Quandialla, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Quandialla is a village and locality 412 kilometres west of Sydney
. It is situated on the plains of The Bland country at the western edge of the Weddin Shire
. The town of Grenfell
is 46 kilometres to the north-east, Young
is 65 kilometres to the south-east and West Wyalong is 57 kilometres to the west. The Weddin Mountains are within sight.
At the 2006 census
, Quandialla and the surrounding area had a population of 312.
people, the area was first settled by whites in the 1830s. According to Bruce Robinson "The area was 'station' country known as 'The Bland' or 'The Levels' and was famous for its prime grazing and fattening pastures..." The villages of Morangarell to west, and Bimbi to the east, developed along creeks and pre-dated Quandialla.
The Quandialla township, founded in 1914, was a product of the coming of the railway. Opening in 1916, the rail line was both a result of closer settlement - and the move from grazing to farming, as well as a catalyst for the further development of a grain based farming economy. Quandialla became an important service town for wheat production and fat lamb raising. Quandialla Post Office opened on 19 June 1916.
The township grew rapidly in the 1920s, while Bimbi and Morangarell, which were bypassed by the railway, went into decline. In the 1950s Quandialla was serviced by three motor garages, two stock and station agents, a cinema, state and Roman Catholic schools and sales yards with yardings of up to 10,000 stock. In the late 1950s the Quandialla Central School enrolment exceeded 230 pupils, compared with 50 in 2009. Over 600 people attended the opening of the Memorial Hall in 1955. The town until recently had its own Hospital
teacher. He then moved on to cinematography, filming a wide range of well known movies such as Breaker Morant, Moulin Rouge, My Brilliant Career, Predator, Mrs Doubtfire, Romeo and Juliet, Patriot Games and The Getting of Wisdom.
'1915', a television mini-series about two young Australian soldiers during World War I was partly filmed in Quandialla and Bimbi. This film sold to almost 40 countries and won 2 Logies.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. It is situated on the plains of The Bland country at the western edge of the Weddin Shire
Weddin Shire
Weddin Shire is a Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia. Its only significant town is Grenfell....
. The town of Grenfell
Grenfell
Grenfell may refer to:* Grenfell, New South Wales, a town in the mid-west of New South Wales, Australia.* Bernard Pyne Grenfell, an English egyptologist.* Arthur Grenfell Wauchope* Joyce Grenfell, an English actress, comedienne and singer-songwriter....
is 46 kilometres to the north-east, Young
Young, New South Wales
-Demographics:On census night, 7 August 2001, there were 6,821 people counted in Young. There were 238 people who identified as being of Indigenous origin in the 2001 Census...
is 65 kilometres to the south-east and West Wyalong is 57 kilometres to the west. The Weddin Mountains are within sight.
At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Quandialla and the surrounding area had a population of 312.
History
Home to the WiradjuriWiradjuri
The Wiradjuri are an Indigenous Australian group of central New South Wales.In the 21st century, major Wiradjuri groups live in Condobolin, Peak Hill, Narrandera and Griffith...
people, the area was first settled by whites in the 1830s. According to Bruce Robinson "The area was 'station' country known as 'The Bland' or 'The Levels' and was famous for its prime grazing and fattening pastures..." The villages of Morangarell to west, and Bimbi to the east, developed along creeks and pre-dated Quandialla.
The Quandialla township, founded in 1914, was a product of the coming of the railway. Opening in 1916, the rail line was both a result of closer settlement - and the move from grazing to farming, as well as a catalyst for the further development of a grain based farming economy. Quandialla became an important service town for wheat production and fat lamb raising. Quandialla Post Office opened on 19 June 1916.
The township grew rapidly in the 1920s, while Bimbi and Morangarell, which were bypassed by the railway, went into decline. In the 1950s Quandialla was serviced by three motor garages, two stock and station agents, a cinema, state and Roman Catholic schools and sales yards with yardings of up to 10,000 stock. In the late 1950s the Quandialla Central School enrolment exceeded 230 pupils, compared with 50 in 2009. Over 600 people attended the opening of the Memorial Hall in 1955. The town until recently had its own Hospital
Today
In 2010 the village still retained its general store, The Bland Hotel, the central school, a public swimming pool and a bowling club. The Quandialla area today is in the heart of the wheat belt, as well as producing other grains - canola, oats and barley. Wool and fat lamb production are also significant.Film and TV
Cinematographer Don McAlpine was born and raised in Quandialla. McAlpine started his career as a physical educationteacher. He then moved on to cinematography, filming a wide range of well known movies such as Breaker Morant, Moulin Rouge, My Brilliant Career, Predator, Mrs Doubtfire, Romeo and Juliet, Patriot Games and The Getting of Wisdom.
'1915', a television mini-series about two young Australian soldiers during World War I was partly filmed in Quandialla and Bimbi. This film sold to almost 40 countries and won 2 Logies.
External links
- ABC Landline program about Quandialla http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2008/s2369148.htm
- From Quandialla to Hollywood http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/13/1081838723068.html
- 1915 in the Internet Movie Database http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083508/
- Quandialla My School http://myschool.edu.au/Main.aspx?PageId=0&SDRSchoolId=NSWG00539_2920&DEEWRId=10653&CalendarYear=2009
- Bureau of Meteorology Climate Data for Quandialla http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_073032.shtml