Quandialla lies in the south-west corner of the Grenfell based Weddin Shire and at the western extremity of the Euroka Parish. The Weddin Mountains a prominent feature of the landscape dominated by sweeping plains stands above this little village which has withstood the test of time. The land where Quandialla stands was donated by the Talbot family, surveyed into 75 business and residential sites and auctioned Wednesday the 8th of July 1914 by Miller and James of Temora.

Goin’ Ahead

“The town of Quandialla is going ahead by leaps and bounds. An important wheat centre, it has been chosen as the site for one of the Government’s big wheat silos to be used for the bulk system of handling wheat.

Besides this a number of important railway works are to be taken in hand shortly in the town. There is also a new £10,000 hotel in course of erection, two new bakeries, and a now station master’s residence, besides a number of private buildings.”

Although things may have changed since the article above was printed on July 1, 1927 Quandialla is still the place we call home and on Sunday 5th October we will celebrate the journey of the village and all it’s families throughout the last 100 years.

Today the heartbeat of the small town can be felt through The Quandialla Cafe, The Bland Hotel, local post Office, Quandialla Central School, the swimming pool, bowling club, Memorial  Hall, Catholic, Anglican and Uniting churches, active CWA group and Health Centre  as well as the Grain Corp and Delta Ag offices which operate out of Quandialla.   

When it comes to the Centenary, an event which has been two years in the making, a fun filled weekend is planned. Visitors start arriving Thursday with over 40 caravans booked in at the Quandialla Showground. Saturday October 4th  will welcome one of Lachlan Valley Rails prized Rail Motors or “Tin Hare”. It will seem like old times as visitors watch it pass through Quandialla during it’s many trips over the weekend. Saturday night will get celebrations started with a toe tapping Bush Dance in the Memorial Hall, where the Centenary Quilt will be unveiled.

By 9am Sunday the crowd will have grown considerably and Quandialla will be packed with visitors. Sunday the main day of festivities will commence with Mass being held in the newly refurbished Catholic Church at 8am, where one of our newest members will be christened.  A Thanksgiving blessing will follow at 10.30am near the Hall, followed by the official opening at 11am. The official part of the day will conclude with the unveiling of the Fettlers and Settlers Wall.

People may ask,“what will there be to do over the weekend?” The answer is, “will you have time to do it all?”

The main street will be closed to traffic from 9am and everyone’s first stop should be the information tent, near the post office. Here visitors can pick up a program and map for all the events, or they can purchase a copy of Quandialla the first 100 years , a book which has been a major focus for the Centenary Committee. Purchase a ticket for the rail motor and be transported back in time, ride on the Cobb and Co Coach, or simply walk around town taking in all that will be on offer on the day.

View  the information boards and static displays at buildings around town, visit the small engine and lawn mower displays, vintage cars, memorabilia and displays of bushranger artifacts. Browse through the stalls along Second Street and Margaret Street, drop in at the centenary Pop Up Shop at the CWA rooms. Then stop beside the hall, patronize the food stalls, take advantage of the seating under shady trees while enjoying your lunch. Let the children enjoy the jumping castle and other activities.  Don’t miss the blade shearing displays at the Bland Hotel.

The Bland Hotel and Quandialla Cafe will be open all day for hungry visitors. Morning and afternoon tea will be available at various venues and a finger food lunch supplied by the P&C will be available in the Quandialla Central School Cola, where the art and craft exhibition, quilt display and echidna competition will be on view.

Catch the shuttle bus if your feet are getting tired. The bus will be available throughout the day dropping off and picking up at various venues around the village, including the train, or get a bird’s eye view with Orange Helicopters.

At 3pm watch the inaugural running of “Pavlovas in the Dust”  THE GREAT QUANDIALLA PAVLOVA RACE. After this unique event the raffle will be drawn and winners of the Echidna scavenger hunt and sculpture competition will be announced.

At the end of the day visitors can attend events at the Quandialla Bowling Club and Bland Hotel, have a meal with friends old and new and enjoy the entertainment whilst relaxing after an exhausting day. The final event of the weekend will be a breakfast and farewell to all visitors on Monday morning.

This celebration has had financial support from a number of generous sponsors. The Quandialla Centenary Committee would like to thank its Gold sponsors: Barrick Cowal Ltd and Grain Corp, Silver sponsor: South West Slopes Credit Union, Miller and James Temora and Bronze sponsors: Causer Earthmoving, David and Wendy Robinson, Morangorell Landcare and Quandialla Tennis Club whose generous donations have made planning much easier.

Anyone requiring further information about the centenary can look at our website www.quandialla.com.au which is frequently updated or our facebook page.