Wagga Wagga, New South Wales

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Wagga Wagga
New South Wales

Looking down Baylis Street
Population: 58,055 (2005 Est) (29th)
Established: 1829 (explored)
1849 (surveyed)
1849 (town)
1870 (municipality)
1946 (city)
Postcode: 2650
LGA: City of Wagga Wagga
State District: Wagga Wagga
Federal Division: Riverina

Wagga Wagga (pronounced wogga wogga) is a city in New South Wales, Australia. It is also a Local Government Area, administered by Wagga Wagga City Council. Lying on the Murrumbidgee River, Wagga Wagga is the state's largest and the country's fifth largest inland city, as well as an important agricultural, military, educational and transport hub of Australia. The population in 2003 was around 57,000. It is home to 22 primary schools, eight secondary schools, a regional Institute of TAFE with 18 campuses and one of the four main campuses of Charles Sturt University, as well as Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, the Kapooka Army base and a separate RAAF base.

Wagga is known as The Garden City and The City of Good Sports due to the large sporting culture and large list of sporting greats that are from Wagga.

Wagga is a Wiradjuri aboriginal language word meaning crow and to create the plural, the Wiradjuri repeat the word. Thus 'Wagga Wagga' translates as 'the place of many crows'.[1]

The central business district is focused around the commercial and recreational grid bounded by Best and Tarcutta Streets and the Murrumbidgee River and the Sturt Highway. The main shopping streets of Wagga Wagga are Baylis and Fitzmaurice Streets. Wagga Wagga has a large catchment population as it is the administrative centre of the Riverina. Wagga Wagga draws visitors from towns in the Riverina and Southwest Slopes such as Leeton, Griffith, Narrandera, Deniliquin, Coleambally, Junee, The Rock, Coolamon and Tumut.

Contents

[edit] History

Wagga Wagga Court House
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Wagga Wagga Court House

The original Aboriginal inhabitants of the Wagga Wagga region were the Wiradjuri people. The first white people to travel over the site of present day Wagga Wagga were Captain Charles Sturt and his men in 1829.

Settlers started arriving in the Wagga Wagga area soon after Charles Sturt's expedition and by 1831 there were people living in the area. During this time the Wagga Wagga 'run' was established on the south bank of the Murrumbidgee River whilst on the north bank the Eunonyhareenyha 'run' was established. By 23 November 1849 when the settlement was gazetted as a village, a number of buildings had been erected on the Wagga Wagga 'run', including a hotel, blacksmith's shop, courthouse and lock-up.

In September 1859 local residents formed a committee for the construction of a bridge over the Murrumbidgee River. A number of proposals were examined in December 1859 and a pontoon bridge, submitted by Fowler Boyd Price, was in favour. The committee planned to establish a Pontoon Bridge Company with a capital of £4,000 in 200 shares of £20 but the engineering experts from the Roads Branch of the New South Wales Department of Public Works objected to the pontoon bridge. The local committee agree to build a pile bridge which was recommended by New South Wales Department of Public Works. After the New South Wales Government refused the pile bridge the committee decided to finance it themselves.

On 23 August 1860 a joint stock company was formed to complete and maintain the bridge between Crampton and Travers Streets as well as to make a proper road to the bridge from existing streets. On 5 December 1861 the New South Wales Parliament enacted a bill to form the Wagga Wagga Company Bridge to build a bridge not less than 25 feet wide and 7 feet in height. The Act gave the Company authority to receive tolls at the bridge, however there was not to be a toll for the Governor, government employees, clergymen, mailmen or any private citizens travelling to and from church on a Sunday. The penalty for evading the toll was not to exceed £5 and the bridge would be a public bridge after 99 years and 21 years when the government could purchase the bridge. The Act also allowed the Company to charge a trespass penalty that was not to exceed £10 if anyone established a ferry for hire or profit with in 2 miles. It granted the Company capital of £4,000 but also allowed for the creation of more shares to £6,000. The Company's directors had to raise loans because the shares were not readily purchased as many people feared the bridge would be washed away by floods. The bridge was completed in October 1862 and opened on 27 October at just over 91 metres long and 7 metres wide.

In 1884 the New South Wales Government purchased the bridge for the public for £9,804. Tolls were ceased on 29 February 1884 at noon. In the 1890s use of the bridge increased. It's timbers were decaying and the bridge was in danger of collapse. The local Member of Parliament, James Gormly, appealled to the Department of Public Works to replace the bridge. The Wagga Wagga Company Bridge served the public for 33 years and was demolished in 1895[2].

In 1895 Hampden Bridge, a truss bridge was built across the Murrumbidgee River at Wagga. The bridge is regarded as being of heritage significance[3][4]. On 16 August 2006 Hampden Bridge was closed and fenced off to the public due to the bridge being a safety risk after one of the trusses failed. Wagga Wagga City Council are considering to demolish the landmark due to the bridge being in a state of disrepair.[5] [6]

Tichborne Trial Painting
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Tichborne Trial Painting

In the 19th century Wagga Wagga briefly gained international notoriety as the home of Roger Orton, known to history as the Tichborne claimant, who owned a butchery in the town. Wagga's Museum of the Riverina is the home to an important collection of Tichborne memorabilia, including a set of four rare plaster figurines depicting characters from the trial, donated by the Mussared family of Adelaide, descendants of William Gibbs, the lawyer who launched the claim on behalf of Orton. The museum also owns a complete set of hard-bound court transcripts, and a monumental painting entitled The Tichborne Trial (painted in 1874 by Nathan Hughes and once described as "a monstrosity"[7], which hangs in the city's council chambers. The Wagga City Library collection also includes a letter written by Orton in 1873.

Wagga Wagga Civic Centre
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Wagga Wagga Civic Centre

[edit] The defence force in Wagga Wagga

The Kapooka Army base includes the Army Recruit Training Centre, where non-commissioned members of the Army undertake their inital 45 day training.

There is a separate Royal Australian Air Force base at Forest Hill, this is the tri-service (RAN/Army/RAAF) electronic trades school. Royal Australian Navy personnel are based at RAAF Base Wagga.

[edit] The "Wagga Effect"

The "Wagga Effect" is a term that has been used frequently in the Australian media to describe the disproportionately large number of elite sportsmen and women that originate from the town.[1] It is speculated that the phenomenon may arise in rural areas where the population is large enough to sustain the presence of a large number of sporting codes, but small enough to ensure that talented individuals are exposed to adult-level competition at an earlier age.

According to local legend Wagga's sporting success is due to a mystery nutrient in the Murrumbidgee River, washed down the river when water is released from the Blowering and Burrinjuck Dams. According to the legend it arrives at Wagga Beach as a giant wave, known as the Five O'clock Wave, which surfers can ride all the way to Narrandera. [8]

[edit] 5 o'clock wave

The 5 o'clock wave is a part of local lore in parts of Australia. In common with most similar lore, it serves primarily to confuse outsiders and amuse locals.

The tale is common to rural riverine areas located downstream from major dams, particularly those with rivers that have the Snowy Mountains as their source. It is particularly associated with Wagga Wagga (Morris 1999, p. 261).

The 5 o'clock wave is supposedly a large wave, several metres in height and created by the daily release of dam overflow, that is said to travel downriver at high speed, and to reach the location at which the tale is being told at 5 o'clock each afternoon. Surfers are often said to ride this wave for hundreds of kilometres. This apocryphal wave is the man-made equivalent of the natural, and genuine, tidal bore phenomenon.

The 5 o'clock wave was the inspiration for a play of the same name performed at the Riverina Playhouse in early 2006. The comedy was written by Wagga writer Stephen Vagg and performed by Charles Sturt University Theatre Ensemble. It followed ten twenty-somethings in Wagga in their search for love and happiness [2].

[edit] Geography

"The Rocks" on the Murrumbidgee River
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"The Rocks" on the Murrumbidgee River

Wagga is 475 kilometres south-west of Sydney, 240 kilometres from Canberra and 440 kilometres from Melbourne. The city is on the Sturt Highway and not on the main Sydney-Melbourne Hume highway. The city is on the main Sydney-Melbourne railway line and is approximately half way between the two major cities.

The city of Wagga Wagga provides the central focus for a large catchment region of rural New South Wales and is the centre of administration for the Riverina region.

The Murrumbidgee River has not been visible to the town since the introduction of high levee banks to prevent flood damage. The Wollundry Lagoon is the water focus of the town and has been a key element in the development and separation of the north (older) and south (newer) parts of the town.

[edit] Climate

Wagga Wagga has four distinct seasons (Autumn,Winter,Spring and Summer), with hot dry summers and cold winters. Frost and fog is very common in Wagga Wagga during the winter. While snow has been reported in the past, it is a very rare occurrence.

Most of Wagga Wagga's rainfall occurs all year round.

Source: Averages for WAGGA WAGGA AMO, 1941 - 2004, Bureau of Meteorology
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Temperatures (°C)
Mean daily maximum 31.4 30.8 27.5 22.4 17.2 13.7 12.6 14.4 17.4 21.1 25.4 29.3 21.9
Highest recorded maximum 44.8
(23rd 2001)		 44.6
(1st 1968)		 39.5
(7th 1983)		 35.4
(4th 1986)		 27.4
(4th 1988)		 23.2
(1st 1994)		 23.2
(29th 1975)		 26.6
(30th 1982)		 31.8
(26th 1965)		 35.1
(28th 1967)		 42.8
(26th 1997)		 43.2
(21st 1953)
Mean daily minimum 16.0 16.3 13.3 9.2 5.9 3.7 2.7 3.6 5.2 7.7 10.5 13.7 9.0
Lowest recorded minimum 3.4
(13th 1975)		 2.3
(27th 1985)		 2.6
(28th 1984)		 −0.5
(22nd 1999)		 −4.4
(25th 1957)		 −5.2
(18th 1974)		 −6.3
(21st 1982)		 −5.4
(6th 1974)		 −3.8
(6th 1966)		 −2.0
(28th 1998)		 −0.2
(3rd 2003)		 3.4
(31st 1970)
Precipitation (millimetres)
Mean total rainfall 40.2 39.4 42.3 42.5 53.6 50.2 55.7 52.7 50.7 60.6 42.8 44.4 575.2
Highest recorded total 174.4
(1984)		 157.5
(1955)		 249.2
(1956)		 216.9
(1974)		 190.3
(1942)		 138.8
(1991)		 130.0
(1993)		 101.4
(1983)		 128.0
(1978)		 181.7
(1974)		 142.4
(1970)		 213.4
(1988)
Lowest recorded total 0.0
(1957)		 0.0
(1968)		 0.0
(1995)		 0.5
(1967)		 4.6
(1957)		 0.8
(1984)		 1.8
(1982)		 6.4
(1982)		 4.1
(1946)		 0.6
(2002)		 0.0
(1946)		 0.5
(1967)
Notes: Temperatures are in degrees Celsius. Precipitation is in millimetres. Wagga Wagga Airport Latitude: -35.1583S Longitude: 147.4573E Elevation: 212m ASL

[edit] Shopping

Wagga attracts people from all over the Riverina and south western New South Wales to its shopping facilities. Wagga's shopping centres include two notable centres of metropolitan standards, Wagga Wagga Marketplace and Sturt Mall in the central business district, and suburban shopping centres such as the new South City Shopping Centre in Glenfield Park, the Lake Village Shopping Centre, Lake Albert, the Tolland Shopping Centre and Kooringal Mall in Kooringal. Wagga also has a large Home Base located on the Sturt Highway. Wagga's central business district, with both Baylis and Fitzmaurice Streets and other surrounding streets, offers hundreds of specialty retailers including national chains such as Big W, Myer and Target.

[edit] Transport

Fearnes runs bus services from most Wagga Wagga suburbs to the CBD from Mondays to Saturdays with no services on Sunday. Wagga Radio Cabs run taxis 24/7 in the city with Taxi Ranks located at Station Place, Forsyth Street, Gurwood Street, Wagga Wagga Base Hospital and Kooringal Mall.

The Olympic Highway used to run through the CBD until the Gobbagombalin Bridge (which is located about 6km northwest of the CBD and is also known as the Gobba Bridge) was opened in July, 1997. The Sturt Highway is located in the centre of Wagga Wagga.

Wagga Wagga is located on the Sydney to Melbourne railway line.

Countrylink Southern
Junee ↔ Wagga Wagga ↔ The Rock

Wagga Wagga Airport at Forest Hill has scheduled daily flights to Sydney and Melbourne through two carriers, Regional Express and QantasLink.

[edit] Recreation and tourist attractions

Wagga Beach - Murrumbidgee River
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Wagga Beach - Murrumbidgee River

The Murrumbidgee River at Wagga Wagga supports a sandy beach, a popular location for picnics and barbeques in the summer months. Between 1977 and 1995 the beach played host to the Gumi Races where people were encouraged to make rafts from inner tubing and sabotage their competition by throwing rotten eggs and flour at them (Morris 1999, p. 261). Those still nostalgic for the event can take a float down the river from "The Rocks" which are located some 600 metres upstream from the main beach area. River cruises also operate on the Murrumbidgee.

Wollundry Lagoon, Lake Albert and various parks also provide recreational facilities. Sporting facilities include the Oasis Regional Aquatic Centre, with Australia's only wave ball [3]. Wagga Wagga Civic Centre and the Forum 6 Cinemas provide entertainment venues.

Looking northwest from Willans Hill
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Looking northwest from Willans Hill

Other facilities include:

[edit] Events

  • Wagga Wagga Gold Cup - Australia's second oldest horse race held in the first week of May every year[4][5]
  • Group 9 Rugby League Grand Final held annually in September
  • Miniature Railway
  • Tooheys Town Plate Day
  • Wagga Wagga Jazz Festival - first held in 1995, the most recent festival was in September 2005[6][7]
  • Unsound - Wagga Space Program's festival of experimental music. Unsound06 will take place in November 2006[8]
  • National Horse Festival - a wide range of horse events held around Wagga during March each year see [9]
  • CSS Tens Rugby League Tournament - a 10 a side rugby league tournament held in March
  • Wagga Wagga Food And Wine Festival
  • Riverina Rev Fest
  • Lake To Lagoon Fun Run - Formerly City to Lake Fun Run
  • Wagga Wagga Show - Held on 2 days on the 1st week of October every year.

[edit] Future developments

Wrought iron lattice railway bridge
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Wrought iron lattice railway bridge
Wrought iron lattice railway bridge (27 July 2006)
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Wrought iron lattice railway bridge (27 July 2006)

Replacement of the wrought iron lattice railway bridge over the Murrumbidgee River will start in June 2006. The old bridge will be removed from 30 December during a 4 day shut down with the new bridge to be open on 3 January 2007.

Wagga Wagga Police Station will be replaced by a three story building which is still in the planning stage. The new police station will be located in Johnston Street.

A new Wagga Wagga Base Hospital is also in the planning stage. The new hospital will be built on the current hospital site.

The redevelopment of the former Murrumbidgee Flour Mill will start later in 2006. The former mill will be transformed into a Supermarket,A number of small stores and an International style Hotel.

[edit] Trivia

  • The Australian fast food, the Chiko Roll was first sold in 1951 at the Wagga Wagga show.
  • The Bee Gees wrote "Morning of My Life" at the Wagga Police Boys Club (renamed the Wagga Police and Community Youth Club).
  • In the children's TV series Pound Puppies, Wagga Wagga was the name of the puppies' utopia.
  • In the book "The Power Of One", The main character Peekay is said to have a cousin Lenny from Wagga Wagga Australia[citation needed].

[edit] Notable people

[edit] Sister cities

[edit] Television Stations

See also List of Australian television channels

[edit] Radio Stations

See also List of Australian radio stations

[edit] Newspapers

(stub)

  • The Daily Advertiser

[edit] Sports Teams

Aussie Rules

  • Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka (Farrer Football League)
  • Eastern Hawks (Riverina Football League)
  • Mangoplah-Cookadinia United-Eastlakes (Riverina Football League)
  • North Wagga (Farrer Football League)
  • Rivcoll (Farrer Football League)
  • Turvey Park (Riverina Football League)
  • Wagga Tigers (AFL Canberra)

Rugby League

Rugby Union

  • Rivcoll (Southern Inland Rugby League)
  • Wagga Agricultural College (Southern Inland Rugby League)
  • Wagga City (Southern Inland Rugby League)
  • Wagga Waratahs (Southern Inland Rugby League)

[edit] Notes and References

  1. ^ Geographical Names Board of New South Wales
  2. ^ Gobbagombalin Bridge - Sherry Morris - Page 13 - 19
  3. ^ Hampden Bridge, Wagga Wagga (pdf). Heritage. Institution of Engineers. Retrieved on 2006-08-19.
  4. ^ Hampden Bridge, Wagga Wagga, NSW (html). Heritage. Timber Research Unit of the Department of Architecture at the University of Tasmania. Retrieved on 2006-08-19.
  5. ^ Council closes Hampden Bridge over sinking concerns (html). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on 2006-08-17.
  6. ^ The Daily Advertiser Hampden Bridge is falling down - Page 3 - 17 August 2006
  7. ^ Cockington, James. "Heir apparent", Business > Money, The Age, 2005-08-23, p. 12. Retrieved on 2006-06-23.
  8. ^ Morris 1999, p. 261

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Coordinates: -35.115° 147.370°


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