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Wilcannia New South Wales
Location of Wilcannia in New South Wales (red)
Population:	759 (2006 census)
Established:	1866
Postcode:	2836
Elevation:	75.0 m (246 ft)
Location:	958 km (595 mi) from Sydney 196 km (122 mi) from Broken Hill 261 km (162 mi) from Cobar 335 km (208 mi) from Bourke
LGA:	Central Darling Shire
State District:	Murray-Darling
Federal Division:	Parkes
Mean Max Temp Mean Min Temp Rainfall 26.6 °C 80 °F 12.1 °C 54 °F 260.4 mm 10.3 in

Wilcannia is a small town with a population of 759, located within the Central Darling Shire in north western New South Wales, Australia.

Initially named Mt Murchison by the explorer Major Thomas Mitchell who passed through in 1835, Wilcannia was proclaimed in June 1866 and incorporated as a municipality in 1881. The township reached its height in the 1880s due to the booming sheep industry, when it boasted 13 hotels, a population of 3000, and a local newspaper - the Wilcannia Times.

Wilcannia is the home of the Barkindji people (also known as Paakantji) who have been living in the area for over 40,000 years. Wilcannia in the local language means a gap in the bank where flood waters escape.

Wilcannia Bridge

The centrelift bridge over the Darling River was built in 1896 and is now classified by the National Trust. It replaced a punt which was capable of moving 4000 sheep a day across the river.

In the early days Wilcannia was a port for riverboats on the Darling River. In 1887 alone over 200 paddle steamers stopped there. Known as 'Queen City of the West' there was a time when most of the wool from northwestern NSW passed through the port. However nowadays the Darling river has run dry in Wilcannia.

There were many fine buildings built in the prosperous years in Wilcannia. Today they are mostly abandoned and are either boarded-up or vandalised (as are many contemporary buildings). Although Wilcannia is a natural stopping point on the highway between Cobar and Broken Hill, the generally derelict condiiton of the town and its reputation for crime^[1][2] discourages travellers from spending more time there.

Wilcannia is located where the Barrier Highway crosses the Darling River, 965 km from Sydney. The environment is semi-arid with an annual rainfall of 255 mm. Mean maximum daily temperature in Summer is 34°C and in Winter is 19°C (Bureau of Meteorology).

Wilcannia is located within the Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion (IBRA classification, Department of Environment), consisting of landscapes adapted to flooding. Common species include River Red Gum, Yellow Box, Oldman Saltbush and Lignum.

The surrounding area is very sparsely settled by pastoralists who have large land holdings, used primarily to run sheep. These holdings fall in the Western Division and the majority are held as 99-year leases.

From the 2006 Census, Wilcannia had a population of 759 with 410 (54%) people being of Aboriginal descent. Wilcannia has 358 private dwellings (Australian Bureau of Statistics).

• Central Darling Shire
• Visit NSW Wilcannia
• Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion

Coordinates: 31°34′S, 143°22′E

1. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/nsw/brokenh/200406/s1127928.htm
2. ^ http://www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/solutions/wilcannia/wilc.html