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History

The Anaiwan and Dunghutti people lived in this region for about 6000 years and in the colder months returned to the east, where fish and animals were plentiful. The tablelands had places for ceremonies and trade of goods and there are traces of bora grounds near Walcha.

Walcha was the first area to be discovered in the New England region. It was on the route taken by the explorer John Oxley and reached on 8th September, 1818. He named the Apsley River after the Secretary of State for the colonies, Lord Apsley.

Walcha’s first settler, Hamilton Collins Sempill, arrived in 1832 from Belltrees in the Hunter River district. Sempill based his headquarters near the campsite used by John Oxley and he named the area Walcha (“Wolka”). No one has conclusive evidence of the meaning of “Wolka” but three Aboriginal meanings are “Sun”, “Deep Water” and “Water”.

Further settlers moved into the district over the years 1834 to 1858 when David William Jamieson formed the nucleus of the Walcha township by erecting various industrial structures such a flour mill, store, smithy, etc.,

In the 1850s and 1860s early squatters were able to purchase their runs, and selectors struggled on their small holdings. The town had its first school and churches established in these years. The population grew in the 1870s with small gold rushes at Glen Morrison, Tia and Nowendoc.

There was an attempt after disastrous floods in the 1860s to move the town up the hill to the west; a former bank, hotel and shop shops stand witness to this attempt.

By 1900 the town had almost a thousand people with another 1600 people in the surrounding district. In Walcha, there were 4 hotels, 4 blacksmiths, 2 flour mills and a tannery as well as over thirty shops.

The Municipality of Walcha was proclaimed on 12th March, 1889; the adjacent Shire of Apsley was proclaimed on 7th March, 1906. On 1st June, 1955 the Shire of Walcha was constituted by the amalgamation of the Municipality of Walcha and the Shire of Apsley. From 1st July, 1993 the Walcha Shire Council became known as the “Walcha Council” due to the new Local Government Act being introduced.

Contact Details

Clr Gregory Schaefer

Ward A

First Elected to Council on 04 December 2021.

Clr Schaefer has been elected as Walcha Council’s Delegate to the following Committees:

  • New England Bush Fire Management Committee
  • Walcha Local Liquor Accord Committee

Clr Aurora Reilly

Ward D

First Elected to Council on 04 December 2021.

Clr Reilly is a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Beautification Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council Youth Advisory Council
  • Walcha Council Audit Risk & Improvement Committee

And has also been elected to be Council’s Delegate on the following organisations:

  • NSW Public Libraries New England Zone Committee
  • Central Northern Regional Library Committee
  • Walcha Community Consultative Committee

Clr Anne-Marie Pointing

Ward B

First Elected to Council on 04 December 2021.

Clr Pointing is a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Beautification Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council Preschool Advisory Committee

Clr Eric Noakes

Ward B

First Elected to Council on 10 September 2016.

Elected as Mayor on 28 September 2016. Re-elected unopposed on 22 December 2021.

Councillor Noakes is Council’s Delelgate on the following Committees:

  • Namoi Councils Joint Organisation
  • Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA)
  • Mid North Weight of Loads Group
  • Walcha Local Health Committee

And is also a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Arts Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council Aboriginal Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council Capital Advisory Committee

Clr Scott Kermode

Ward C

First Elected to Council on 10 September 2016

Elected as Deputy Mayor on 22 December 2021

Councillor Kermode is Council’s Delegate on the following Committees:

  • New England Weeds Authority

And is also a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Capital Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council Aboriginal Advisory Committee

Clr Nena Hicks

Ward C

First Elected to Council on 04 December 2021.

Clr Hicks is a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council’s Art Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council’s Audit Risk & Improvement Committee
  • Walcha Council’s General Manager’s Performance Review Committee

 

Clr Hicks is Council’s Delegate on the following organisation:

  • Arts North West

Clr Kevin Ferrier

Ward A

First elected to Council in 1991.

Was elected as Deputy Mayor from 2000 – 2012.

Councillor Ferrier is a Member of the following Walcha Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Community Care Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council Motorcycle Rally Advisory Committee

Contact Details

Walcha Council
Phone: 02 6774 2500
Fax: 02 6777 1181
E – council@walcha.nsw.gov.au

Clr Mark Berry

Ward A

First elected to Council on 04 December 2021.

Clr Berry has been elected to the following Council Committees: