Quandialla facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Quandialla New South Wales
Second Street, the main street of Quandialla
Quandialla Location in New South Wales
Population	349 (2011 census)
Postcode(s)	2721
Elevation	250 m (820 ft)
Location	412 km (256 mi) W of Sydney 169 km (105 mi) N of Wagga Wagga 46 km (29 mi) SW of Grenfell
LGA(s)	Weddin Shire
State electorate(s)	Cootamundra
Federal Division(s)	Hume

Quandialla is a small village located in the Central West part of New South Wales, Australia. It's about 412 kilometers (256 miles) west of Sydney. This village sits on flat lands known as 'The Bland' country, near the edge of the Weddin Shire. Nearby towns include Grenfell (46 km northeast), Young (65 km southeast), and West Wyalong (57 km west). You can even see the Weddin Mountains from Quandialla! In 2011, about 349 people lived in Quandialla and the areas around it.

Quandialla's Past

Early Days and First Settlers

The land where Quandialla now stands was originally home to the Wiradjuri people. They lived here for thousands of years. European settlers first arrived in the 1830s. This area was known for its excellent pastures, perfect for grazing animals. Before Quandialla, smaller villages like Morangarell and Bimbi grew up along local creeks.

How Quandialla Began

Quandialla itself was founded in 1914. Its growth was mainly due to the new railway line that opened in 1916. The railway helped the area change from just grazing animals to growing crops like wheat. Quandialla quickly became an important town for farmers. It helped them transport their wheat and raise lambs. The Quandialla Post Office opened on June 19, 1916.

Growing Up in the 1900s

The town grew very fast in the 1920s. Meanwhile, Bimbi and Morangarell, which the railway didn't reach, started to shrink. In the 1950s, Quandialla had many services. These included three car repair shops, two farm agents, a movie theater, and both public and Catholic schools. There were also sales yards where up to 10,000 animals could be sold.

The local school, Quandialla Central School, had over 230 students in the late 1950s. This is much more than the 50 students it had in 2009. More than 600 people came to the opening of the Memorial Hall in 1955. The town even had its own hospital until recently.

Quandialla Today

Today, Quandialla is still an important part of the region. It has a general store where you can buy everyday items. There's also The Bland Hotel, the central school, and a public swimming pool. The town also has a bowling club for fun activities.

The Quandialla area is now a major part of Australia's "wheat belt." Farmers here grow lots of wheat, along with other grains like canola, oats, and barley. Raising wool and fat lambs is also a big part of the local economy.

Famous Faces from Quandialla

Don McAlpine: From Teacher to Filmmaker

Did you know that a famous filmmaker was born and grew up in Quandialla? His name is Don McAlpine. He started his career as a physical education teacher. But then he became a cinematographer, which means he's the person who films movies!

Don McAlpine has worked on many well-known films. Some of these include Breaker Morant, Moulin Rouge, My Brilliant Career, Predator, Mrs Doubtfire, Romeo and Juliet, and Patriot Games.

Quandialla on TV

Quandialla has even been featured on television! Part of a TV mini-series called '1915' was filmed here. This show was about two young Australian soldiers during World War I. It was also filmed in the nearby village of Bimbi. The series was very popular, selling to almost 40 countries. It also won two Logies, which are big awards for Australian TV shows.

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