Wyandra Town Book

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welcome to wyandra Wyandra was the name given to an original selection on the Warrego River, along with Claverton, Ardgour and Clovelly. All are English names from the same area in England.

It would seem the early settlers were homesick, or had a sense of humour.

The explorer Edmund Kennedy passed this way in 1847, camping on the river. He noted in his journal ‘a two mile stretch of water 60 yds. wide’. You can visit the camp site as you follow the Heritage Trail.

The Railway line was completed 21st June 1897, six months earlier than expected. The extension of the line saw the township develop. The railway line was used extensively for mail and trucking stock and wool. Wyandra was a major water stop for the steam engines. The last passenger train departed Wyandra on 5th September 1994.

ALONG THE WYANDRA HERITAGE TRAIL…

BUSY LIFE IN AN EMERGING TOWNSHIP During the late 1800s Wyandra had two butcher shops, a baker, a blacksmith, three stores, a bookmaker and two saw mills. There were twentyfive slab huts along the river bank which were occupied mainly by sawmill workers. The market gardens on the Warrego supplied fresh fruit and vegetables.

In 1898 a provisional school was established. It was destroyed by fire between 1905 – 1907. A one room state school was constructed and a second room added during the 1930s. The school celebrated its centenary on Thursday, 9th April 1998.

Enjoy a walk along the Heritage Trail and the chance to meet the ghosts of earlier times.

This guide has been produced by the Paroo Shire Office of Tourism Development.

Further Enquiries: Cunnamulla Visitor Information Centre Centenary Park, 2 Jane Street PO Box 75, Cunnamulla Q 4490 P: 07 4655 8470 F: 07 4655 1120

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WYANDRA HALL The original Wyandra Hall was built by John Moody prior to 1910. It was destroyed by fire and the shire hall was built by C.W.S Cooper in 1932. The single plough in the Hall grounds came from ‘Retreat’, a pastoral holding, and was used

by Paddy Gardiner. The steam engine was used at ‘Claverton’ Station to drive their shearing machinery. It was later taken to ‘Kynnersley’ Station for use in their saw mill.

WYANDRA ROLL OF HONOUR The Wyandra Roll of Honour was erected by the residents in appreciation of those who enlisted from the district to serve in the Great War 1914 – 1919.

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heritage sites and points of interest A. POLICE STATION

In May 1897 four canvas tents were sent from Roma Works Department to house the police. A police cell/office was built in 1909 and prisoners were chained to the floor while awaiting transport.

The present Police Station was erected in 1913.

B. BRAYLEY’S CARRIERS

Percy Brayley began carting wool in 1916 by bullock wagon; Percy bought his first truck, a Ruggles, in 1925. ‘Emohruo’ was his home and it is a reminder of the beauty of our architectural past. The house was built by James Cooper.

Around 1918 Mr. TB Eaton owned and operated a cordial manufacturing business. He brewed a variety of drinks including soft drink, lemonade and hore hound. As the small glass bottles filled with drink, the glass pushed an encased marble to 4

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the top, sealing it into a rubber ring. The marble was in great demand as the game of marbles was extremely popular and a good toy was a valuable asset to any boy.

By the turn of the century Wyandra had a population of 100 permanent residents and about 400 others, mainly railway workers. The township boasted two hotels – the Gladstone and the Commercial. The Commercial Hotel was built by John and Charlotte Moody in 1896 from locally cut and sawn timber. They retired as licensees in 1913 with other family members holding the licence until the 1950s.

The original Gladstone Hotel was licensed in 1898.

It was destroyed by fire in 1927 and rebuilt the same year by Clyde Cooper.

C. GLENDALE

‘Glendale’ was the residence of Doctor Dale. The building has had few changes and is a fine example of the skill of local builder James Cooper.

The ripple iron building next to ‘Glendale’ is Mini Brayley’s Café. This was a popular meeting place for the young and those who enjoyed life. After the Saturday night dance, the ‘in crowd’ would gather at Mini’s for cups of tea and more merriment.

D. THE POWERHOUSE MUSEUM

The Powerhouse and two National engines were moved here from Cunnamulla in 1955. Prior to that time there was no electricity supply. The Powerhouse was designed as a one man 24 hour operation with the superintendent living next door.

E. THE OLD CEMETERY

This was the first cemetery in Wyandra. Older members of the community recall that there were four graves here.

F. THE NEW CEMETERY

The ‘new cemetery’ was gazetted in 1911. The Paroo Shire Council is the trustee of the cemetery. Most of the people buried here are from very early families and original settlers of the area.

G. KENNEDY’S CAMP

In November 1847 Edmund B. Kennedy and his party, returning from an expedition to determine the course of the Barcoo River, followed and partially mapped the Warrego River from its head waters to a point about 30 miles south of Cunnamulla. Kennedy camped here on 12 November 1847. His journal entry reads ‘Pursuing the course of the river, which we found to be nearly SSE, containing a succession of reaches, and having fine grazing land on either side we encamped at Camp 18, in Lat 27 degrees 14’3”S, on a fine sheet of water nearly 2 miles long and 60 yards broad’. This camp site has since been used by many drovers moving stock along the stock route.

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K M

TO RACECOURSE

Beach

Warrego Ri

ver

Dan Dolman’s hut

Mick Holmes’ hut

Town

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Roach’s Orchard

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Free Camping Area

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Kennedy’s Camp

Old Cemetery

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Swaggie’s Hut

Old dump

Walk starts here

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Bridge

New Cemetery

Warrego River

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Bush walk approx 8km

Ernie Logan Hut

CHARLEVILLE 100KM

MOODY

OVAL

ST R E E T

WARREGO RIVER

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CUNNAMULLA 100KM

RACE COURSE

LEGEND PLACES OF INTEREST

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The Ice and Cordial Works Wyandra Roll of Honour Shire Hall S team Engine and Single Plough

VISITOR AMENITIES

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St. Aiden’s Anglican Church

Caravan Park

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Wyandra Pub

Rumour Has It Shop

Wyandra Post General Store

Public Toilets FREE Camping Area Dump Point

Old Commercial Hotel

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H. SWAGGIE’S HUT

Flattened kerosene tins were often used as building material as they were readily available – recycling in the ‘good old days’. A hut made from tins stood on this site for many years. It is not known who built the hut and there doesn’t seem to have been any permanent inhabitants. The hut was used for shelter by itinerant families and men looking for work or carrying their swags. The hut had only one room and had a stone and brick fire place. It eventually fell into disrepair.

I. ROACH’S ORCHARD

This orchard was originally owned by a Chinese market gardener and was sold to Mr and Mrs Heyer.

The Heyers owned the garden for many years and sold to O.C. Roach around 1917. From then the garden became known as ‘Roach’s Orchard’ and was well known throughout Australia for its delicious citrus fruits and grapes. The orchard was irrigated from the river.

PUMPING STATION The Railway Station pumped water through a 3” galvanised pipe from the river to a storage tank near the train line. The water was then fed into the railway houses. The steam trains also used the river water.

Old Police Cell

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Powerhouse Museum

MICK HOLMES’ HUT This was built around 1917. It was occupied by the Heyer family after they sold the orchard to O.C. Roach. The hut was built from timber and flattened gallon kerosene tins. The dining room and the kitchen were separate from the bedrooms which were arranged in a condominium fashion. Mick Holmes was a drover and occupied the hut during the 1950s. Mick was well known locally for his large mob of horses many of which defied description.

J. DAN DOLMAN

Dan Dolman lived in a hut on this site. He was a timber cutter and fencer. The Dolman family was one of the original families to settle in Wyandra.

There are still family members living here today. Dan is buried in the Wyandra cemetery.

K. RAILWAY STATION MASTER’S OFFICE

The Station Master’s Office was built in 1897, when the railway line was completed. It was moved to this site in 1998 to replace the old grandstand bar/ kitchen. The exterior architectural features are typical of the era. This is the oldest public building in Wyandra.

WYANDRA RACE CLUB The earliest known Race Meeting was held on 4th – 5th October 1917. The Wyandra School Inspector recorded a non attendance of school children on those two days.

In recent times the races have been the highlight of the Wyandra social calendar. The races were followed by a ball or a dance.

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Wyandra Old Cinema

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The Beach

L. WYANDRA BRIDGE

The bridge was opened on 28th June 1929.

Photographs of the opening are stored in the museum in Cunnamulla.

ERNIE LOGAN’S HUT Ernie Logan’s Hut was along the road to the Beach.

Ernie was a rabbit trapper. As the rabbit was such a pest, rabbit trappers were a necessary part of the grazing industry. The skins were taken to Charleville to buyers. Ernie was a familiar sight riding his push bike along the bush tracks.

M. THE BEACH

The Beach is a very popular picnic and swimming spot with locals. In days gone by the whole community would gather here to celebrate Christmas Day. The food would be pooled and the beer bottle would be tied to a string and placed in the river to keep cool. The children spent the day swimming and playing in the sand.

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T: 07 4655 8470 WWW.CUNNAMULLATOURISM.COM.AU