View source for Wee Waa

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                     = town
| name                     = Wee Waa
| state                    = nsw
| image                    = Wee Waa 2005 12 21 Main Street.jpg
| caption                  = Main street
| image_alt                = 
| relief                   = 
| coordinates              = {{coord|30|12|S|149|26|E|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_label_position   = right
| map_alt                  = 
| pop                      = 1,571
| pop_year                 = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes            = <ref name="Census2021">{{Census 2021 AUS| id=UCL115154 |name=Wee Waa| accessdate=29 May 2025 |quick=on}}</ref>
| poprank                  = 
| density                  = 
| density_footnotes        = 
| established              = 
| established_footnotes    = 
| abolished                = 
| gazetted                 = 
| postcode                 = 2388
| elevation                = 190
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| area                     = 
| area_footnotes           = 
| timezone                 = 
| utc                      = 
| timezone-dst             = 
| utc-dst                  = 
| dist1                    = 559
| dir1                     = NW
| location1                = [[Sydney]]
| dist2                    = 40
| dir2                     = W
| location2                = [[Narrabri]]
| dist3                    = 142
| dir3                     = E
| location3                = [[Walgett, New South Wales|Walgett]]
| dist4                    = 110
| dir4                     = SSW
| location4                = [[Moree, New South Wales|Moree]]
| dist5                    = 588
| dir5                     = SW
| location5                = [[Brisbane]]
| lga                      = Narrabri Shire
| region                   = 
| county                   = [[White County, New South Wales|White]]
| stategov                 = [[Electoral district of Barwon|Barwon]], [[Electoral district of Tamworth|Tamworth]]
| fedgov                   = [[Division of Parkes|Parkes]]
| url                      = 
| maxtemp                  = 
| maxtemp_footnotes        = 
| mintemp                  = 
| mintemp_footnotes        = 
| rainfall                 = 
| rainfall_footnotes       = 
| near-nw                  = [[Merah North]]
| near-n                   = [[Boolcarroll]]
| near-ne                  = [[Narrabri]]
| near-e                   = [[Narrabri]]
| near-se                  = [[Bohena Creek]]
| near-s                   = [[Yarrie Lake]]
| near-sw                  = [[Pilliga, New South Wales|Pilliga]]
| near-w                   = [[Burren Junction]]
| footnotes                = 
}}

'''Wee Waa''' ({{IPAc-en|w|iː|w| ɔː}}) is a town located on the north-western slopes of the [[New England (Australia)|New England]] region in [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]. The town is within the [[Narrabri Shire]] local government area and is on the [[Namoi River]]. Wee Waa is {{convert|41|km|mi}} north-west of [[Narrabri]] and {{convert|571|km|mi}} northwest of [[Sydney]] on the [[Kamilaroi Highway]]. At the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Wee Waa had a population of 1,571.<ref name="Census2021"/> 

Wee Waa is 42&nbsp;kilometres from the [[Newell Highway]], and is referred to as a gateway to the far west centres of Walgett, Collarenebri, Lightning Ridge [[opal]] fields and beyond.<ref name=WeeWaa.com>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weewaa.com/|title=WeeWaa.com|website=WeeWaa.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606102255/http://www.weewaa.com/|archive-date=6 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Aboriginal meaning of Wee Waa is "Fire for Roasting" from the language of the [[Kamilaroi]] people.  The town is known to be the "Cotton Capital of Australia"<ref name=WeeWaa.com/> as a rural community situated in the rich agricultural heartland of the Lower Namoi Valley in NSW.  The town services a far greater rural community as well as the villages of Burren Junction, Pilliga and Gwabegar.

The town is situated approximately {{convert|190|m}} [[Australian Height Datum|above sea level]].

==History==
[[File:Wee Waa.JPG|thumb|300px|Kamilaroi Highway, Wee Waa]]
Before the arrival of European settlers, the Wee Waa area was inhabited by the [[Gamilaraay]]/Kamilaroi Aboriginal people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/wee-waa-nsw|title=Wee Waa, NSW|publisher=Aussie Towns|access-date=27 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228080602/http://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/wee-waa-nsw|archive-date=28 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Wee Waa run was taken up by squatter George Hobler in 1837 and the settlement developed. It became an administrative centre in the late 1840s. A police station and court of petty sessions were established in 1847 and a post office opened two years later.  It is the oldest established town in the area and is the birthplace of the commercial [[cotton]] industry in Australia.

Rail services were extended in 1901 from Narrabri to Walgett, passing through the town.

The first commercial cotton plantation was established in 1961, irrigated with water from the Keepit Dam on the Namoi River.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cotton Australia|title=AUSTRALIAN COTTON HISTORY Fact Sheet|url=http://cottonaustralia.com.au/cotton-library/fact-sheets/cotton-fact-file-australian-cotton-history1|access-date=1 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072620/http://cottonaustralia.com.au/cotton-library/fact-sheets/cotton-fact-file-australian-cotton-history1|archive-date=7 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

It was the first town built on the Namoi River.  The town is subject to regular floods and is protected by a [[levee]] bank.  However thousands of people were isolated on properties around Wee Waa in February 2012.

==Environment==

===Natural===

The Wee Waa district has a mean summer minimum temperature of {{convert|20|C}} and a maximum of {{convert|35|C}}.  Mean winter temperatures range from {{convert|4|C}} to {{convert|18|C}}. Mean annual rainfall is {{convert|575|mm}}, falling on 80 days of the year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Climate History – Wee Waa |url=https://weather.thewest.yahoo.com.au/local-climate-history/nsw/wee-waa |website=yahoo.com.au |access-date=18 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119102059/https://weather.thewest.yahoo.com.au/local-climate-history/nsw/wee-waa |archive-date=19 November 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The town and surrounding area have often been flooded by the Namoi River, which can require supplies to be flown in by helicopter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Webster |first1=Lara |last2=Maguire |first2=Kemii |title=Town cut off by floods for 10 days open for Christmas, but surrounding farms count the cost |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-13/flooded-wee-waa-residents-celebrate-freedom/100689160 |access-date=16 December 2021 |publisher=ABC News |date=12 December 2021 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

===Manmade===

The town has two motels, four schools, a preschool, Nurruby Wee Waa Early Education Service, two hotels and two caravan parks as well as eating-places, a public swimming pool, a nine-hole golf course, bowling club, tennis courts, a modern sporting complex, a hostel for the aged and a new medical centre.

Wee Waa is serviced by [[NSW TrainLink]] rail services, interstate coaches, and daily air services offered through Narrabri.

==Notable events==

{{Historical populations
|type= Australia
|1954|1075
|1961|1099
|1966|1488
|1971|1845
|1976|1904
|1981|1904
|1986|2106
|1991|2030
|1996|1860
|2001|1814
|2006|1689
|2011|1653
|2016|1632
|2021|1571
|source=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] data.<ref name="ABS Census data">{{cite web |title=Statistics by Catalogue Number |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ViewContent?readform&view=ProductsbyCatalogue&Action=Expand&Num=2.2 |access-date=8 January 2024}}</ref><ref name="ABS Census data recent">{{cite web |title=Search Census data |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/search-by-area |access-date=8 January 2024}}</ref>
}}

In 1973, Arthur Murray led the Aboriginal cotton-chippers on strike for better pay and working conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peoples History of Australia |date=2020-04-09 |title=People's History of Australia Podcast. Episode 12 – Black Power in rural NSW: the 1973 Aboriginal Cotton Chippers’ Strike |url=https://commonslibrary.org/peoples-history-of-australia-podcast/#Episode_12_-_Black_Power_in_rural_NSW_the_1973_Aboriginal_Cotton_Chippers_Strike |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=The Commons Social Change Library |language=en-AU}}</ref> The Wee Waa Echo called them "radicals and professional troublemakers", adding that "it is not fanciful to see the Aboriginal problem as the powder keg for Communist aggression in Australia".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/world-affairs/world-affairs/2012/10/life-and-death-arthur-murray|title=John Pilger: The life and death of Aboriginal activist Arthur Murray|work=New Statesman|access-date=23 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524045034/http://www.newstatesman.com/world-affairs/world-affairs/2012/10/life-and-death-arthur-murray|archive-date=24 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

It was in Wee Waa police station that rugby player [[Eddie Murray (rugby league)|Eddie Murray]] died in 1981, one of the [[Aboriginal deaths in custody]] that prompted a [[Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody|Royal Commission]] to be set up.<ref>{{cite web|last=Indigenous Law Resources|first=Reconciliation and Social Justice Library|title=Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/IndigLRes/rciadic/|access-date=31 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506004707/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/IndigLRes/rciadic/|archive-date=6 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also the first town in Australia to use [[DNA testing]] to find a rapist.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mealey|first=Rachel|title=Wee Waa DNA testing could start benchmark for investigation|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s118504.htm|work=The world Today|access-date=25 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113031210/http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s118504.htm|archive-date=13 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 17 May 2013 at the 79th Annual Wee Waa Show, [[Columbia Records]] held the global launch party for the French electronic music duo [[Daft Punk]]'s album ''[[Random Access Memories]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s3733244.htm|title=Daft Punk to launch Random Access Memories in Wee Waa|date=9 April 2013|work=[[Triple J]]|access-date=13 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411085354/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s3733244.htm|archive-date=11 April 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> This caused much excitement in the town, and it attracted an estimated 2,500 tourists.<ref>{{cite web|last=McCabe|first=Kathy|title=Daft Punk fans descend on Wee Waa for launch of album Random Access Memories|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/daft-punk-fans-descend-on-wee-waa-for-launch-of-album-random-access-memories/story-e6frfn09-1226645504916|access-date=31 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506152353/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/daft-punk-fans-descend-on-wee-waa-for-launch-of-album-random-access-memories/story-e6frfn09-1226645504916|archive-date=6 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=McCabe|first=Kathy|title=Wee Waa goes wild for Daft Punk at album launch|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/wee-waa-goes-wild-for-daft-punk/story-e6frfn09-1226646589823|access-date=31 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506152349/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/wee-waa-goes-wild-for-daft-punk/story-e6frfn09-1226646589823|archive-date=6 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> It was initially believed that footage recorded from the event would be used for a music video;<ref>
{{cite web
| title=9 things we learnt from DaftPunk's Wee Waa launch
| year=2013
| url=http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/features/35724/9-things-we-learnt-from-Daft-Punks-Wee-Waa-launch
| access-date=2013-05-19
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608162315/http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/features/35724/9-things-we-learnt-from-Daft-Punks-Wee-Waa-launch
| archive-date=8 June 2013
| url-status=dead
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
| title=Daft Punk fever takes over Wee Waa
| publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]
| year=2013
| url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2013/s3762088.htm
| access-date=2013-05-19
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008213707/http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2013/s3762088.htm
| archive-date=8 October 2013
| url-status=live
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
| title=Police descend on Wee Waa for Daft Punk launch
| publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]
| year=2013
| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-17/police-descend-on-wee-waa-for-daft-punk-launch/4696020
| access-date=2013-05-19
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521070025/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-17/police-descend-on-wee-waa-for-daft-punk-launch/4696020
| archive-date=21 May 2013
| url-status=live
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
| title=Road to Wee Waa Telescope
| via=[[YouTube]]
| year=2013
| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCVmacSNfQM
| access-date=2013-05-19
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220045433/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCVmacSNfQM
| archive-date=20 December 2013
| url-status=live
}}
</ref> however, this did not come to fruition.

==Sport==
The town has a multi-function Sports Complex, which also acts as a ''de facto'' community centre.

The most popular sport in Wee Waa is [[rugby league]], the name of the town's club is the [[Wee Waa Panthers]]. The Panthers compete in the [[Group 4 Rugby League]] competition, which is based in the areas surrounding [[Tamworth, New South Wales|Tamworth]]. The club's most famous export is [[Jamie Lyon]].<ref name="profile">{{cite web|title=Player profile of Jamie Lyon |url=http://www.manlyseaeagles.com.au/players.asp?playerid=153 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070116050210/http://www.manlyseaeagles.com.au/players.asp?playerid=153 |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 January 2007 |publisher=[[Manly Warringah Sea Eagles]] |access-date=23 August 2007 }}</ref> A club junior, Lyon famously left his professional career with the [[Parramatta Eels]] to return for a season with the Wee Waa Panthers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-Parra Lyons to join Wee Waa Panthers|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/04/1086203621633.html|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=4 June 2004|access-date=23 August 2007}}</ref> The first-grade team went on to win that year (2004) against [[Moree, New South Wales|Moree]], 55 to 12.<ref>{{cite news|first=Lestor|last=Hanson|title=We're the premiers in 2004|work=Wee Waa News|date=15 September 2004|pages=1, 15–16}}</ref> Lyon returned to professional football with [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]] for two years to play in the European [[Super League]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Saints snap up Lyon|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/3573170.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=17 August 2004|access-date=23 August 2007}}</ref> Following this, Lyon played for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles playing from 2007 to 2016,<ref>{{cite news|last=Bailey|first=Scott|title=Jamie Lyon to retire at NRL season's end|url=http://www.nrl.com/jamie-lyon-to-retire-at-nrl-seasons-end/tabid/10874/newsid/95315/default.aspx|website=NRL.com|date=27 April 2016|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428094409/http://www.nrl.com/jamie-lyon-to-retire-at-nrl-seasons-end/tabid/10874/newsid/95315/default.aspx|archive-date=28 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> winning a premiership in [[2008 NRL Grand Final|2008]]<ref name="Grand final: As it happened">{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24449388-23214,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121204185816/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24449388-23214,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 December 2012|title=Grand final: As it happened|work=Fox Sports|date=5 October 2008|access-date=5 October 2008}}</ref> and [[2011 NRL Grand Final|2011]].

The local [[soccer]] club is the Wee Waa United Football Club. In 2019, the club won the Namoi Premier League beating Narrabri FC 2–1 in extra time. The game was broadcast across the state on BarTV.

Wee Waa produced [[Andrew Currey]], the former Australian Olympic javelin athlete and the nation's leading javelin specialist in the 1990s. Curry competed at two Olympic games; Atlanta 1996 & Sydney 2000. Additionally, Curry competed in three Commonwealth Games: 1994 Victoria, 1998 Kuala Lumpur, and 2002 Manchester.

Wee Waa is known for its large population of southern blue-tip yabbies. On 4 September 1995, Eric Gordon set the Australian record, catching a specimen that measured 47cm.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

==Notable residents==
* [[Vincent Ball]], actor (born 4 December 1923)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/52260773|title=Vince, Keep Your Face Away From The Camera|newspaper=Australian Women's Weekly |date=7 November 1973 |access-date=15 September 2019}}</ref>
* [[Andrew Currey]], nine-time [[List of javelin throw national champions (men)|national champion]] in the men's javelin throw
* [[Braydon Trindall]], professional rugby league footballer

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Wee Waa}}
* [http://www.weewaa.com WeeWaa.com]

{{Wikivoyage-inline|Wee Waa}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in New England (New South Wales)]]
[[Category:North West Slopes]]
[[Category:Narrabri Shire]]