WARDELL Wardell is a small town just some 20k’s from Ballina. Wardell though is not an outer suburb of the larger entity. Wardell is on the banks of the wide reaches of the Richmond River and is a very old town and community. Wardell is an interesting town and has been dissected by highway configurations that have not served the town well at all. Bingall Creek was an old name of Wardell and it was also known in the 1850s as the cedar-getter's settlement, Blackwall which was established as a river port on the Richmond River. The river was an important transport route for the region for the first 100 years after settlement. It developed into an important sawmilling centre for the timber industry and later for the milling of sugar cane. Wardell is now split by the Pacific Highway and the River and is known by its landmark lift span bridge which was built to replace the ferries and barges used to transport Australian red cedar and sugar cane in the 1800s. A steamboat service from Ballina to Lismore operated for many years. Today Wardell has a general store, post office, pub, service station and the Wardell Public School which has 50 pupils enrolled. The river and its estuaries abound with marine wildlife and are used for recreational fishing and water sports. Wardell has two century plus churches, both quite magnificent buildings. The Anglican is delightfully picturesque. The Wardell Hotel is also a century plus classic NSW pub that has overseen what must have been a vibrant history. The Wardell War Memorial is located near the Memorial Hall. The Memorial Hall is now also the beginnings of a museum. When traveling north the imposing Catholic Church will get your attention. All other travelers are urged to take some time and explore this very interesting community and town.