Lake Lyell which provides cooling water for Wallerawang Power Station

 

Wallerawang
Town connected to one of New South Wales' most important power stations
Wallerawang is a town within the local government area of Lithgow City which sprang up when the Wallerawang Power Station opened in 1957. It is situated 156 km north-west of Sydney and 900 m above sea-level on the western edge of the Blue Mountains.

'Wallerawang' derives from the language of the Wiradjuri Aborigines who occupied the area before white settlement. It is said to mean 'place near wood and water' or 'plenty of water'.

The first European in the immediate vicinity was James Blackman who delineated the first road from Bathurst to the present site of Wallerawang in 1820. The 'Wallerawong' station was taken up by James Walker in 1824, although Andrew Brown of 'Cooerwull' (see entry on Lithgow) managed the property much of the time.

Wallerawang became a major stopover for those headed between Sydney and the farming areas beyond Mudgee and for those travelling between Sydney and Bathurst. One of the latter was famous natural historian Charles Darwin who stayed overnight at 'Wallerawang' farm in 1836 as a guest of Mr Brown.

Two of Walker's convict servants took up land here in the 1850s (Maddox taking up Lidsdale). Walker's widow established a small stone school in 1860 which is still standing.

It was the arrival of the railway at Lithgow in 1869 (and Wallerawang in 1870) which enabled the industrialisation and hence the closer settlement of the valley. A town developed adjacent Wallerawang station. Until the line to Bathurst was completed in 1876 all passengers alighted at Wallerawang and joined a Cobb & Co. coach for the journey west to Bathurst or north to Mudgee.

St John's Church of England was erected in 1883 to a design of Edmund Blacket, at the behest of James Walker's daughter.

Oil-shale, coalmines and power generation have sustained the town since that time. Around 1950 new town plans were drawn up for Wallerawang, which was planned as a coal centre for the railway line. However, when diesel power was introduced those plans were abandoned. It is said the Wallerawang power station was built as a compensation measure.

The station has played an important part in the development of the western coalfields of NSW as well as furnishing power for the railways. However, since the mid-1980s, automation, computerisation and rationalisation have resulted in significant job losses from both the power station and the local collieries.

Things to see:  

Tourist Information
Tourist information is available from the Lithgow Visitors' Centre, tel: (02) 6353 1859.

 

Lake Wallace
Lake Wallace is an artificial lake created to provide cooling water for the Wallerawang Power Station. It also offers recreational opportunities for local employees and visitors. Fishing, sailing, trout fishing and canoeing.can all be pursued (no power boats are allowed) and there are picnic, barbecue and childrens' play facilities. Birdlife is abundant, in particular the black swans and white-faced herons.

 

Wallerawang Power Station
Tours of Wallerawang Power Station can be organised by prior arrangement: ring Delta Electricity on (02) 6352 8611.

The power station has played an important part in the development of the western coalfields of NSW as well as furnishing power for the railways. It has a total capacity of 1000 megawatts, producing electricity by means of coal-fired boilers and steam-driven turbo-generators. Lacking the salt water available for cooling at coastal power stations, Wallerawang uses a system of cooling towers with water supplied from Lakes Wallace and Lyell.

Over 75 per cent of the power station's coal is provided by the nearby Angus Place colliery with the remainder supplied by local privately owned mines. The coal is then taken by conveyor to the power station's pulverising mills, where it is crushed to a fine powder before being burnt in the furnace. Up to 2.2 million tonnes of coal are consumed each year.

 

St John's Church of England
St John's Church of England in Main St is a stone building designed by Edmund Blacket and built in 1883 at the behest of Georgina Lyons Barton, the daughter of James Walker. The Barton family owned the old Wallerawang estate which was then known as Barton Park.

 

Jannei Goat Dairy
Jannei Goat Dairy is located at 8 View St, Lidsdale. It is a working dairy making fresh cheeses, waxed cheeses, yoghurt and unpasteurised goats' milk. It is open from Monday to Wednesday from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., tel: (02) 6355 1107.

If you are visiting the farm for the first time, knock at the dairy and if there is no response sound your horn a few times. Someone will be with you in a few minutes.

 

 

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Wallerawang