Bulga, New South Wales

Bulga is a locality in the Singleton Council region of New South Wales, Australia.[2] It had a population of 354 as of the 2016 census.[1] The name is derived from an Aboriginal word for "mountain" or "isolated hill or mountain".[2]

Bulga
New South Wales
Bulga
Coordinates32°39′30″S 151°01′00″E
Population354 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)2330
Location18 km (11 mi) SW of Singleton
LGA(s)Singleton Council
State electorate(s)
Federal Division(s)Hunter

Bulga Public School operated from 1868 until December 1970.[3]

Bulga Post Office opened as The Bulga on 1 August 1878, was renamed Bulga on 1 January 1894 and closed on 2 July 1993.[4][5]

The village today contains the Regional Fire Service regional headquarters, National Parks and Wildlife Service offices, an Anglican church, a police station, scout hall in the former school building, recreation ground, service station and community hall.[6] The community hall, originally a School of Arts, celebrated its 125th anniversary in October 2018.[7] The Anglican church, St Mark's, holds a monthly service on the third Sunday of the month.[8]

The village shares a local progress association with nearby Milbrodale.[6]

Mining impact

Bulga has been the subject of ongoing protests over several years from local residents around the impact of the expansion of the nearby Warkworth open-cut coal mine. The dispute has pitted angry local residents against business and mining interests, trade unions concerned about employment and the state government. Residents raised concern about the mine's expansion increasingly encroaching on the village, as well as concerns about road closures, 24 hour a day noise and constant coal dust.[9]

Residents attempted to challenge the mine's expansion in court in 2016, but were forced to withdraw when the state government acted to remove their right of appeal. By that time, the state's Planning Assessment Commission had suggested that the township be entirely relocated, and voluntary acquisition of some affected houses was underway.[9]

In December 2017, the Mount Thorley Warkworth Voluntary Planning Agreement was signed between council and new mine owners Yancoal, resulting in $6.6 million for a Bulga Community Project Fund to support the sustainability of Bulga and surrounds. In May 2018, Yancoal lodged an exploration license over additional land directly fronting onto the village outskirts. In August 2018, the mine won the approval of the Singleton Council to close the locally important Wallaby Scrub Road connecting Bulga to adjacent Warkworth, resulting in further community protest.[10][11][12][13][14]

Heritage listings

Bulga has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bulga (NSW) (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  2. "Geographical Names Register Extract". Geographical Names Board. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  3. "Bulga". School History Details. NSW Department of Education. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  4. "The Bulga". Post Office Reference. Premier Postal. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  5. "Bulga". Post Office Reference. Premier Postal. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  6. "Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association". Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  7. "Community Centre turns 125". Singleton Argus. 24 October 2018.
  8. "St. Mark's, Bulga". Anglican Parish of Singleton. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  9. "The historic town of Bulga that is threatened with extinction". news.com.au. 23 July 2016. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  10. "NSW Hunter Valley village of Bulga could be moved to make way for coal mine expansion". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 6 March 2015. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  11. "Police at Bulga raffles night". Singleton Argus. 12 September 2018.
  12. "Heritage road set for closure following Singleton Council vote". Singleton Argus. 6 August 2018. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  13. "VPA funding to transform Bulga village". Singleton Argus. 25 July 2018.
  14. "Application for licence in search of coal". Singleton Argus. 30 May 2018.
  15. "Bulga Bridge over Wollombi Brook". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01459. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
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