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WILCANNIA

Middle of nowhere, centre of everywhere

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OUR TOWN

Where the Barrier Highway crosses the Darling River 200km east of Broken Hill, you'll find a quaint town called Wilcannia.

 Wilcannia reputedly means "a gap in the bank where the flood waters escape" in the Barkindji language of the local Aboriginal people.

 In the semi-arid to desert environment, Wilcannia is located within the Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion, consisting of landscapes adapted to flooding. 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.

Major Thomas Mitchell passed through this area in 1835, and the first European pastoralists arrived in the 1850s.

By the 1880s, Wilcannia was the third largest inland port in Australia, with a population of more than 3,000 people.

At the 2011 census, Wilcannia had a population of only 604.

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There are plenty of things to see and do around Wilcannia. The Paroo-Darling National Park, 60 km north-east of Wilcannia, is a major wetland ecosystem. The area around Peery Lake has the most extensive bone midden deposits in the State. The towns of Tilpa and White Cliffs are located nearby, and offer unique landscapes and attractions, great for a weekend visit. 

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OUR HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Wilcannia Hospital was redeveloped as a Multi Purpose Service and officially opened in 2002. 25 staff members provide integrated services including community health, 24 hour emergency care, Ambulance, inpatient and residential aged care places. The old hospital section has been converted into a community health facility and now houses the Primary Health Care team.

Wilcannia has several visiting services including: Cardiology, Renal, Endocrinology, Dental, Ear, Nose and Throat, Dietician, Audiology, Dermatology, Podiatry, Ophthalmology, Mental Health, Chronic Disease and Women’s and Children’s Health.  

Although there are no designated “acute beds” there is facility for short term low risk admissions with the approval of the Royal Flying Doctor Service medical officers. The RFDS provide a minimum of three clinics per week, which is supported by telephone consultations and emergency retrievals. Maari Ma Aboriginal Health Corporation has regular twice chronic disease clinics, which has reduced the number of emergency presentations to the service.

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