Walla Walla, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walla WallaNew South Wales |
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Zion Lutheran Church
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 Walla Walla
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 836 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1869 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2659 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 196 m (643 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Greater Hume | ||||||||||||||
| County | Hume | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Walla Walla | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Albury | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Farrer | ||||||||||||||
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Walla Walla is a town in the Riverina area of southern New South Wales, Australia. It is looked after by the Greater Hume Shire Council. The town is about 39 km (24 mi) north of Albury-Wodonga. It is also about 130 km (81 mi) south of Wagga Wagga.
In 2006, Walla Walla had 581 people living there. It is home to the biggest Lutheran church in New South Wales. The town is 196 m (643 ft) above sea level. In summer, it's usually hot, around 31 °C (88 °F). Winters are cooler, with highs around 12 °C (54 °F).
Walla Walla offers many sports. These include tennis, lawn bowls, and cricket. There is also a local swimming pool for everyone to enjoy.
Walla Walla is also where St Paul's College is located. This is the only Lutheran high school in NSW. The school has special programs like horse riding and farming studies. Students come from nearby towns and even big cities like Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne.
Contents
History of Walla Walla
The land around Walla Walla was first home to the Wiradjuri Aboriginal people. They lived here for thousands of years before Europeans arrived.
Early European Settlement
Explorers Hume and Hovell passed through in 1824. They saw that the area was good for raising animals. The first settlers, called squatters, came in 1834. By 1845, four large farms, known as stations, were set up. These included "Round Hill" and "Walla Walla."
In the 1860s, a famous bushranger named Dan "Mad Dog" Morgan was active here. He used a rocky hill 6 km (3.7 mi) north of Walla Walla as a lookout. This spot was near the Walla Walla Station and Billabong Creek.
German Settlers Arrive
Walla Walla was officially started in 1869. Fifty-six German settlers moved here from the Barossa Valley in South Australia. They were looking for new farming land. Land was hard to find in South Australia, but the New South Wales government had fertile land for sale at good prices.
The group left their town of Ebenezer in October 1868. They traveled in 14 covered wagons and 2 carts. Father Klemke led the group. Many of these families were from a group called Wends or Sorbs. Some had just moved from Germany.
They first named their new town Ebenezer. But there was already another town with that name in New South Wales. So, the name was changed to Walla Walla. This name comes from the Wiradjuri language and means "place of many rocks." Many other German settlements were also started nearby in the Riverina region.
The Walla Walla Post Office opened on 1 February 1878. The Walla Walla Hotel opened in the early 1900s.
Walla Walla During World Wars
Around 1900, Walla Walla was a close-knit community. People kept their German language and old customs. However, the First World War (1914-1918) was a difficult time. People in Australia felt very patriotic, supporting the British Empire. Because of their German background, the Walla Walla community faced challenges. Some local leaders were questioned. The war memorial in Walla Walla talks about fighting "Prussian Militarism" instead of Germany.
When the Second World War (1939-1945) began, similar tensions appeared. This time, authorities focused on Lutheran pastors in the area. Some pastors were questioned about their views.
Learning in Walla Walla
Early Schools
The first school in Walla Walla started in 1873. It was a church school, and lessons were taught in German. This school was in the original Zion Church building. In 1883, a new schoolhouse made of mudbrick opened.
Two years later, in 1885, the NSW Department of Public Instruction took over the school. The State became responsible for teaching the children. German language classes continued for a few afternoons a week. These classes stopped when the First World War began.
St Paul's College
In the 1930s, the community wanted a Christian high school. This led to the creation of St Paul's College. Mr Werner Hebart was the first headmaster. He had been a senior teacher at a school in Hobart (Tasmania).
St Paul's started in 1948 with 28 students. Thirteen of these students lived with local families. In 1950, St Paul's moved to its current location.
Fun Places to Visit
Walla Walla's German history is a big part of the town. You can see it in street names like Scholz Street and Klemke Avenue. The Lutheran church and St Paul's College also show this history.
You can learn about the journey of the first German settlers at the Jindera Pioneer Museum. It has artifacts and even some of their original wagons. There's also a replica wagon and a display at Zion Lutheran Church. Many old gravestones in the local cemetery have German writing.
A community survey found three important heritage sites in Walla Walla: Morgan's Lookout, Zion Lutheran Church, and Gum Swamp.
Morgans Lookout
Morgans Lookout is a white granite rock formation. It is next to Billabong Creek, which is the longest creek in the Southern Hemisphere. This high spot was used by the bushranger Dan "Mad Dog" Morgan. He used it to watch for police. Stories say Morgan hid his horses in deep cracks in the rocks when police were near. Morgans Lookout was also used to spot fires in the late 1800s.
Zion Lutheran Church
The first Lutheran church was built from white granite in 1872. The current Zion Lutheran Church was built in 1924. It is the largest Lutheran Church in New South Wales. It can seat almost 600 people. The church is known for its beautiful stained glass windows and a huge pipe organ. The old schoolhouse built by the church in 1883 is still there.
Gum Swamp
Gum Swamp is a very important wetland area. It covers 458 hectares (1,130 acres). This area has Aboriginal heritage sites. It is also home to many local plants and animals. You can find at least 128 different kinds of birds here.
Famous People from Walla Walla
- Carly Findlay, an appearance activist, grew up in Walla Walla.
- Neville Forge, an Australian rules footballer.
- Lindsay Jacob, an Australian rules footballer.
