Click on any of the soundfields on the map above to play a story. Note: On location, GPS would trigger these stories automatically.
Bingara is a small township on the Gwydir River. It lies geographically in the centre of the northern inland, North-West region of New South Wales and is renowned for its mountains, river and rich farming land.
The Kamilaroi made the area their own, naming it ‘Bingara’ meaning ‘shallow crossing’, and the town today sits where Allan Cunningham crossed the Gwydir River in 1827.
By Australian standards, Bingara is a town with a long history. Its fabric has been forged through drought, a succession of wars and fluctuating cattle prices. Yet over time Bingara and her people have developed a regard for their arts, theatre and culture – as anyone who visits the Roxy Theatre or Bingara’s annual Orange Festival will attest.
The Bingara geo-locative Soundtrail is the latest creative notch in the belt for a town that continues to adapt and grow. This Bingara Soundtrail is underpinned by extensive research and community goodwill and has support from far and wide. From the Greek café owners to the kids on the river or the extraordinary veteran stories down Finch Street, the Bingara audio walk is a sonic tour-de-force with stories for everyone.
Credits & Contributors
All Things Weddings:
Russell Reading
Original music by Rick Hutton.
Thanks to Bingara Historic Society for use of the book.
Ashtons Circus:
Pat Brown, Rick & July Wooley.
Bateman House Fire:
Susanne Hughes
Archival footage: Len Payne and Bill Velokous.
Bateman Journal :
Pat Tattum
Terry Tattum
Joe Bateman
Hamish Sewell & Carmen Southwell
Original composition by Rob Davidson, Topology.
Brian Hughes:
Brian Hughes
Music: Bombs Away by Saharah Beck in The Soldiers Wife.
Charlie’s Bones:
Bob Kirk. Song and music by Rick Hutton.
Comfort Fund:
Jean O’Brien and Joan Bull.
Granny Was A Swimmer:
Poem by Don Whiteman Reading by Steve Weis
Music by Mal Webb
Seeing off her Brother:
Joan Bull
War Letter:
Historical Society, Jane Connolly, Carmen Southwell, Jean Robinson
Original composition by Rob Davidson, Topology.
War Letters Found on Way to School:
Jean O’Brien
Lockup:
Bob Kirk
Original Composition by Saul Standerwick
Navy Tunics:
Jean O’Brien
Orange Police:
Alan Mitchell, Nicole Galvin and the students of Bingara Central School.
Orange Tree History:
‘Oranges Everywhere’ by Rick Hutton and performed by the students of Bingara Central School.
Bugle by Sam Kennedy.
Alan Mitchell, Nicole Galvin, Kristy Johnson, Kathy Groth, and the students of Bingara Central School.
Pat Brown:
Pat Brown
Roxy Theatre:
Peter Prineas
Reading by Rick Hutton
Walter Wearne:
John Wearne
Hidden Soundfields
Tell Her I’m OK
Poem found in Bateman Journal.
Music created and performed by Jamie Wilson.
Gwydir River Blues:
John Bancroft and band and students from Bingara Central School
Charlie’s Bones:
Original music by Rick Hutton.
Soundfield on Finch Street:
Rob Davidson, Topology.