Cottoning On

In 1961, frustrated with taxes and regulations in the United States, cotton growers Paul Kahl and Frank Hadley migrated with their families to Wee Waa on a hunch. Their arrival proved unexpectedly challenging for all concerned, the locals were wary of the pace and practices of the blow-ins, and the Americans struggled to get to grips with the tempo of their new home. Realising that finding common ground was a social and commercial necessity; the pair went on a charm offensive and organised a cotton festival.

Wee Waa’s first Festival of Cotton, inspired by the United States’ annual Cotton Carnival, was held in 1964. A competition to crown a ‘Cotton Countess’ was hosted, a procession of cotton-themed floats and pony club teams paraded through the town and the latest cotton fashions were celebrated.

Seizing the opportunity to raise funds and increase foot traffic, churches and retailers got behind the festival, holding thanksgiving services and installing cotton-themed window displays. In a brazenly patriotic ploy, the streets were festooned with bunting in red, white and blue, sending a loud and clear signal that the Americans had arrived.

Kahl and Hadley hosted cotton-picking contests and farm tours so visitors could see first-hand their water-intensive farming techniques. Their novel use of irrigation, previously unseen in the north-west, was made possible by the newly constructed Keepit Dam.

Realising the potential for profits in the yet-to-be tapped region, multinational corporations got involved. Agricultural machinery manufacturers John Deere and the Continental Gin Company gave financial support, and Shell Chemicals ran an essay competition for kids about the importance of cotton in Wee Waa.

Kahl and Hadley’s vested interest in the success of the festivals was multi-faceted, in addition to unruffling the feathers of their new neighbours, they needed more growers on board to lobby for water rights and make their investments viable. For anyone not convinced by the festivities, the high yields and returns on their first harvests spoke for themselves. A few local pastoralists were convinced and jumped on board, signalling Wee Waa’s shift to cotton company town and cementing the Namoi as the cotton capital of Australia.