Blue Plaque to honour CSIRO's historic myxomatosis release
A Blue Plaque will be installed in the NSW Riverina town of Balldale to recognise the ground-breaking release of myxomatosis by the CSIRO in 1950, in the world’s first successful biological control program of a mammalian pest.
The historic event is one of 14 stories which have been chosen in the second round of the NSW Government’s Blue Plaques NSW program. It celebrates well-known events, organisations and characters many of us are familiar with, but also brings attention to lesser-known stories that shaped a particular community or field of work.
The CSIRO's strategic release of the myxoma virus was a response to Australia's severe rabbit problem, which had wreaked havoc on our agricultural and pastoral industries for decades.
Within days of the initial release, the myxomatosis virus had rapidly spread through the Murray River region, leading to a dramatic reduction in the wild rabbit population.
The success of these trials had profound and lasting benefits for Australia's agricultural and pastoral sectors, which had long been crippled by the adverse impacts of rabbit overpopulation.
This historic event was nominated for a Blue Plaque by representatives of Our Town Balldale Incorporated, supported by Suzy Cay, the daughter of a farmer and former army mate of scientist Ian Clunies Ross who oversaw the myxomatosis release.
It was chosen from 117 nominations made by the public and assessed by independent historians. The 14 new plaques will be installed in coming months, joining the 35 already in place.
Heritage NSW is working with experts and potential property owners to finalise the location of the plaque and once installed it will be listed on the Blue Plaques NSW website.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Heritage Penny Sharpe:
“These Blue Plaques recognise the diverse individuals, events and perspectives that make the history of NSW so intriguing.
“Whether you’re exploring Sydney neighbourhoods such or taking a drive off the beaten track to regional towns like Balldale, Grafton and Pambula, there’s a Blue Plaque for you to discover.
“The installation of each new plaque brings added interest to the heritage of an area, encouraging locals to explore their backyards, and inviting those from further afield to learn more about the history of these communities."
Full list of round two Blue Plaques
| Subject | Recognition | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Kathleen Butler | A woman without formal engineering qualifications who had a central role in the development of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. | Sydney CBD |
| Emma Jane Callaghan | Aboriginal midwife, activist, nurse, and Indigenous Culture Recorder. | Phillip Bay, Sydney |
| Susan Katherina Schardt | Born blind, Schardt established the Commonwealth Home for Destitute Invalids, now known as Royal Rehab. | Ryde |
| Dorothy Simpson McGregor Drain | One of the first Australian female war correspondents, who reported on the Korean and Vietnam Wars. She was also a poet, columnist, and Editor of the Australian Women’s Weekly. | Glebe |
| Establishment of the first recorded life savers club | Founded in February 1907, the Bondi Surf Life Saving Club was the first recorded Surf Lifesaving Club in Australia. | Bondi |
| Sir William Dobell | A portrait and landscape artist and three-time winner of the Archibald Prize. | Wangi Wangi |
| Syms Covington | A cabin boy on the HMS Beagle who became assistant to Charles Darwin. Syms later worked as a businessman and postmaster in Pambula. | Pambula |
| Charmian Clift | A prolific writer and essayist. | Kiama |
| Pearl Mary Gibbs | A prominent female activist in the Aboriginal rights movement, Gibbs was heavily involved in the development of the Day of Mourning and the establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. | Sydney CBD |
| Ioannis (Jack) and Antonios (Tony) Notaras | Greek immigrant businessmen known for establishing Grafton’s still-thriving Saraton Theatre. | Grafton |
| Beryl Mary McLaughlin | One of the first three women graduates of the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Architecture. | Wentworth Falls |
| Ken Thomas | Trucker and entrepreneur known for establishing the TNT transport empire and for his contributions to road safety. | Murrumburrah |
| Grace Emily Munro | Co-founder and first president of the Country Women’s Association. | Bingara |
| First release of myxomatosis | The CSIRO released myxomatosis in Balldale in 1950, to combat a severe rabbit problem. It was the world’s first successful biological program for control of a mammalian pest. | Balldale |