Warialda

Warialda is a town in the Northwest Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia, in Gwydir Shire. Situated on the banks of the Warialda Creek, the town’s name means “Place of Wild Honey.” At the 2001 census, Warialda had a population of 1,198.

Transport
The Gwydir Highway runs through town and, along with Stephen Street, is considered on of the town’s two main streets. Warialda used to be but is no longer serviced by rail at Warialda Rail, a town 5 or 10 km south of Warialda itself.

History
Warialda was the first town gazetted in the Northwest Slopes region, probably in the 1830s and was the headquarters of the Yallaroi Shire.

Industry
Warialda is the service centre for the local agricultural sector. Farms around Warialda produce wheat, sorghum, barley, sheep, beef cattle. Some of the locals also earn a dollar or two hunting wild pigs, which are exported, mainly to Germany, where there are demands for wild boar which are not present in the Australian market.

The rationalisation of NSW regional centres has impacted significantly on services with many previously local businesses closing as customers travel to adjacent larger centres - i.e. Inverell to the east and Moree to the west.

Warialda serves as an education precinct for local families having pre-school through to full secondary education. This helps support some of the local businesses with a general store, cafes, service stations, pubs and other small businesses continuing to trade.

Religion
Warialda is home to congregations of the Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian, and Uniting Churches.

The Anglican and Catholic churches are located near the Gwydir Highway in the main part of town on the south bank of the Warialda Creek.

Presbyterian church
St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church is located on the corner of Stephen and Long Streets. The front of the church has three stained glass windows representing the The Good Shepherd, from John chapter 10, as an Australian scene.

The Presbyterian Manse was built from convict-hewn sandstone which formed part of the original town gaol. A local landowner used this stone built a house for himself and donated the rest of the stone to the church. The Manse bears examples of gaol graffiti, such as “Hell is here” upside-down outside the office window, and “Lord, remember me” at the back of the building.

Education
Warialda Public School is one of the oldest public schools in New South Wales. It was established in 1851. Warialda is also home to Warialda High School and St Joseph's Catholic School.

Places of interest
Between Warialda and Inverell on the Gwydir Highway is Cranky Rock. According to local legend, in the 1800’s a Chinese man jumped off Cranky Rock into the creek while being pursued by the local police. Cranky Rock is now a popular picnic spot.