wyangala Flats, which was established in the 1840s. [82] This announcement angered locals, as they believed the implications of such a change had not been considered. [98], As of October 2019, A$650 million has been allocated to raising the dam wall by the previously suggested height of 10 m (33 ft). [14], The conflict with the Wiradjuri people lessened by the 1850s, as gold mining and free selection brought new settlers to the area. [31] In the words of a district resident. Location and transport. No facilities or services. It also supports irrigated agriculture across the valley around Cowra, Forbes, Condobolin and Hillston. SEARs SEARs Prepare EIS Prepare EIS Arrange Exhibition Arrange Exhibition It lies in an area known as the South West Slopes, a region extending from north of Cowra, through southern New South Wales, and down into western Victoria. This recommendation was accepted by most locals as the only viable option, even though there was dissent from people affected by the new road and bridge. Estimated cost. wyangala Backwaters camping 2.jpg. As with the village school, it was originally located near the present-day country club, opposite the bowling green. It generates an average output of 42.9 gigawatt-hours (154 TJ) per annum. [26], Throughout the subsequent years, the village post office became an integral part of the Wyangala community, providing the expected postal and, at times, banking services (as an agent for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia). Gallery. The Fishing Club (Wyangala Danglers) has regular events and fishing competitions throughout the year, including inter-club competitions. The unemployment rate is 6.2%, 0.7% below the national average of 6.9%. It will also raise the spillway and intake towers of the dam by 10 metres. The telephone exchange was automated in the late 1980s and the post office itself was closed in 1998. The Wiradjuri were the original inhabitants of the Lachlan Valley, with campsites along river flats, on open land and by rivers. Its members suggested the money should be spent on clearing siltation to extend the current dam’s “useful life”. The Wyangala Country Club, on the hillside opposite the village, has one restaurant, the Country Club Bistro, in addition to having a bar and entertainment facilities. The dam was built by the New South Wales Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission to supply water for irrigation, flood mitigation and potable water for the towns of Cowra, Forbes, Parkes, Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo, Euabalong and Euabalong West. It warned, though, that “the scale of the scheme as an infrastructure project is immense”. [26] In 1902 the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales recognised the need for water conservation. However, the find was not significant enough to see commercial interest. Rules and policies. In July, the average temperature falls to 7.9 °C (46.2 °F), the lowest average temperature of the whole year. His final robbery, which also was to be his greatest haul, occurred in 1862 at Eugowra Rocks. [56], In August 2013 Wyangala Cricket Oval was officially renamed Matt Morrison Oval, in honour of Matt Morrison who had died earlier in the year. The Wiradjuri people and European settlement, "Elevation of 12 13 Winga Road Wyangala NSW 2808", "Indigenous objects from Peak Hill, NSW – The Australian Museum", Geographical Names Board of New South Wales, "Sydney Aboriginal Languages and Computing", "Journals of Two Expeditions into the Interior of New South Wales, by John Oxley", "South Western Slopes – regional history", "MOUNT MACDONALD GOLDFIELD, NEW SOUTH WALES", The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser, "Wyangala Dam Constructed on the Lachlan River", Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, "Anglican News: Reporting for the Church in Western New South Wales", "Wyangala Dam—Tourist Resort of the Central West? [58] Locals congregate at the club for regular sports club meetings, for discussion forums addressing important village issues, and for other community activities. [92] Visitors were also banned from carting in their own fuel until a storage and management solution was devised, forcing them to refuel at nearby Cowra. What we offer. This unexpected announcement by the Park resulted in an extensive campaign to save the slides.[87]. [22] Frank Gardiner was one of the most successful bushrangers of the time. [70] The area accounted for 14% of the state's agricultural production in 2005. Both have seating capacities for tens of participants. However, as of June 2014, vehicle access was closed following the completion of an alternative access road (Trout Farm Road) and bridge downstream of the village. Although most of the gold mining activity was limited to Mount McDonald, alluvial gold and precious gems were also found along the banks of the Lachlan River at Wyangala in the early 1900s. [27][28] These early discussions eventually led to the construction of the 1935 dam and the beginnings of present-day Wyangala village. The Golf Club, on the other hand, has occasional challenges and events during the year; and the Bowling Club holds regular casual meetings. The tranquillity of Reflections Holiday Parks Wyangala Waters makes it the perfect spot to … Through the spring and summer seasons, Lake Wyangala is also used for various water sports, such as canoeing, jet-skiing, sailing, swimming and water skiing. An increase in the dam storage capacity of 53 percent will result in a significant improvement in drought resilience, water security, flood attenuation … This was never to happen, as Gardiner was eventually exiled to the United States after being sent to prison. [1], The dam wall constructed with 3,580 m3 (126,000 cu ft) of rockfill and a clay core is 85 m (279 ft) high and 1,370 m (4,490 ft) long. About our school. This school ran for six years and closed in 1913. I should think it will be a nice sight when completed. It is a zone folded and faulted with Early Silurian Wyangala Granite, which has intruded passively, deformed Ordovician greywackes and volcaniclastics. This major undertaking was not without incident. the township is progressing rapidly. This significant decline in numbers was attributed to the ageing population of the Wyangala community and the lack of any new young families within the village and surrounding area. However, evidence from the post mortem, conducted by Dr Mahon of Cowra, and that of another witness, indicated the wound could not be self-inflicted. The current Wyangala Dam wall dwarfs utility buildings at its base. [89][90][91], In May 2018, fuel supply services at Wyangala, along with several other inland waterways, were closed due to health and safety concerns and a need to upgrade existing facilities. In 2008, water entitlements were down to just 10 per cent of normal availability. Wyangala failed to hold the surging floodwaters of the devastating 1952 deluge, which was greater than any water mass it had been designed to withstand. [9] The Wyangala Station homestead site, which was originally settled by the Newham family, is under the water level and can only be seen when the dam is close to being dry. They include fragile, shallow stony soils on the steep slopes, to naturally acidic and sodic soils on the lower slopes. It is in the South West Slopes of New South Wales, Australia, and about 320 km (200 mi) west of the state capital, Sydney. [9] By the time Oxley had reached the Cumbung Swamp, he could advance no further due to the presence of 'impassable' marshland, eventually being forced to abandon the journey and to turn back. The club is a family-friendly establishment and children of all ages are most welcome under supervision. [52][53][54], The village has a small one-teacher primary school, Wyangala Dam Public School, located on Waugoola Rd. Enlargement work began in 1961 and finished in 1971. These skilled hunter-fisher-gatherers wore possum-skin cloaks and lived along river flats, on open ground and by rivers. Over 2000 guests and officials attended the ceremony. CABINS Room for days Wyangala Waters Holiday Park offers a range of cabins for those who prefer to travel light. [2] A 7.5 MW (10,100 hp) station was initially constructed below the dam wall and opened in 1947,[7][8] and the new facility, managed by Hydro Power Pty Ltd,[1] completed in 1992.[7]. [15][16][17], Gold mining was prevalent in the nearby Mount McDonald area in the late 1800s and early 1900s after two gold rich quartz reefs were discovered in 1880. [76][77], The local Wyangala landform is characterised by granite rock outcrops and large boulders, scattered throughout a hilly landscape. Flora and fauna found in and around the village include:[74][75][41], The aforementioned plant and animal species inhabit the geological subdivision known as the Lachlan Fold Belt. 50lb braid and one and a half rod lengths of 50lb fluorocarbon leader completes the outfit. As early as the mid 1930s, Wyangala was earmarked as a major tourist attraction and important fishing ground for the Lachlan Valley. Newsletter. [14], The ten-year, A£18 million enlargement project increased the storage capacity of the dam threefold. [88] No decision has been made regarding the future of the slides. [80] In addition, no damage or injuries were reported within the village or the State Park. Oxley believed he had reached a marshy inland sea, concluding that the interior of Australia was 'uninhabitable' and unfit for settlement. [1][2][3] The dam also provides water for a far larger area and operates in conjunction with Lake Brewster and Lake Cargelligo, to supply water to the lower Lachlan valley customers. They had friendly encounters with the Wiradjuri people, noting that the language they spoke was distinctly different from that used by the indigenous population on the coast. The Deputy Prime Minister (Member for Riverina) Michael McCormack said "the project was a significant investment for the future", helping secure water supplies during times of drought. Any decision by the NSW Department of Education and Training regarding the schools future is to be decided at some future date, not yet determined. [7] However, similar sounding words in the Wiradjuri language indicate it may mean troublesome or bad (wanggun) white (ngalar). The school emphasises environmental education and the creative arts. It runs through some wonderful scenery. Booking information. This decline in criminal activity coincided with a general push to populate the region, the introduction of telegraph communications, and the development of transport infrastructure.[25]. Two years later Evans and John Oxley, with Evans by his side, explored the Lachlan. Notably, there was an earlier school at Wyangala, which was established 22 years prior. The lake is a clean, clear vast expanse of water. WYANGALA. Council Harden Shire and Young Shire. Four men died during the construction of the dam, the first being Leslie Jeffrey, falling into the Lachlan River and drowning in 1929. "[96] The change in height will increase storage by 50% and provide increased capacity during flood events. These soils are prone to degradation issues, and are susceptible to erosion, nutrient loss and salinity. The Mayor of Hilltops Council Hilltops are the tops of Hills. Parent … [3], Archaeological investigations have identified over 200 Wiradjuri campsites around Wyangala, suggesting the native population in the area was originally high. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales, "Boost for Lachlan Valley water allocations", "Premier Kristina Keneally waives fees for water", "Wyangala Dam Hydro-electric Development (Construction) Act, 1945", "Wyangala Dam (Strengthening and Enlargement) Act, 1961", Guildford West pipehead and water supply canal, Double Bay Compressed Air Ejector Station, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wyangala_Dam&oldid=999790314, Hydroelectric power stations in New South Wales, Geographic Names Register of NSW same as Wikidata, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from July 2020, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage, Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board, This page was last edited on 11 January 2021, at 23:57. Major wetlands at the bottom of the Lachlan River like the Booligal system, the Cumbung system and even Lake Cowal and the Lachlan swamps will be damaged if the wall at Wyangala Dam is raised. Climate history. Wyangala Dam Public School is situated 40kms east of Cowra on the Lachlan River. [6] It is the only dam on the Lachlan River system,[1] which feeds the Murrumbidgee River, and in turn feeds the Murray River. [13] At this time and until the construction of the 1935 dam, the land at Wyangala was primarily used for wool production. [45], Postmasters/mistresses from the 1970s until closure, included:[45], Wyangala Dam Public School was established not long after the opening of the village post office, in 1929. UPGRADE LOOMING: Wyangala Dam wall is set to be raised. Wyangala Dam is located in the Lachlan Valley, near Cowra. In this instance, Gardiner along with Ben Hall, John Gilbert and others, robbed a 'gold escort' carrying in the range of £14,000–£22,000 in gold and cash. It says the Wyangala dam “has historically rarely filled to capacity”, with data showing it has done so just seven times since 1974. Although Wyangala grew substantially during periods of dam construction, the population dwindled in the subsequent years. The dam has an existing storage volume of 1,218 gigalitres. Attractions in the area include Lake Wyangala (used for power generation, water-sports and fishing activities), a nine-hole golf course, walking and mountain bike trails, and the 1.37 km (0.85 mi) long dam wall itself. [59], Wyangala has two conference venues, the first being the Vic Roworth Conference Center within the village, and the other being the community hall in Wyangala Waters State Park. The project would increase Wyangala Dam's storage capacity by 650 gigalitres through raising the dam wall by 10 metres to improve flood management and drought security. The flora, fauna and village residents occupy a hilly landscape dominated by granite, with large rock outcrops and boulders throughout the entire area. Their traditional way of life was altered, and perhaps lost, following the exploration of the valley by British explorers, John Oxley and George William Evans in 1815. 5 talking about this. The eight radial gates and concrete chute of the spillway are capable of discharging 14,700 m3/s (520,000 cu ft/s). It’s about the simple things here. The Assembly considered options to address the problem, including a proposal to build a reservoir at Wyangala. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, hydro-power, irrigation, water supply and conservation. [39] The total surface area of the upgraded reservoir was 5,390 ha (13,300 acres), storing 1,220,000 ML (43,000×10^6 cu ft) (two and a half times the volume of Sydney Harbour), within a catchment of 8,300 km2 (3,200 sq mi). [24] By the late 1800s improved police efficiency was bringing to a close the era of the bushranger, many of whom had been gaoled, exiled, shot or hanged. In the post-telegraph era, a manual telephone exchange was also located within the post office. [20] By January 1930 Wyangala had become a bustling center with 450 workers and their families in the village, and 74 children attending the new primary school. They were, and still remain, the largest indigenous group in New South Wales, with tribal lands encompassing the Macquarie, the Lachlan and the Murrumbidgee rivers. Five years after the heist, an Irishman arrived in New South Wales with a rough map marking the location of the gold, purportedly drawn by Gardiner. [1][2][3] A A$43 million upgrade of facilities commenced in 2009 and, when completed by 2016, is expected to result in the raising and locking of the spillway radial gates; raising of the spillway chute wall; and raising of the parapet wall crest.[4][5]. Wyangala Map.jpg. 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