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Wallacia history
The area known as Wallacia has seen several name changes over the years. Originally the region was called Riverview, but became known locally as Wallace after Robert Wallace who grazed cattle on the 2000 acres he rented from Sir Charles Nicholson. Because of its central location in the area – between the Nepean River and Bringelly Road – his house became the unofficial Post Office from November 1885. It was situated at the rear of what is now the Wallacia shopping centre. By 1897, a school built in the area was known as Wallace School.
When the Post Office became official in November 1905, the G.P.O. named the area Boondah as the name Wallace was already in use elsewhere in NSW. Local people objected however, as they wished to retain the link with Wallace. To overcome the problem, they suggested that the area be called Wallacia. This name was officially approved on 1 June, 1906.
The region was chiefly one of dairying and grazing during the nineteenth century, but in the early twentieth century – because of its rural atmosphere and proximity to Sydney – tourism developed as people opened their homes as guest houses. After the Second World War however, the increase in car ownership and the availability of air travel saw a decline in the local tourist trade. Today Wallacia’s tourism is centred on the day-tripper trade with the Wallacia Hotel and the Wallacia Golf Course the chief attractions. Growth in the area in the past few years has mainly occurred with the development of hobby farms by people seeking a retreat from city life.
| 1801 | October | George Caley with 2 convicts explored the Nepean River between Cobbitty and Wallacia |
| 1802 | September | Lt Francis Barrallier explored the Nepean River at Wallacia |
| 1804 | September | Surveyor George Evans discovered the Warragamba River |
| 1810 | November | Governor Macquarie and his party explored the area Evans discovered |
| 1813 | 30 November | John Blaxland granted 6170 acres, which he named “Luddenham” |
| 1816 | 8 October | Dennis McDonald granted 30 acres |
| 1831 | Blaxland granted a further 777 acres between the Nepean River and the Warragamba River, which included Grove Farm | |
| 1851 | Sir Charles Nicholson (benefactor to the (University of Sydney) purchased Blaxland’s land | |
| 1883 | Nicholson’s land gradually sold and sub-divided | |
| 1885 | November | Official Post Office opened with the area named Boondah |
| 1896 | 11 December | Unsuccessful application for a provisional school |
| 1897 | 19 April | New half-time school building completed |
| 1906 | 1 June | Riverview, Wallace and Boondah renamed Wallacia |
| 1910 | December | Land purchased by the Crown for a School |
| 1912 | Wallacia Weir built | |
| 1920s | Guesthouses boomed in the Wallacia area | |
| 1923 | Thistledome Guesthouse built on Greendale Road | |
| 1923 | Roselea Guesthouse on Greendale Road built by the Downes family | |
| 1927 | December | Land gazetted as a public school |
| 1937 | December | Wallacia Hotel opened |
| 1958 | 3 October | Corner Water Street and Mulgoa Road dedicated for a War Memoria |
| 1984 | Local Environmental Study of Mulgoa and Wallacia (Penrith City Council) |
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| 1999 | June | Release of the Mulgoa & Wallacia Study and Strategy by Penrith City Council |
| 2019 | July | Plans to turn Wallacia Golf and Country Club into an 80,000 plot cemetery are knocked back |
Historic buildings & places
Wallacia Hotel
The Wallacia Hotel was officially opened on December 3rd 1937. During the Second World War the hotel was used as the Army headquarters for radiophysics. The hotel, which was built in the mock Tudor style, is heritage listed under Penrith City Council’s Local Environmental Plan.
Blaxland's Crossing at Nepean River
Blaxland’s Crossing is named after the river ford that John Blaxland regularly used when crossing the Nepean River to reach his property on the western bank, where his cattle grazed on the fertile river flats.
The Crossing was a ford which was roughly paved by bringing up river pebbles and consolidating them to form a causeway. More of these pebbles were taken up to form a road to the mill and brewery site further up the Nepean. The original crossing, a ford, is now concealed under the line of a bridge built in 1859. According to the owner in 1991, Lionel Fowler, these pebbles can still occasionally be seen during very dry weather when the vegetation is sparse.
In 1813, Governor Macquarie had granted land to John (the brother of explorer Gregory), which encompassed much of present day Luddenham and Wallacia. John named his property ‘Luddenham’ and built a homestead where Wallacia is today. He built a flour mill which operated from the 1830s and a brewery which was one of the first in the colony.
Wallacia Progress Association Hall
Statement of significance: 23 September 2008
The Wallacia Progress Association Hall is a focal point for social activities in the local community. It is a representative example of a 1940’s community hall.
The public hall at Wallacia is a gabled 1940’s building set at the rear (east end) of the site. It has a roof of corrugated steel with rolled top ridge and hip flashings. Three metal roof vents are at the ridge of the roof. The walls are clad with timber weatherboards with a double half round profile in imitation of narrow logs. The main entry porch is under a separate gabled roof at the south end of the building, facing Roma Avenue. The roof extends on the eastern side at a lower slope. This eastern part is enclosed at the north end with weatherboards matching those on the main hall. The remainder of this eastern part is an open verandah. Framed and sheeted doors open into the hall. The hall is lit with double hung timber windows with horizontal glazing bars.
A skillion awning is at the north end of the west elevation. The eastern part under the lower pitched roof has been extended south to form a generous verandah with a metal balustrade.
From Joe Grech February 2023
Ian Clisdell hand made all the doors in the hall. His father Neil was the founding President. The family had a tomato farm in Luddenham.
The hall was unusable in the 90s. It had been declining for quite a while and the school was getting ready to have a play in the hall when the lighting failed with the wiring beyond repair. Integral Energy disconnected the power supply from the pole on the corner of Roma Ave. Most of the windows were smashed and there were holes in the floor and walls.
Penrith Council were going to take it over unless it was restored. Joe took on the repairs and fixed the floor with planks that had been left under the hall. The wall sheets were taken down and soaked in water to get them to expand and then refitted. It took about a year. This was the about the same time as the sewers came through.
The toilet block was only supposed to be temporary - no door on the gents and a sackcloth door on the ladies in the 70s. Joe helped reroof it and put the doors on.
There used to be a curtain between the Carry on Room and the main hall. The back room was for preparation for performances. There was a stage in the main hall.
Some of the chairs came from the Warragamba Town hall, some from the Wallacia Hotel. The new ones have come from Luddenham Uniting Church
From the Nepean Times Thursday 4th March 1954
ERECTED BY VOLUNTARY LABOUR
(By Publicity Officer)
It was a grand night for the residents of Wallacia when they recently gathered to celebrate the official opening of the Progress Hall, the realisation of a dream that had its beginnings In 1948, when Mr. John Crossman offered, and the Progress Association accepted, two blocks of land In the centre of the village
The idea was first mooted in 1945, and a committee was formed to raise money for the building fund. Apart from £51/16/-. received by donations, practically all money raised came through the courtesy and generosity of Mrs. John Crossman, who has on innumerable occasions offered "Westbourne", her home and guest house, for dances and other entertainments in aid of Progress Association funds.
In his opening remarks the President, Mr. Neil Clisdell, introduced the Deputy Mayor of Penrith (Ald. B. N. Fowler), who, apologised for the absence of His Worship the Mayor (Ald. W. L. Chapman) and congratulated the Association on its fine building and the two expert tradesmen in charge of the job, Messrs. R. Vale and J. Crossman, for their excellent work.
Apologies were also received from Mr. Joseph Jackson, M.L.A., Mr. N. Fraser (Penrith) and Silverdale Progress Association.
Mr. Clisdell went on to give a brief history of the project. Prior to the commencement of building the Association had on hand two blocks of land and £920 in cash. In September, 1952, a committee comprising Messrs. Vale, Crossman, and Downes was formed, and that month Mr. Vale drew up plans for a hall 40 X 26 with 10ft. walls, and estimated the cost of material as £1230. The finished job only exceeded the estimate by £20—a great compliment indeed to the builders.
In February1953, the work was commenced by volunteers with Mr. Vale In charge, and the President particularly wishes to thank those who were so constantly on the job, Messrs. Crossman, Downes, Moxham, N. Bangel, and J. Sales, and the dozen or so others, including two New Australians who gave hours of their leisure from time to time. Also a special vote of thanks to the secretary, Mrs. B. N. Fowler, who did all the clerical work in connection with the building and always had the answers when anything was needed in a hurry. To Mr. Anderson, the treasurer, congratulations on the manner in which he secured the furnishings at such a low cost.
In conclusion Mr. Clisdell said that the estimated value of the voluntary labour was £850, which did not include the work put into the lovely room erected at the same time for the Carry-on Club, which was 26 x 15. This Club room was an afterthought, and the plans originally submitted to the Council had to be altered to incorporate this with the building of the hall—a profitable thought for the ladies, as it also was built for love as most of the Carry-on Club members have husbands in the Progress Association.
Mr. Vale was then called upon to open the hall officially and in a short humourous speech in which his main regret seemed to be missing out on the delicious morning and afternoon teas supplied by Mrs. Crossman, he declared, with much pride and pleasure, the "hall is now open", thanks to all his co-workers.
This was received with cheers and much acclamation.
A vote of thanks was moved by the President of the Carry-on Club and vice-president of the Progress Association, Mrs. A. Downes, to the Deputy Mayor and to Mr. Vale, and, on behalf of the club members, thanks was extended to all those who helped in making their club rooms and the hall such an outstanding memorial to two wonderful tradesmen—Mr. Russell Vale and Mr. John Crossman. It was not necessary to pay them verbal compliments, their solid honest workmanship was- there for all to see. The proposal was carried by acclamation.
The dancing continued after supper was served by the Carryon Club until 1.30. everyone agreeing that the official opening of the hall was indeed a night to remember.
