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Shire Profile
The Local government Area of Bland is located on the northern fringes of the Riverina, New South Wales. Bland Shire Council covers an area of 8,482 square kilometers and supports a population of 6,343 residents (2006 Census). The twin townships of West Wyalong and Wyalong have a joint population of 3,950 and serve the role of the major service center for the Shire. Other communities within the Shire include Barmedman, Tallimba, Ungarie, Weethalle, Kikoira, Mirrool and Naradhan. The Wiradjuri group are the original inhabitants of the area. The Shire’s history starts as early as 1817, when explorer and General Surveyor John Oxley traveled through the area prophesising that “from want of timber, grass and water, it would never be inhabited by civilised man”. Yet from as early as the 1830s settlement occurred in the region as vast sheep and cattle runs were established. Bland Shire really took off after the discovery of gold in 1892. During this time, the population grew to 10,000. A survey of the area was conducted in 1894 resulting in the establishment of the township of Wyalong. However by this time a major settlement had developed west of Wyalong, resulting in the formation of West Wyalong which still remains as the Shire’s residential and commercial hub. As a reminent from its early mining origins, West Wyalong has been built along a crooked main street. The main street takes its unusual shape as it was built along a bullock track that curved around tree stumps and gold diggings. Today Bland Shire is a blossoming rural economy built around sheep, cattle, wheat and other crop varieties. In recent times, West Wyalong has also experienced significant developments away from agriculture. Barrick Gold has established themselves as a major industrial client for our region, committing to the $220 million Cowal Gold Project. This mining project is now in the final construction phase and actual gold production has just recently begun. Pace Farm have also recently built one of the largest egg producing facility in the southern hemisphere, and the recently completed AWB grain handling facility is improving levels of efficiency for local grain growers. Bland is a well serviced Shire with facilities to meet the needs of residents and business alike. There are excellent transport and telecommunication networks allowing easy access to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Residents enjoy affordable housing and excellent child-care, education, health (a new hospital opened in 1999) and aged care facilities. A large variety of employment opportunities are currently available within the areas of aged care, health, government services and mine processing. Tourism is also important to the Shire with West Wyalong’s location on the crossroads of the Newell and Mid Western highways resulting in the town being a popular stop over for travelers. The town has a large range of accommodation from a country club resort and quality motels through to comfortable pub styled rooms and well appointed caravan park.In town visitors can walk the ‘crooked mile’ of West Wyalong’s unique main street and visit the True Blue Mining Poppet Head, Aboriginal Artifacts Shop, Museum and award-winning Green Corridor walking track leading to the original town of Wyalong with its collection of historic buildings clustered along the Newell Highway. |
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© 2008 Bland Shire Council |
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