Thematic History of Young Shire Ray Christison 2008 Thematic history of Young Shire 2 Contents Section Page Introduction 4 Timeline of Young Shire 6 1. Tracing the evolution of the Australian environment 9 1.1 Environment: Naturally evolved ……………………… 9 2. Peopling Australia 10 2.1 Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures ………. 10 2.2 Convict ………………………………………………. 13 2.3 Ethnic influences ………………………………………………. 13 2.4 Migration ………………………………………………. 14 3. Developing local, regional and national economies 19 3.1 Agriculture ………………………………………………. 19 3.2 Commerce ……………………………………………….. 22 3.3 Communication ……………………………………………….. 25 3.4 Environment – Cultural landscape ……………………….. 26 3.5 Events ……………………………………………….. 30 3.6 Exploration ……………………………………………….. 31 3.7 Fishing ……………………………………………….. 31 3.8 Forestry ……………………………………………….. 32 3.9 Health ……………………………………………….. 32 3.10 Industry ……………………………………………….. 35 3.11 Mining ……………………………………………….. 39 3.12 Pastoralism ……………………………………………….. 41 3.13 & 3.14 Science & Technology ……………………………….. 43 3.15 Transport ……………………………………………….. 44 4. Building settlements, towns and cities 49 4.1 Accommodation ……………………………………………….. 49 4.2 Land Tenure ……………………………………………….. 50 4.3 Towns, suburbs and villages ……………………………….. 51 4.4 Utilities ……………………………………………….. 56 5. Working 60 5.1 Labour ……………………………………………….. 60 6. Educating 65 6.1 Education ……………………………………………….. 65 7. Governing 69 7.1 Defence ……………………………………………….. 69 7.2 Government and administration ……………………………… 72 7.3 Law and order ……………………………… 75 7.4 Welfare ……………………………… 80 Ray Christison Version 1 22.11.2008 Thematic history of Young Shire 3 Contents Section Page 8. Developing Australia’s cultural life 83 8.1 Creative endeavour ………………………………. 83 8.2 Domestic life ………………………………. 83 8.3 Leisure ………………………………. 85 8.4 Religion ………………………………. 88 8.5 Social institutions ………………………………. 92 8.6 Sport ………………………………. 94 9. Marking the phases of life 98 9.1 Birth and death ………………………………... 98 9.2 Persons ………………………………… 100 10. References 109 Ray Christison Version 1 22.11.2008 Thematic history of Young Shire 4 Introduction The thematic history of the former Young Shire This thematic history has been prepared as part of a community based heritage study undertaken in the former Young Shire in 2006-2008. It gratefully acknowledges the work of local researchers in recording the development of the region. Published and unpublished local history resources, and national reference materials, have been referred to in the preparation of this history, and as far as possible the recollections of current and former residents of the shire have been included in the study. Locally based researchers and historians have very ably recorded many aspects of the story of the Young district through a series of historical narratives, reminiscences and oral histories. Published histories include first-hand accounts of the early days of European settlement of the region, including those of Sarah Musgrave and Mark Hammond, and personal recollections of farming life in the early to mid 20th century such as Charles Robinson’s Springview Remembered. The Murringo Community Association has actively recorded the story of that area and Judith Langfield has published her research of the history of Anglicanism in the shire. Young Shire Council has sponsored a number of worthwhile histories including William A. Bayley’s Rich Earth and Maree Lamb and Margaret Hall’s history of local government from 1882 to 2002. Other published histories such as William Forbes’ biography of George Cranfield, the McGregors’ analysis of the Lambing Flat riots and Chris Starrs’ history of the Young Roller Flour Mill add to the rich tapestry of the story of Young. The value of this work is enhanced by the scholarly publications of the Young & District Family History Group including Pioneers of the Lachlan, Murrumbidgee and County King pre-1860 and Burials in Young Shire and Surrounding Areas. Events in localities around the shire have been recorded in centenary histories, including Dorothy Shumack’s Chronicles of Koorawatha, and Wirrimah Community Group’s Wirrimah and its People. The work of the Murringo Historical Centre in publishing its volumes of News From Marengo provides a valuable tapestry of events in the village of Murringo and surrounds. Local history resources include much other published and unpublished research. This is not intended to be a comprehensive history of the Young Shire. Those who are seeking more detailed explanations of people, places and events are encouraged to refer to the works cited in the reference list that is included in Section 10 References. Where gaps have existed in existing narratives attempts have been made to provide a more detailed analysis. Special thanks for assistance with preparing and editing this history should go to Margaret Hall, Maree Lamb, Joyce Simpson, Jeanette Tiedemann and Janice Ward. This history should not be treated as a definitive history. Other researchers are encouraged to add to the written record of the vast, complex and unfolding story of the Young region. The Australian Historic Themes This thematic history is designed to tell the story of the former Young Shire within a consistent national framework. This framework was designed by the Australian Heritage Commission to organise information on the history of places into areas of activity. Ray Christison Version 1 22.11.2008 Thematic history of Young Shire 5 By emphasising the human activities that produced the places we value, and the human response to Australia’s natural environment, places are related to the processes and stories associated with them, rather than the type of function or place … Themes are not intended to follow a chronological order. Rather, they are generic, and designed to be applied and interlinked, regardless of the period or place. They embrace prehistory to the modern period and a multiplicity of human activities.1 This history has been organised within each National Historic Theme under the relevant New South Wales Historic Themes. The New South Wales themes are dealt with in alphabetical order under the general heading of the national themes. 1 Australian Historic Themes Framework, 2001. Ray Christison Version 1 22.11.2008 Thematic history of Young Shire 6 Timeline of Young Shire This timeline is based on the Events of the Passing Years table included as an appendix to William A. Bayley’s Rich Earth History of Young New South Wales. It includes major events considered to be of significance in the development of the district. Bayley’s complete timeline is available on pages 219 to 221 of the 1977 edition of his history. Additional events identified in other histories have been included where appropriate. Construction dates of churches and community halls are given to indicate the development of rural villages and localities. 1820 Surveyor Meehan explored the country between Tarlo and Grabben Gullen 1824 Hume and Hovell explored the country between Yass Plains and Port Phillip 1826 James White settled on Burrangong Creek 1827 Hazelton and Magee established the Marengo run on Willawong Creek 1829 Charles Sturt explored the Murrumbidgee River 1836 Major Mitchell traced the Lachlan River to its confluence with the Murrumbidgee 1850 Village of Marengo laid out 1860 Village of Koorawatha laid out 1860 National School opened in Marengo 1860 Gold discovered on White’s lambing flat 1860 Courts of petty sessions established at Lambing Flat and Stoney Creek 1861 Anti-Chinese riots in January drove Chinese miners from the gold field 1861 The Miner newspaper established in February 1861 Lambing Flat Post Office established on 1 March 1861 Free Selection Act passed 1861 Lambing Flat and Burrangong named Young in April and Town of Young laid out 1861 First land sale in Young 1861 First Court House constructed. This was destroyed by fire in the July riots 1861 Protesting miners stormed the police camp on Camp Hill in July 1861 Young National School opened in July 1862 Burrangong Hospital opened in June 1862 First (timber) Church of England constructed in October 1862 Telegraph line reached Young in December 1863 Roman Catholic church and school constructed in December in Young 1864 Burrangong Argus newspaper established in October 1865 Wilkie Memorial Church of England opened 1865 Wesleyan Church built in brick in Young 1865 Young Church of England School opened in Young 1866 First flour mill constructed in Young 1870 Young School of Arts established 1871 Presbyterian Church constructed in brick in Young 1871 First Young Pastoral and Agricultural Show held in April 1873 Burrangong Chronicle newspaper established in December 1874 Sacred Heart Catholic Church constructed in Marengo 1876 St Mary’s Catholic Church opened in Young 1877 Mechanics’ Institute opened in Young Ray Christison Version 1 22.11.2008 Thematic history of Young Shire 7 1879 Primitive Methodist Chapel opened in Young 1882 Borough of Young incorporated 1884 Young Public School constructed in brick on Camp Hill 1884 Monica Vale Provisional School opened near Koorawatha (Bang Bang) 1884 Police Station established at Marengo 1884 Temperance Hall opened in Young 1885 Murrumburrah to Young railway line opened 1886 Tubbul Shearer’s Union formed in May 1887 Young to Cowra railway opened in January 1887 Amalgamated Shearers’ Union formed 1887 Presentation Nuns arrived in Young to teach in Roman Catholic school 1887 Koorawatha Public School constructed 1889 The Borough of Young installed the first electricity supply to homes in the Southern Hemisphere 1889