New Residents Guide 2021 Welcome to Walgett Shire

Plains of Plenty  Ridges of Riches Welcome

From the Mayor:

The shire has an abundance of wildlife and flora on display, not to mention spectacular sunrises and brilliant sunsets to open and close your day.

My fellow councillors and I are a united team, working together for the betterment of our wonderful and diverse communities, and we are very proud of the Walgett Shire and its people.

Our passion and love for the shire makes for a healthy relationship, one that will take Council and its communities to bigger and better things in the coming years.

Our management executive team, led by General Manager, Mike Urquhart is focusing upon revitalizing the shire with Infrastructure asset management strategies, water plans, risk management, economic development, growing the tourism trade and upgrading our sporting facilities. Council is focusing its attention and resources on drought proofing the shire with either additional bores or off river storage projects.

Mayor Ian Woodcock TOWNS, VILLAGES, HAMLETS & RESERVES IN THE SHIRE

Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Collarenebri, Burren Junction, Cumborah, Carinda, Grawin/Sheepyards/Glengarry, Rowena, Come-By-Chance, Cryon, Pokataroo, Merrywinebone, Namoi, Gingie & Walli Aboriginal Reserves Council Meetings Council Meetings in 2021 Meetings will be held in the Council Chambers; 77 Fox Street Walgett NSW 2832 Council Meetings are scheduled at 11:00am on the fourth Tuesday of each month, except in January, when meetings may be scheduled, and in February and December, when the meeting will be on the third Tuesday.

Members of the public wishing to address the Public Forum are requested to fill the form or to contact Council by telephone or in person. Persons not registered to speak will not be able to address Council.

Councillors

Deputy Mayor Mayor Lawrence Walford Manuel Martinez Ian Woodcock Lightning Ridge Lightning Ridge Lightning Ridge 0439752372 0456292782 0417157558 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Jane Keir Bill Murray Michael Taylor Come-By-Chance Walgett Lightnin g Ridge 0427255268 0428253555 0427433231 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Kelly Smith Tanya Cameron Robbie Turnbull Collarenebri Rowena Lightning Ridge 0427459736 0429965229 0447725908 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] *ABS data as of 2016 WALGETT SNAPSHOT

Total Population Median Age 33 Male 50.6% 2145 Female 49.4%

Median House Price Average Summer Average Winter $180 000 Temp 34.5 Temp 18 Median House Rental $170 week

Average Yearly Rainfall Total land area in Walgett 244mm Shire 22 3300km²

WALGETT SHIRE SERVICES

Rubbish Collection:

Tuesday – Walgett, Gingie and Namoi Reserves Wednesday – Lightning Ridge and Cumborah Thursday – Collarenerbi, Walli Mission, Pokataroo, Merrywinebone, Rowena, and Burren Junction Friday – Carinda Landfills are located in Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Collarenebri, Rowena, Burren Junction, Come- By-Chance, Carinda, Glengarry and Grawin

Operating hours are: Walgett & L/Ridge 8.30am– 12pm 1pm– 4pm Burren Junction 8am– 4pm Mon to Friday 9am-4pm Saturday Collarenebri 8am– 4pm Mon to Fri 7am—12pm Sat & Sun Rowena, Come-By-Chance, Carinda, Grawin and Sheepyards open 24/7

Rates can be paid at Australia Post, BPAY, Eftpos, Mail, Direct Deposit or Centrepay. More information can be obtained by calling the Rates Clerk on 68286100 Roads—Road condition reports are available via Social Media or the Shire website. Maps of the roads and road surfaces are available on the Shire website. Pets— New residents, don’t forget to change your address with your dog or cat registration and microchip? You can do this online or by visiting the Shire.

Dogs and cats are by law supposed to be registered and microchipped. The Shire’s Regulatory Officer (Ranger) provides a range of services for the public. Duties include Companion Animal microchipping, free removal of unwanted pets and impounding of stray animals. The Regulatory Officer is also on call for emergency situations such as dogs attacking people or animals. The Police service also has the ability to deal with emergency situations. Other Regulatory Officer responsibilities include:

 Issue “on the spot” infringement notices for breaches of animal and pollution related offences.  Patrol of streets, laneways and public areas in respect of the administration of dog control and abandoned vehicles.  Investigate public complaints and take appropriate action. For all enquiries please phone Council’s Regulatory Officer (Ranger) on 0418 684 710 (follow the prompts after hours)

For more information contact Walgett Shire Council or visit the website Vet Services—North West Vets are based in Coonamble and have offices in Lightning Ridge and Walgett . They visit Walgett on Tuesdays and Thursday at 84 Fox St and Lighting Ridge on Wednesdays at 27 Gem St. They can be contacted on 68221381 Coonamble, 68283370 in Walgett and 68292199 in Lightning Ridge

Health Services . Burren Junction Community Care Service Lightning Ridge Community Health - Mondays, Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service (Wee Waa Community Care Service) Wednesdays & Fridays and drop in as required de- Clinic CWA Rooms - Burren Junction pending on availability. PO Box 396 Every Monday 10.00 – 2.00pm Available for school/TAFE/local GOV/ NGO’s edu- 37 Pitt Street ,Walgett NSW 2832 P: 02 6795 0400 cation and training around Sexual health, STI’s P: 02 6820 3777 prevention , Contraception ,Puberty and work- F: 02 6828 1201 Carinda Community Health shops – BOOKINGS ONLY E: [email protected] Mondays (ring Walgett Hospital) W: www.walgettams.com.au Hare Street United Hospital Auxiliary (UHA) Opening Hours: Carinda Marian Faulkner – Secretary Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm P: 02 6823 2201 M: 0488 792 130 Closed for lunch 1.00pm – 2.00pm W: www.uhansw.websyte.com.au Collarenebri Health Service (Hospital) Dental 37 Pitt Street, Walgett NSW 2832 Walgett Street Walgett Doctor's Surgery P: 02 6820 3736 PO Box 66 141 Fox Street, Walgett NSW 2832 F: 02 6828 1201 P: 02 67 564 888 P: 02 6828 2133

F: 02 6756 2282 F: 02 6828 2050 Goonimoo Mobile Children’s Services Community Nurse E: [email protected] Lot 1 Dundas Street P:02 67564 861 Opening Hours: Walgett NSW 2832 Aboriginal Health Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm P: 02 6820 3752 P: 02 6756 4862 Saturday 9.00am – 12.00pm F: 02 6828 2346 Meals on wheels W: www.rarms.com.au P: 02 6756 4888 MEDICAL CENTRE Walgett Pharmacy Doctor’s Reception 48 Fox Street, Walgett, NSW 2832 P: 02 6756 4830 P: 02 6828 1049 Fax: 02 6828 2879 Collarenebri Multi-Purpose Service (Part of [email protected] Western NSW Local Health District) Suzanne Mahoney – Health Service Manager Walgett Multi-Purpose Service 62 Walgett St, Collarenebri NSW 2833 141 Fox Street P: 02 6756 4800 Po Box 21, Walgett NSW 2832 F: 02 6756 2282 P: 02 6828 6000 [email protected] F: 02 6828 2194 *Private Medical Practice onsite E: [email protected] P: 02 6756 4830 Outback Wellness Clinic Collarenebri Pharmacy Address: LIGHTNING RIDGE 2A Wilson Street, Phone: 0438162182 Collarenebri NSW 2833 E-mail: [email protected] P/F: 02 6756 2288 Website: www.outbackwellness.com.au E: [email protected] Opening Hours: Contact: Mon to Fri 9.00am - 5:00pm Person- Sharyn McKay Position: Owner/Consultant Additional Contact information: Please phone and if Lightning Ridge Health Centre unattended leave a message 2/53 Morilla St, Brief Description: An effective Natural Health Therapy PO Box 1800 which helps you to overcome PAIN, STRESS & Lightning Ridge,NSW, 2834 LEARNING ISSUES, that may be impacting family P: 02 6829 1188 F: 02 6829 1198 life. W: www.rarms.com.au Non-invasive; Drug Free

Sexual Health Clinics Free confidential service offering testing, treatment & White's Pharmacy Lightning Ridge education. Rhonda White - Owner Kim Grant – Sexual Health Nurse PO Box 63 P: 02 6829 9900 19 Morilla Street, F: 02 6829 4946 Lightning Ridge NSW 2834 Walgett Hospital – Tuesday’s P: 02 6829 0370 rd Walgett AMS - 3 Thursday of each month. F: 02 6829 1372 st Collarenebri Hospital - 1 Monday of each month E: [email protected]

Parks, Pools & Sports grounds

Walgett Shire has numerous parks with great playgrounds, exercise equipment and public toilets. Swimming pools are located in Walgett, Lightning Ridge (water park, pool & indoor pool with Diving facilities), Carinda, Collarenebri and Burren Junction. Artesian Bore Baths are located in Walgett— Closed October to March Lightning Ridge—Open 24/7 Burren Junction—Closed October to March Recreational Facilities – each town in the Shire has excellent sporting facilities that cater for the full range of pursuits. These include:

 Golf Courses Outdoor netball/basketball  Sporting ovals Skate Parks  Bowling Greens Walking Tracks  Tennis Courts  Horse Racing Tracks  Pistol Club  Fishing

Library Information

You will be amazed at the range of materials that you can access free of charge including books, newspapers and magazines, DVD’s and audio books and if it is some- thing that we don’t have that you are looking for we can source it for you.

Also available are free programs and resources ranging from early childhood, community interest, recreational and art programs that cover a multitude of interests and topics suitable for everyone.

You can use our computers to access the internet and Microsoft Office, plus printing and scanning facilities are available for use at our locations. Free Wi-Fi is available at both of our branches

We provide free 24/7 access to our eResources including eBooks, eAudios, eMaga- zines , and other online resources.

Our friendly library staff will assist you with your application and issue you with your membership card, the entire process takes only a few minutes and you can en- joy all the benefits the library provides immediately. Drop in and have a chat to Cath or Sue in Walgett or Bozana or Joan in Lightning Ridge. Opening Hours and Contact Details Walgett Ph 0268286103 Email: [email protected] Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Lightning Ridge Ph: 0268290005 Email [email protected] Monday Closed Tuesday 9am -5:00pm Wednesday 1:30pm – 5:30pm

Thursday 1:30pm – 5:30pm Friday 9:00am – 2:00pm Saturday 9:30am – 1:30pm YOUTH SERVICES

Youth Centres operate in: Walgett in Pitt St Lightning Ridge located at Walanbaa Child & Family Centre in Pandora St Collarenebri in Earl St They offer after school programs from 3pm to 6pm ages 5 to 18 During School Holidays the Youth Centres as listed above as well as Grawin at the Club in the Scrub operate from 9am to 2pm and run a variety of activities from arts and craft, football, basketball, painting, colouring In. Youth and young people need to be enrolled with the Youth Centre to attend. Need more information please contact Sandra Bladen, Youth Development Officer on 02 68286126or [email protected]

PCYC Programs Friday Night We’re alright for ages 11-24 Active Kids Arvo—Colly, Walgett & Lightning Ridge Touch Football Competition Basketball Competition Mixed Blues Tag REAL Program—High School Aged Learn to Drive Program Blue Light Disco Fit For Life—Primary School Aged Fit Together For More information PCYC Coordinator 0429955937 or [email protected] EMERGENCY SERVICES Police, Fire, Ambulance & SES

Castlereagh Police Stations Fire & Rescue Station(s) State Emergency Service Units Walgett Walgett Fire Station Walgett State Emergency Service 57 Wee Waa Street 38 Pitt Street Unit WALGETT 2832 WALGETT NSW 2832 Euroka Street, WALGETT NSW P: 02 6820 3999 P: (02)6828 1068 2832 Open 24 hours P: 132 2500 Lighting Ridge Fire Station M: 0427 226 676 Lightning Ridge Pandora Street E: [email protected] Opal Street LIGHTNING RIDGE NSW 2834 LIGHTNING RIDGE 2834 P: (02) 6829 0303 Lightning Ridge State Emergency P: 02 6829 9799 Service Unit Not open 24 hours Walgett Ambulance Station 20 Pandora Street, LIGHTNING C/-Walgett District Hospital RIDGE 2834 Burren Junction 11 Fox Street, WALGETT NSW P: 132 2500 Alma Street 2832 M: 0429 453 359 BURREN JUNCTION 2386 Phone 131 233 E: [email protected] P: 02 6796 1358 P: (Health Services) 02 6828 1775 Not open 24 hours M: 0427 392 155 Collarenebri State Emergency E: [email protected] Service Carinda Cnr Herbert & George Streets, Hare Street Lighting Ridge Ambulance Sta- COLLARENEBRI NSW 2833 CARINDA 2831 tion Phone: (02) 6756 2208 P: 02 6823 2244 Mitchell McCabe – Station Officer Mobile: 0417 977 954 Not open 24 hours Pandora Street, E: [email protected] Lightning Ridge NSW 2834 Collarenebri P: 131 233 Carinda State Emergency Ser- Walgett and Earl Street E: [email protected] vice Unit COLLARENEBRI 2833 9 Readford Street, Warren NSW P: 02 6756 4999 Collarenebri Ambulance Station 2824 Not open 24 hours Walgett Street, Phone (02) 6823 2335 COLLARENEBRI NSW 2833 Mobile: 0427 017 547 P: 6756 2254 E: [email protected] M: 0413 998 740

All Emergencies

Triple Zero (000) Freecall

Schools, Pre-Schools & Day Care

Burren Junction Primary School Rowena Public School Alma Street Shaw Street Burren Junction NSW 2832 Rowena NSW 2832 (02) 67 961 458 (02) 67 965 145 [email protected] Fax : (02) 6796 5271 [email protected] Burren Junction Pre-School Alma Street Rowena Pre-School Inc., Burren Junction NSW 2832 2 Shaw Street, (02) 67 96 1245 Rowena NSW 2387 [email protected] (02)67965396 Carinda Primary School McNamara Street Bourke-Walgett School of Distance Education Carinda NSW 2832 (SODE) (02) 68 232 235 Primary (02) 68 281 374 Fax : (02) 68 23 2208 [email protected] [email protected]

Collarenebri Central School St Josephs Primary School (Catholic) High Street 82 Arthur Street Collarenebri NSW 2833 Walgett NSW 2832 (02) 67 562 204 (02) 68 281 060 Fax : (02) 67 56 2260 Fax : (02) 6828 1591 [email protected] [email protected] Collarenebri Pre-School High Street Walgett Community College (Primary) Collarenebri NSW 2833 Warrena Street (02) 67 562 093 Walgett NSW 2832 Fax : (02) 6756 2264 (02) 68 281 077

Coolibah Kids (Walgett Pre-School and Long Day Care Cen- Fax : (02) 6828 1939 tre) [email protected] PO Box 97 Walgett NSW 2832 Walgett Community College(Secondary) (02) 68 283 387 Arthur Street (02) 68 283 397 Walgett NSW 2832 [email protected] (02) 68 281 022 Koolyangara Aboriginal Pre-School Fax : (02) 68 28 1994 Cedar Street [email protected] Walgett NSW 2832 (02) 68 281 759 Walgett Primary School Pre-School koolyangara2832@bigpond (Birralegal) Lightning Ridge Central School Peel Street Kaolin Street Walgett NSW 2832 Lightning Ridge NSW 2832 (02) 68 290 511 (02) 68 28 2841 Fax : (02) 6829 0137 Contact Details [email protected] TAFE NSW Lightning Ridge Pre-School Pandora Street Walgett Campus Lightning Ridge NSW 2834 (02) 68 290 626 (fax same) Arthur St WALGETT Little Diggers Child Care Centre Ph: 131601 68286200 24 Kaolin Street Lightning Ridge Campus Lightning Ridge NSW 2832 (02) 68 292 929 Kaolin St Fax : (02) 6829 2928 Lightning Ridge Ph: 131601 68299800

Local artist Frank Dhinawan Wright and his “Meeting of the Two Rivers” Centrelink Thursday & Friday 9:00am to 12:00 Corner Fox & Euroka Street & 12:30 to 3:00pm

PO Box 34, Walgett NSW 2832 North West Local Land Services Contact Numbers: 75 Fox Street PO Box 32 Walgett NSW 2832 General: 13 24 68 P: 02 6828 6400 Self Service: 136240 P: 1300 795 299 Families: 13 61 50 F: 02 6828 1507 Disability, Sickness & Carers: 13 27 17 E: [email protected] BasicsCard: 1800 057 111 W: www.northwest.lls.nsw.gov.au Job Active: 13 62 68 Job Seekers: 13 28 50 Public Transport Youth Allowance: 13 24 90 Countrylink bus runs daily from Lightning Indigenous Centre: 1800 136 380 Ridge to Dubbo and return. Multilingual: 13 12 02 Migrants: 13 28 50 Timmy D’s local pick up and delivery ser- Visitors: 13 28 50 vice myGov: 13 23 07 Taxi service Older Australians: 13 23 00 Ph: 0434377243 Technical support: 13 23 07 Report income: 13 32 76 Air Link Air Services Apprenticeships: 13 36 33 Flights run from Dubbo to Walgett and Lighting W: www.centrelink.gov.au Ridge and return Ph: 68842435 Roads and Maritime Services - Lightning www.airlinkairlines.com.au Ridge Boat licence transactions, Vessel registration transactions, Motor vehicle transactions & Driver licence/Photo Card transactions Office 2, 3 Morilla Street Lightning Ridge NSW 2834 P: 132 213 Opening Hours – Monday to Wed 9:00am to 12:00pm & 12:45pm to 4:00pm

Roads and Maritime Services – Walgett Boat licence transactions, Vessel registration transactions, Motor vehicle transactions & Driver licence/Photo Card transactions 77 Fox Street, Walgett NSW 2832 on the Eu- roka St side of the Shire Offices P: 132 213 Opening Hours – Aged and Disability Services

Ageing Disability & Home Care Lightning Ridge Meals on Walgett Residential Aged Care 40 Warrena Street Wheels (Kookaburra Court) Walgett NSW 2832 Pandora Street 146 Fox St, Walgett 1300738388 Disabilities (02)6828 1715 Lightning Ridge NSW 2834 Transport (02)6828 3456 Contact: Graham Henry Home Care (02)6828 1338 (02)6829 1309 Peg Cross Memorial Nursing Food Services (02)6828 3456 Home Ngangana (02)6828 1212 Collarenebri Meal On Wheels Operated by FWAHS at Home Care Service NSW Walgett Hospital 11 Wilson Street Collarenebri NSW 2833 Collarenebri NSW 2833 (02) 67 562 231 My Supports Community Options(02) 6756 2547 NDIS Provider Transport(02) 6756 2574 Medical Transport for the aged Katie Hook or disabled 0428542264 Pandora Street Namoi Street Walgett Lightning Ridge 2834 NSW 2832 Mackillop Family Services Community Options(02) 6829 (02) 68 282 118 Lightning Ridge—68290130 0281 Walgett -68283505 Home Care(02) 6829 0711 Transport(02) 6829 1309 Ngangana (02) 6829 0832 Local Annual Events

Walgett Come-By-Chance Rowena Come-by-Chance Races Annual Show Sept 2021 Rowena Cracker Night 8 & 9th May 2021 June 2021 Lightning Ridge Bulldust to Bitumen Festival Grawin August 2021 Lightning Ridge Easter Festival Easter Yabby Races Bushman's Carnival, Rodeo & Opal festival Club in the Scrub Campdraft 28th –31st July 2021 3rd Weekend in August

Collarenebri Burren Junction

Carinda Colly Races Burren Carp Muster 11th September March Let’s Dance—David Bowie Fes- tival Colly Cod Classic & Carp Muster Burren Junction Campdraft Oct Long Weekend August 2021 September

Carinda Races Walgett & Colly Mud Trials July 2021 13th & 14th March 2021

Visitor Information Centres Lightning Ridge Lions Park— Morilla St Lightning Ridge Ph: 68291670 Email: [email protected] Call into the Lightning Ridge Visitor Information Centre to access a range of information for the tourist and traveler alike, including maps of the town and region, brochures and souvenirs. The cheery staff will be happy to provide you with information on local and regional attractions, upcoming events, assistance with accommodation, road conditions and other services as required. Whilst your at the centre feel free to try your hand a fossicking for Opals in their free fossicking heap, take a stroll through the local gardens and children’s play area or use the free barbecues.

Walgett Visitor Information Centre 88 Fox St Walgett Ph: 68286139 Email: [email protected] Stop in at the Walgett Visitor Information Centre for a range of information including local and regional brochures, maps, souvenirs, and locally sourced products. Grab a copy of the Chickpea Recipe Book; compiled from recipe winners in the Annual Bulldust to Bitumen Chickpea Cooking Competition. Staff can also provide you with information on accommodation, attractions and all of the local events. We also provide a printing, laminating and email service.

Weekly Newsletter If you would like to be informed of up coming community events please join our mailing list which sends out a weekly Newsletter. Email [email protected] Banjo Paterson poetry about Walgett

Been there before A Walgett Episode

There came a stranger to Walgett town, The sun strikes down with a blinding glare. To Walgett town when the sun was low, The skies are blue and the plains are wide, The saltbush plains that are burnt and bare And he carried a thirst that was worth a crown, By Walgett out on the Barwon side ---- Yet how to quench it he did not know; The Barwon River that wanders down But he thought he might take those yokels down, In a leisurely manner by Walgett Town. The guileless yokels of Walgett town. There came a stranger --- a “cockatoo”--- They made him a bet in a private bar, The word means farmer, as all men know In a private bar when the talk was high, Who dwell in the land where the kangaroo Barks loud at dawn, and the white-eyed crow And they bet him some pounds no matter how far Uplifts his song on the stockyard fence He could pelt a stone, yet he could not shy As he watches the lambkins passing hence. A stone right over the river so brown, The sunburnt stranger was gaunt and brown, The Darling River at Walgett town. But it soon appeared that he meant to flout The iron law of the country town, Which is -- that the stranger has got to shout: He knew that the river from bank to bank “If he will not shout we must take him down,” Was fifty yards, and he smiled a smile Remarked the yokels of Walgett Town.

As he trundled down; but his hopes they sank, They baited a trap with a crafty bait, For there wasn’t a stone within fifty mile; With a crafty bait, for they held discourse For the saltbush plain and the open down Concerning a new chum who of late Had bought such a thoroughly lazy horse; Produce no quarries in Walgett town. They would wager that no one could ride him down The length of the City of Walgett Town. The yokels laughed at his hopes o’erthrown, The stranger was born on a horse’s hide; And he stood awhile like a man in a dream; So he took the wagers, and made them good Then out of his pocket he fetched a stone, With his hard-earned cash ---but his hopes they died, And pelted it over the silent stream – For the horse was a clothes-horse, made of wood! “Twas a well-known horse that had taken down He’d been there before; he had wandered down Full many a stranger in Walgett Town. On a previous visit to Walgett town. The stranger smiled with a sickly smile --- “Tis a sickly smile that the loser grins --- And he said he had travelled for quite a while In trying to sell some marsupial skins. “And I thought that perhaps,as you’ve took me down, You would buy them from me, in Walgett Town!”

He said that his home was at Wingadee, At Wingadee where he had for sale Some fifty skins and would guarantee They were full-sized skins, with the ears and tail Complete, and he sold them for money down To a venturesome buyer in Walgett Town.

Then he smiled a smile as he pouched the pelf, “I’m glad that I’m quit of them,win or lose; You can fetch them in when it suits yourself, And you’ll find the skins-- on the kangaroos!” Then he left -- and the silence settled down Like a tangible thing upon Walgett Town.

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A Brief History

History of Walgett Walgett, meaning the meeting of two rivers, was proclaimed a settlement in March of 1885. In this era the township was served by paddle steamers, used to carry the produce of the area – wool, dried fruit and livestock. It was a Walgett man, Frederick York Wolseley who decided that the hand shearing sheep needed to be upgraded, and so in 1867 he began experimenting to design the first me- chanical sheep shearing hand piece. Charles Sturt explored the region in the vicinity of the Barwon River in about 1829 and two of the first settlers in the area were a Mrs Ulambie and Mr Henry Cox who arrived in 1848. Mr Cox was the owner of the “Wareena Run”, which became the site of the town of Walgett. The township was surveyed by Arthur Dewhurst in July 1859. As late as 1920, paddle steamers were still plying their trade along the river, although their heyday was the year of 1880. The “Brewarrina”, “Ellen”, “Sturt” and “Wandering Jew” were some of the famous craft that frequented Walgett’s port at the Dangar Bridge. History of Lightning Ridge The town of Lightning Ridge had its beginnings in the first years of the twen- tieth century, growing up around newly discovered opal fields. White settlers may have seen opal as early as the 1880’s, but mining didn’t begin until 1901 or 1902. The first opal rush occurred in 1905 on the long ridge near Wallangulla Tank, so the first settlement was called Wallangulla (Although the name ‘Lightning Ridge’ was in use in the late 19th Century – after a lightning strike killed a shepherd, his dog and sheep on a ridge in the 1870s – the name wasn’t officially adopted until 1963). By 1908 a second settlement, Nettleton Flat, had developed three miles to the west of Wallangulla and until World War 1, there were two communities of at least 2000 people mostly men. The Imperial Hotel later known as the Diggers Rest was built in 1909. Lightning Ridge suffered a decline after WWI, although the ‘New Town’ continued to develop through the 1920’s. During the depression, a government scheme paid miners a shilling a foot to sink shafts. The 1940s and 50s were fairly quiet, but when a syndicate of graziers sank an artesian bore in the 1960’s and miners began to wash their opal dirt, productivity increased and the population began to grow again. Lightning Ridge achieved town status in 1980. The Coocoran rush in the 1980s led to a huge boom – since died down – but the town is now a well-established regional centre with a culturally-diverse population of around 6000. Tourism is a growing industry and opal remains at the heart of Lightning Ridge. History of Come By Chance This pleasantly named village on the Baradine Creek (known locally as the Bungle Gully Creek) was pioneered by early settlers around the 1850’s.The name Come by Chance origi- nated, when the sons of William Colless selected land in his name – previously informed, all lands in the area had been selected – hence the name of his property “Come by Chance Station”. Mr Colless later owned the Post Office, Hotel, Police Station, Blacksmith Shop, Cemetery and other building blocks. Re- putedly, the only privately owned village in the Sothern Hemisphere. History of Collarenebri Originally known to Aboriginal people as ‘Collarindabri’ – a place of many flowers. Collarenebri has a chequered history. Collarenebri came into being in 1860 when William Earl established a pub called the Squatter’s Arms on the Barwon River, at a place known by local Aborigines as ‘Collarindabri’, meaning ‘place of flowers’. The settlement was known as Collarindabri for many years. By the end of 1865 there were a number of houses and in 1867 a (non official) Post Office was opened. Also in 1867, the Site of the Town of Collarindabri and its suburban Lands was gazetted. During the 1870s, other settlements along the Barwon competed with Collarindabri for business and government services, pre- venting the concentration of people and services into a single large centre. These settlements, with names such as Wirrabilla, Mogil Mogil and The Happy Home, have since disappeared. Mogil Mogil was the first centre on the Upper Barwon to receive a permanent police station. Construction of Collarenebri’s first school began in 1884 after campaigning by the residents, who claimed there were 34 pupils between the ages of 4 and 14 years within two miles of the proposed school. A police station was established in 1882. The town had 92 permanent residents in 1886. Collarenebri grew rapidly in the 1890s. A bore was sunk, making sheep grazing more viable in the area. With the boost in primary production, there was plenty of work available. Captain Thunderbolt the notorious bushranger roamed these parts holding up Edward Fletcher, the local storekeeper, in 1866 and robbing him of 22 pounds in cash and goods. He then proceed- ed to rob the local pub “The Squatters Arms”, on the other side of the river. Many of the buildings date back to 1910 and a wander around the town will allow you to have a slight understanding of what the early days must have been like. History of Cumborah Cumborah was proclaimed a town in 1896. Cumborah had a provisional school from 1899 to 1903 and a public school from 1904 until 1943 and a police station from 1898 until 1934. A small receiving office that handled mail opened in 1892; this was upgraded to a post office in 1898. The post office was closed in 1963. A telephone office opened in 1901 and a manual exchange in 1912. In 1915 Cumborah’s five telephone subscribers could contact Walgett or Dangar Bridge. By 1917 it was possible to talk to Bourke, Brewarrina, Collarenebri, Come By Chance, Danger Bridge, Goodooga, Pilliga, Walgett and Wee Waa; in 1920, Burren Junction and Moree were added to the list. Life at Cumborah in the early days revolved around stock- and particularly the movement of large numbers of stock when they were walked to market or to find feed. There was time for fun though, with horse races around the turn of the century, a Cumborah cricket team competing with other settlements by the 1890s, and the Lawn Tennis Club formed in 1899 with 16 members. Tennis is still popular at Cumborah. Sports days were held for special occasions such as the coronation of Kind Edward VII (1902), a Red Cross appeal during World War I (1917), or as a fundraiser for the local hall (1928). Wonderful balls were held in the hall in the 1920’s and 30s. History of Carinda European settlers first came to the Carinda District in the mid 1800’s settling along the waterways. The first settlement with a commercial centre was located near the present day Marthaguy Bridge, and relied upon Marthaguy Creek for water. It included some fine sops, a hotel with billiard room, a blacksmith and a baker’s shop. Carinda was declared a village in 1890, and it is thought that the name was derived from an early recorded run called ‘Gurrundy’ in the 1950’s. This run lapsed and in the 1860’s, Thomas McNamara took up a nearby area and called it Carinda. He built a dwelling on the banks of the Marthaguy Creek and ran a hotel and store around which the village of Carinda grew. Thomas McNamara and his family are buried in historic graves at Carinda. In 1908 the Carinda Bore was sunk, enabling people to move away from the creek. A second settlement, known as “Top End”, grew up where present day Ca- rinda is situated. Wee Waa St

Loading Wool on to a Paddle Steamer 1883 Walgett Police Station on the right with Court House on the left 1885

Capsized Wool Wagon 1918 Cnr Fox & Wee Waa Sts Arts & History

Outback Arts is a not for profit arts and cultural development organisation working in the seven local government areas of Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett, Cobar, Nyngan, Warren and Coonamble. They regularly run workshops in and around the Shire. For more information Ph: 02 68222484 or [email protected] or visit the website https://www.outbackarts.com.au/

John Murray Art Gallery 8 Opal St, Lightning Ridge Ph: 68291130

Heritage Cottage Gallery, Morilla St, Lighting Ridge Ph: 68290747

Lightning Ridge Art and Craft Council, 51a Pandora St l/Ridge Ph: 0456763565

Lightning Ridge Art Space,Onyx St L/Ridge Ph: 68290066

Walgett Historical Society, Old Council Chambers. Fox St Ph: Jennifer Colless 0427281678

Lightning Ridge Historical Society, PO Box 1, L/Ridge Ph: 0419639120 13 March 19 June 14 August

13 November

Contact Alana at the Walgett Visitor Information Centre On 68286139 or [email protected] for more information or to book a site

Walgett Shire Council

General Manager - Michael Urquhart Address – 77 Fox Street Walgett NSW 2832 Postal Address – PO Box 31 Walgett NSW 2832 Phone 02 6828 6100 Fax 02 6828 1608 E-mail [email protected] Office Hours - Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Lightning Ridge Office Cnr Harlequin and Opal Sts Ph: 68286191 Office Hours –Monday to Friday 9am –12 and 1pm - 4pm Collarenebri Agency 37 Wilson St Ph: 67562104 Corporate & Community Aboriginal Services, Arts & Cultural Services, Corporate Planning, Fi- nancialServices, Information Technology, Legal Service, Libraries, New Contracts & Fees.Property Administration, Public Officer Service, Rec- ords Management, RiskManagement, Statutory Reporting, Stores & Purchasing, Youth and Childcare Engineering/Technical Services Airfields, Bore Baths, Cemeteries, Emergency Services, Flood Mitiga- tion, Parks &Reserves, Plant & Feet Management, Property Services, Quarries, Roads & Bridges,Solid Waste Management, Swimming Pools. Traffic Facilities, Urban Stormwater,Streetscape & Cleansing, Water & Waste Water, Workshop & Stores. Environmental Services Animal Control, Building Services, Development Approvals & Compli- ance,Development Control Plans, Environmental & Health Compliance, Food Premises,GIS, Heritage, Landfill & Recycling Services, Land Use & Environment Strategies,Local Environmental Plans, On-site Wastewater Management, Planning Certificates