homes as guest houses. After the Second World War however, the increase in car ownership and the availability of air travel saw a decline in the local tourist trade. Wallacia was once home to Bullen's Animal World, a theme park and circus, for several decades. Growth in the area in the past few years has mainly occurred with the development of hobby farms by people seeking a retreat from city life. To celebrate the centenary in 2006, the suburb had a parade with floats, line dancing and vintage trucks. Landmarks Wallacia sits beside the Nepean River and landmarks include the Weir, Wallacia Bridge, Little Bondi and Wallacia Hotel – mock Tudor design by the Fowler family. It was the first place in Australia to introduce a fish ladder next to a weir. Wallacia's tourism is centred on the day-tripper trade with the Wallacia Hotel and the Wallacia Golf Course, the chief attractions. Blaxland Crossing Reserve is a prominent parkland with picnic tables and barbecue areas. It is proximate to Nepean River. An annual social event held by Assyrian people, which commemorates Saint Zaia, takes place in the Reserve annually in September. Usually visited by around 1000 people, the occasion would feature live Assyrian singers and Assyrian folk dancing. Phap Bao Zen Centre, a Vietnamese Buddhist monastery, is located in the suburb. A few kilometers south of the suburb is Bents Basin, a nature reserve which features a large swimming hole. References External links Penrith Local Suburb Profiles Liverpool City List of Suburbs Suburbs of Sydney City of Liverpool (New South Wales) City of Penrith