Wanganella ICEM Wanganella, New South Wales, Australia
By WazzaAndWenches on 25-Sep-11. Waypoint GA3406

I've Cached Everywhere, Man - GCA Geocache Series

(ICEM wiki)

Wanganella

Wanganella’s claim to fame is the introduction to the world of the famous Australian Peppin Merino, which was developed on neighbouring land by the Peppin family in the 19th century.

Situated on the banks of Billabong Creek, said to be the longest ‘creek’ in Australia, the village of Wanganella once boasted two hotels, two blacksmiths, two stores, a school, a church, a bootmaker, a resident police officer and a small lock-up (which is now located at the Peppin Heritage Centre in Deniliquin). A number of houses, mostly the homes of workers on Wanganella and other local stations, lined the streets. Sport was catered for with tennis courts, a cricket ground and race track.

The last surviving licensed hotel was destroyed by fire in 1957 and today the village consists of a general store, a community hall with adjoining playground, and a few houses and other buildings. It remains however, an interesting reminder of a bygone era.

George Hall Peppin and his two sons were experienced English sheep breeders who bought part of Wanganella Run (now Wanganella Station) in 1858. Dissatisfied with the yield and quality of wool from the sheep then available, they channelled their efforts into breeding a strain that was better adapted to Australian conditions, larger of frame and able to yield a greatly improved quality and quantity of wool.

Their successes constitute the foundation of Australia’s reputation as a quality wool exporter. The Peppin strain of merino sheep now predominates in Australian wool producing flocks and has been exported to other parts of the world.

In recognition of the contribution made by the Peppin merino to Australia, a bronze statue of a ram has been mounted on a stone base near the entrance to Wanganella Station, just south of the village.

In 1878 the Peppin lands and stock were bought by F.S. Falkiner & Sons. This famous firm continued to acquire land and became one of the major landholders in the Riverina. At one stage the properties were owned by media magnate Rupert Murdoch. With its base at ‘Boonoke’, on the Deniliquin-Conargo road, the collective group of properties is now owned by the Bell Group.

The concrete bridge over the Billabong Creek at the edge of the village was constructed in 1970, replacing a timber structure situated a short distance upstream.

 The cache...

Originally on a relic from days gone by but now moved to a much larger structure (someone "borrowed" the relic). The cache is not intended to be hard but to get you out and about visiting some of the great places dotted across the Australian landscape.

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