Walhallow, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Walhallow is a village in the North West Slopes
region of New South Wales
, Australia, near the Mooki River
. The town is in the south east corner of Gunnedah Shire Council
local government area, 370 kilometres (229.9 mi) north west of the state capital, Sydney
and 34 kilometres (21.1 mi) west of the nearest sizeable town, Quirindi
. At the 2006 census
, the village with neighbouring Caroona had a population of 179.
Walhallow is the site of a former Aboriginal reserve and was previously known as "Caroona" mission. It was first gazetted in 1895 following an application made a year previously to the Aboriginal Protection Board
. The initial area gazetted was 150 acres (60.7 ha) and this was expanded to 230 acres (93.1 ha) in 1899. The reserve was revoked in 1962 but the residents were permitted to remain under permissive occupancy until 1973 when the land was transferred to the Aboriginal Lands Trust under the Aboriginal Act (NSW) 1973.
The village consists of 42 houses of brick and tile construction. Since 1979, construction of these houses replaced timber and fibro
houses built in the 1940s. Management of these houses is divided between two corporations; 23 houses by the Walhallow Local Aboriginal Land Council and the remainder by the Walhallow Aboriginal Corporation. The village also has a community hall, church and a primary health post (clinic). The former health post building is now used as the Community Development Employment Project (CDEP) offices. Walhallow Public School is one of only five schools in New South Wales with an all-Aboriginal enrolment.
After acquiring grant funds from the now abolished Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
, the village was fully equipped with housing, maintained roads and upgraded water and sewerage supplies by 1998. In 1997 Wallhallow was selected to be a finalist in the "small towns" category of the Tidy Towns awards.
There is another Walhallow at 17°47'0.27"S 135°39'43.53"E
North West Slopes (New South Wales)
The North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia refers generally to the area west of the Northern Tablelands, to the north of the Central West region and to the east of the Far West region. The region corresponds generally to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's forecast area of...
region of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia, near the Mooki River
Mooki River
The Mooki River is a river in northern New South Wales, Australia.The Mooki River is the main river of the western half of the Liverpool Plains. Its headwaters rise on the northern slopes of the Liverpool Range and Coolah Tops, and flow northwards....
. The town is in the south east corner of Gunnedah Shire Council
Gunnedah Shire Council
Gunnedah Shire is a local government area in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire is situated 264 metres above sea level on the Liverpool Plains in the Namoi River valley. It is traversed by the Oxley Highway and the Kamilaroi Highway.The Shire is very flat;...
local government area, 370 kilometres (229.9 mi) north west of the state capital, Sydney
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...
and 34 kilometres (21.1 mi) west of the nearest sizeable town, Quirindi
Quirindi, New South Wales
Quirindi is a small town on the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia, in Liverpool Plains Shire Local Government Area ....
. 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,...
, the village with neighbouring Caroona had a population of 179.
Walhallow is the site of a former Aboriginal reserve and was previously known as "Caroona" mission. It was first gazetted in 1895 following an application made a year previously to the Aboriginal Protection Board
Aboriginal Protection Board
There was an Aboriginal Protection Board in a number of Australian States with the function of "protecting" and regulating the lives of Indigenous Australians. They were also responsible for administering the various Half-caste acts where these existed and had a key role in the Stolen generations...
. The initial area gazetted was 150 acres (60.7 ha) and this was expanded to 230 acres (93.1 ha) in 1899. The reserve was revoked in 1962 but the residents were permitted to remain under permissive occupancy until 1973 when the land was transferred to the Aboriginal Lands Trust under the Aboriginal Act (NSW) 1973.
The village consists of 42 houses of brick and tile construction. Since 1979, construction of these houses replaced timber and fibro
Fibro
Fibro, the shortened form of "Fibrous Cement" - or "Fibrous Asbestos Cement", FAC, is a building material made of compressed fibres cemented into rigid sheets....
houses built in the 1940s. Management of these houses is divided between two corporations; 23 houses by the Walhallow Local Aboriginal Land Council and the remainder by the Walhallow Aboriginal Corporation. The village also has a community hall, church and a primary health post (clinic). The former health post building is now used as the Community Development Employment Project (CDEP) offices. Walhallow Public School is one of only five schools in New South Wales with an all-Aboriginal enrolment.
After acquiring grant funds from the now abolished Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission was the Australian Government body through which Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders were formally involved in the processes of government affecting their lives...
, the village was fully equipped with housing, maintained roads and upgraded water and sewerage supplies by 1998. In 1997 Wallhallow was selected to be a finalist in the "small towns" category of the Tidy Towns awards.
There is another Walhallow at 17°47'0.27"S 135°39'43.53"E