WILCANNIA Wilcannia is the first town after Broken Hill. The town, on the banks of the Darling River has an air of being ‘run down’ but this perception is not an accurate assessment. When spending an overnight and that is recommended to the traveler, once getting to know the people there is a high degree of personal engagement. The name Wilcannia is said to be derived from an Aboriginal term for either 'gap in the bank where floodwaters escape' or 'wild dog'. Neither meaning has been linguistically verified. Wilcannia in an earlier era has been a quite dynamic river port town. The third largest in Australia. A second life came from the land; the surrounding area is very sparsely settled by pastoralists who have large land holdings, used primarily to run livestock. The majority of these holdings are held as 99-year leases. The old buildings in Wilcannia have been identified for heritage listings. The Anglican Church is a centaury plus building. The surviving hotel is a classic pub that has enjoyed greater prosperity. That said check out the classy artwork from the teenage aboriginal seeking to build awareness. The Museum is located off the main highway. The Wilcannia War Memorial is near the Police Station and is an appropriate acknowledgement. When the river is in flood an interesting dimension is added.