Wingello, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Wingello is a village in the Southern Highlands
of New South Wales
, Australia. It is about equidistant between Sydney
, the capital of NSW, and Canberra
, the nation’s capital. It has a station
on CityRail
's Southern Highlands line
. The surrounding area is part of the lands administrative unit of the Wingello Parish
.
Wingello boasts a local Village Store and Post Office, where you can purchase a coffee and many other things. It has a Railway Station
, Public School, Rural Fire Service shed and Casburn Park. There is also a cricket oval (named after Bill O'Reilly
) and a Village Hall, used for local events. The Wingello State Forest
is in popular use for bike rides, rock-climbing, orienteering and sled-dog races.
Its population in the 2006 Census was 307.
Wingello was decimated by the Chatsbury/Bungonia Bushfire
of 1965, that raged from 5th through 14 March 1965. Three people were killed and 28 homes were destroyed in Tallong, 31 in Wingello. The fire was eventually stopped (or burnt out) near Nowra on the South Coast.
Fire again marred the town in 1998 when Deputy Fire Captain David Quinlivan died when the water tanker he was driving was overrun by fire. Turning the tanker around to bear the brunt of the flames, David saved the lives of his colleagues but lost his own life. During the blaze seven of David’s colleagues suffered serious injuries.
Wingello has since recovered and its modern resurgence can be attributed to its tranquility and the idyllic life-style it offers. The hamlet nestles in the midst of pine and eucalypt forests and is approximately 1.5 hours from both Sydney and Canberra. The area has attracted many artists, particularly writers, and is the home of published authors and professional writers who find the environment conducive to prodigious creative output. Property prices in the area have remained stable throughout the recent real estate slump, and are fetching significantly higher prices than those achieved in many places closer to Sydney, indicating Wingello's unique attraction.
Southern Highlands, New South Wales
The Southern Highlands, also locally referred to as the Highlands, is a geographical region and district in New South Wales, Australia and is 110 km south-west of Sydney. The entire region is under the local government area of the Wingecarribee Shire...
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. It is about equidistant between 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...
, the capital of NSW, and Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, the nation’s capital. It has a station
Wingello railway station, New South Wales
-Neighbouring stations:-References:...
on CityRail
CityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
's Southern Highlands line
Southern Highlands railway line, New South Wales
The Southern Highlands Line is a section of the Main South railway line, and part of the CityRail outer suburban network. Its main service areas are the Southern Highlands Region , the Southern Tablelands Region and the Wollondilly section of the Macarthur Region of New South Wales...
. The surrounding area is part of the lands administrative unit of the Wingello Parish
Wingello Parish, Camden
The Parish of Wingello is a parish of the County of Camden in the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales. It includes the area around the village of Wingello, and also includes the village of Tallong. The parish is located at the western end of the County of Camden, with Uringalla Creek the...
.
Wingello boasts a local Village Store and Post Office, where you can purchase a coffee and many other things. It has a Railway Station
Wingello railway station, New South Wales
-Neighbouring stations:-References:...
, Public School, Rural Fire Service shed and Casburn Park. There is also a cricket oval (named after Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (cricketer)
William Joseph "Bill" O'Reilly , often known as Tiger O'Reilly, was an Australian cricketer, rated as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. Following his retirement from playing, he became a well-respected cricket writer and broadcaster.O'Reilly was one of the best spin bowlers to...
) and a Village Hall, used for local events. The Wingello State Forest
Wingello State Forest
Wingello State Forest is a planted forest in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is located in the Southern Highlands between Sydney and Goulburn. The forest is owned by the New South Wales Government and includes pine plantations, hardwood forest and native forests with stands of...
is in popular use for bike rides, rock-climbing, orienteering and sled-dog races.
Its population in the 2006 Census was 307.
History
The name 'Wingello' comes from the Aboriginal term to burn.Wingello was decimated by the Chatsbury/Bungonia Bushfire
Chatsbury bushfire
The Chatsbury/Bungonia Bushfire of 1965 was a series of devastating bushfires that raged from 5th through 14 March 1965 and destroyed the Southern Highlands, New South Wales villages of Tallong and Wingello as well as most of the surrounding orchards. Three people were killed.28 homes were...
of 1965, that raged from 5th through 14 March 1965. Three people were killed and 28 homes were destroyed in Tallong, 31 in Wingello. The fire was eventually stopped (or burnt out) near Nowra on the South Coast.
Fire again marred the town in 1998 when Deputy Fire Captain David Quinlivan died when the water tanker he was driving was overrun by fire. Turning the tanker around to bear the brunt of the flames, David saved the lives of his colleagues but lost his own life. During the blaze seven of David’s colleagues suffered serious injuries.
Wingello has since recovered and its modern resurgence can be attributed to its tranquility and the idyllic life-style it offers. The hamlet nestles in the midst of pine and eucalypt forests and is approximately 1.5 hours from both Sydney and Canberra. The area has attracted many artists, particularly writers, and is the home of published authors and professional writers who find the environment conducive to prodigious creative output. Property prices in the area have remained stable throughout the recent real estate slump, and are fetching significantly higher prices than those achieved in many places closer to Sydney, indicating Wingello's unique attraction.
Notable people
- Bill O'Reilly (cricketer)Bill O'Reilly (cricketer)William Joseph "Bill" O'Reilly , often known as Tiger O'Reilly, was an Australian cricketer, rated as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. Following his retirement from playing, he became a well-respected cricket writer and broadcaster.O'Reilly was one of the best spin bowlers to...