On 26 August 1828 Captain Henry Rous anchored the naval frigate HMS Rainbow at the mouth of the Richmond River which was named after the Duke of Richmond.

With two lieutenants he used a ships tender to navigate the river as far south as the Tuckean Swamp. They noted the thick undergrowth, tall palm trees and the dwellings of some Aborigines.

In the 1850s Wardell was a cedar getters settlement knows as 'Blackwall' where two sawmills operated and the river flourished. The name of the place was later changed to Wardell in preference for the Aboriginal name Bingal. Cedar harvesting, milling and shipping were the main occupations from 1843 and the river was the highway for commerce and personal travel. In 1859 the town of Wardell was gazetted. It was a busy place with four hotels and two sawmills. As the availability of red cedar diminished, the opportunity arose for the planting of sugar cane. Sugar remains the main industry that supports the area today.

For more information please collect the Wardell Walkabout brochure from the Ballina Visitor Information Centre, 6 River Street, Ballina or download your copy here. 

The Wardell Walkabout Historical Trail was developed by the Blackwall Historical Society and features many significant buildings and structures of Wardell.  They have also produced information regarding the area from Ballina to Wardell via Pimlico that features more historical buildings of note.