Is Wilcannia really that Bad??

Moggs,

we stopped in Wilcannia mid afternoon on our way through to White Cliffs from Nyngan. Worth a look around at the bridge, river etc. Can't give you any details re staying there though.

cheers,
Sam.

Moggs,
At Wilcannia the locals are a bit unfriendly to tourists. Best to stay alert for signs of trouble (rock throwing or attempting to stop you). If you do stop "post an armed guard". Wife was on a bus that got stoned a couple of years ago and last year a gentleman tried to make me stop.

As a deviation a run along the Darling from Bourke to Wilcannia may be worth considering. Trilby Station (33km south of Louth on West side of River) has a range of acomodation facilities (or camping if desired). There is a bit of water coming down the Darling now and the Yellow Belly are biting well a bit further north.

Also the Medindee lakes about 100k out of the Hill (not been there myself) and believe is very dry at the moment but should get some water soon.

Regards

Pete G

Dear Moggs,
We stayed at the caravan park on the northside, over the bridge. Very nice lttle park with very friendly operators. The bus from the club in town picked us up right at our site, dropped us at the club for a lovely chinese meal and dropped us back at our site again. We went for a drive through town the next morning for a look and then headed off. It was very quiet and we had no problems what so ever. We had heard alot of stories and were abit concerned but we wouldn't hesitate to stop there again
Regards Wheely

Hi Moggs, We went through there to Camerons a couple of years back for New Tears Eve (the millenium) we had three parties for the 3 time zones at the corner.
We didn't stay at Wilcannia but went on up to Whitecliffs where its worth a stay in the underground motel and a tour of the mines, ask for Jock he's a bit of a character.
Coming back we camped a couple of nights in Bourke at the Kidman Caravan Park (recommended) and visited the Aboriginal show in Brewarrina (v good).
In all of the N/W NSW towns the tourist offices will tell you not to attempt fate and leave things seen in your vehicles etc. Park wisely, don't be conned and you'll be OK.Carpe Diem

Moggs,

My personal choice would be not to stay at Wilcannia over night, its the sort of place that everything could be fine but when it goes wrong, it goes wrong. I lived and worked in Broken Hill in the late 80s, and our area went from the Qld border to Vic border, have done jobs at menindee and then spent nearly 5 years down stream on the darling river. There is some great places out there.Pooncarie is one place on race day that does go off. Menidnee has a lot to offer. I never worked in Wilcannia, but dealt with a lot of people who lived there. I last visited Wilcannia in 1996 visiting a work mate and left a 7 stone german sheppard to mind the car overnight to stop the car, or its contents being stolen. ( Can happen anywhere but chances are higher there). Stayed in a fairly safe residence. The problem is a couple of rotten apples spoil the lot, which tarnishes the good. This makes it hard for local business people and residents who are having a genuine go. Now that I have kids I will never stay there or work there if I could avoid it. Personal knowledge of bad experiences stay with you. This is just my opinion but do not like to bag a town that has people trying hard to do better.

G,day Moggs.

Went through Wilcannia Nov last year.We were told by someone in Broken Hill don't stay there at night.On that info we stayed about 15km short of Wilcannia inrest area(had pop up van). Soon after we stopped that night police went flying past us.We learned the next morning thet locals had burned down house.
The next day all was quiet when we arrived there for fuel but there were a few locals hanging around streets.We just fuelled up and moved on and had no trouble.The advice we got was daytime is fine but don't arrive there after dark.

Cheers.

Hooked on 4WDrivin'

i was warned off by the fact that even tourist busses do not stop now. love the area and when i go i am taking my fridge magnet - see if it works up there - it's worked down here so far - thank the lord . have a great day regards peter

Moggs, we have some friends that had a bad (scarey) experience there last year, similar to the one mentioned above. Several locals forced them to stop by blocking the road in front (under the guise of crossing the road). Then a number more (friends said a dozen, but adrenalin does funny things to perception) moved in and started threatening and abusing them. They had to reverse back down the road, being persued, until they could U-turn and high-tail it out. We were planning a trip along the same route you mention, and they advised we by-pass the town completely.

I wouldn't want to see that lavely Pathie damaged.Be good, or be quick.
Rohan

Thanks to all who responded. It would seem that many have had an experience (or heard of one) in Wilcannia. I agree with the notion that you cannot bag a town due to a few bad elements, and I feel for the residents who are trying to make a life there. I would love to stop there and support their businesses, however with a three year old and a nervous wife (from a previous bad experience) I don't think we will. Probably being a bit 'precious', but hey, it sounds like there are plenty of other nice places in the region to visit. Once again, thanks for the info, even if it is a little depressing.Moggs ( Normanhurst NSW)

Hi Moggs,

IMHO Wilcannia really is that bad. The town is badly declined, shops boarded up, dirty etc and all the usual things that go hand in hand with an outback town struggling with a MASSIVE drinking problem.

I've passed through a few times, stayed in the CVP on one occasion (during a torrential storm which had immediately followed a dust storm...very spectacular) though would have preferred not to though. We didn't have any problems but I suspect the extreme weather conditions kept would-be trouble makers at home.

My folks stayed in the CVP several years back and wanted to leave their van there whilst they went off exploring. The CVP manager advised them against leaving the van and was very specific and clear about the risks should they choose to do so. He would accept no responsibility for theft of vandalism. In the end, they left the van overnight up by the managers residence, locked up tight including the roof hatches. Happily, it was as they had left it.

We usually always stop for fuel there when passing through but large numbers of local aboriginals hanging around the servo and the footy ground next door can be VERY intimidating. We don't hang around and now we have a child, we wouldn't stop there again.

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper

It seems we all have had a bad trip somewhere or other and ours was ok at Willcania,just a bit intimidating if you are not used to the type of locals that are there .Just time your trip to pass through during the day.

Now, lets see ! are there any more of you experts out there that want to bagWilcannia ... keep it up. it show you all up as as a load of small minded twerps ...

Wilcannia is a small town of indiginous people who have been displaced by the settlers and their ilk, who expect them to lie back and have their land and customs taken from them with nothing in return.... and when they show some sort of angst are labelled as trouble makers... the real trouble makers are the white settlers who care nothing for the indiginous of the region and who are uanable to countenance any adverse criticism....they need help from us all but only cop flack as trouble makers... wake up Australia.... help the real people of our land..

Steve,

Harrassing people or damaging their property is not an acceptable way of engendering support. To regard people as small minded twerps shows a lack of understanding of the issue on your part.

As the depth of discussion on this forum shows it is a well recognised problem which is gaining notoreity. Perhaps your great knowledge, talent and knowledge could be applied to fixing the problem.

Pete G

Well Steve

Have any other pearls of wisdom for us all?? Or are you going to keep your keyboard quiet. I guess from what you have said you don't have any ideas either. Pretty easy to just shot your mouth off with the the usual comments we've all heard before.
Lets hear how your going to fix it. I bet you won't even respond will you.

Regards
Rusty

PS Mr Mogg

Do let us all know how you went. I am planning of the same sort of trip around August/ September. I would be grateful for any info from you trip
Regards
Rusty

Having read all of the above responses makes us feel a little scared!!!! Planning to head from BH to Cobar via Wilcannia in mid to late May. Towing 22 foot full caravan and brand new tinnie on top of 4WD. Whilst our 4.8 Patrol has big fuel tank,but with all that weight may need a fuel stop at Wilcannia. Is the servo so bad as described above. Don't think we have any other option but to go that way, as we cannot take the van off road and go from BH to Bourke. I lived in Mildura 35 years ago and Wilcannia was bad news then but didnt realise just how bad it might be now. Any thoughts anyone? Thanks Jinki

Rick

Thanks for your helpful suggestions - we will take heed.

Jinki and Harry

I lived in Broken Hill & still have a house there. I have had the pleasure (I don't think) of being at Wilcannia on pay day & a few other days when as they say "The natives are restless". The place has very little to offer & other than a fuelling & ice -cream point we rarely stop. There is a reasonable rest area west of Cobar on the left, about 110 km out from Wilcannia (McCullochs Range), we stop there a lot as it is large, open & has a toilet & kids playground and you normally have company. There is another rest area at Springs Creek, about 80 km west of Wilcannia, it is not bad, it has a toilet & a kids playground also.

I have never, ever, heard of any travellers having a bad time in that area, and at one time it was my job to be really interested in such goings on.

There are two caravan parks in Broken Hill, I suggest the one on the Adelaide Road (Rakow Street) next to the cemetary, and there is another at Silverton (Penrose Park), but is a bit basic, but cheap & within walking distance of the pub.

The road from Broken Hill to Tibooburra is good & is well maintained, though the RTA will close it if there is rain. This road is fenced & camping is not encouraged for a good bit of its length. I understand that fuel is still available at Packsaddle about halfway.Milparinka has a number of places you can camp, just go to the pub, they'll tell you where you can go.

There is not a great deal at Cameron's Corner, except the dog fence & the store, which is in Qld, but not by much. If you want a place to camp drive one or two klicks down the track by the dog fence, don't worry about the sign that says it's a private road cause it ain't, or you can go a bit further on to Bollards Lagoon Station you can stay there for a small fee.

You are going into a good part of the world, but expect the "freight component" to be added to everything & the water (even in Broken Hill) can be a bit "jungley", suggest you take your own or try & get some rainwater. The Darling River is afain running so the lakes at Menindee should be getting some water by this, there is good camping there, either on the river or near the lakes & there is Kinchega National Park which also has camping. I suggest you go to the Tourist Information Centre in Broken Hill and get everything they have to offer about the area.

Oh yes, observe the fruit fly quarantine signs as the Dept of Ag has a roadblock just east of Broken Hill & they staff it quite often. Tomatoes are "fruit", not vegetables, which they'll allow in. I lost that round.

Anyway enjoy the best part of Oz

Dick Holland

Don't go thru there on dole/pension day or day after. Use to travel the road a fair bit and from Syd would stay at Cobar then thru to B'Hill. Don't really recommend going thru there late arvo.
I bought fuel there a couple of times and while I was paying a local was bludging a smoke from my wife - all was Ok except my wife was asleep with sunnies on and the block said "WHAT R YA STARING AT" , wife woke with a shock - gave the old bloke a smoke and bleep off.
They are in a viscious circle out there - no hope for the kids, all know that they will get the pension and every white fella is the enemy - the people are a mix of tribes from all over the place due to the "Assimilation programs of the gov't" where they were moved from their own tribal areas and put into missions ! These tribes did not get on with each other to begin with - so we have to expect trouble - money, nothing to do, no jobs, a pub, no respect for gov't(law) and all the beliefs and traditional ways have gone (not totally) - so there are some concerns in this town.

Anyway choose the right time and it will be Ok - or do what my brother did he broke down 5Km outside of Wilcannia and walked in with his dog - no one came near him - they are all scared of dogs because all the town dogs are virtually trained to rip ya apart.

PS. Up at Tibooburra go see the Warratta / Bendigo gold fields between Milparinka and Tibooburra - ask NPWS about details - great little 4WD trip.
Have fun, Cheers BeddoCheers, Beddo
Surf KZN185
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