Report on the Community Based Heritage Study of the Young Shire October 2008 Soldier Settler orchard at Maimaru Prepared by: 116 Hassans Walls Road Lithgow NSW 2790 Contents 1. Introduction 4 1.1 Background to the study 4 1.2 The study area 4 1.3 The study process 5 1.4 Authorship 6 1.5 Study limitations 6 1.6 Acknowledgements 7 2. The Community-Based Heritage Study 8 2.1 Study outline 8 2.2 SHI data format 8 2.3 Heritage Study Working Party 9 2.4 Existing heritage items 9 2.5 Aboriginal heritage 9 2.6 Levels of significance 10 2.7 Inventory of nominated items 10 3. Historic Themes Analysis 18 3.1 Introduction 18 3.2 Gap analysis using historic themes 18 3.3 Correlations 18 3.4 Thematic usages 19 3.5 Table showing correlation of National, State and Local Themes 19 4. Characteristics of Young Shire cultural heritage sites 29 4.1 Shire wide characteristics 29 4.2 Heritage resources 29 4.2.1 Alluvial gold mining landscapes 30 4.2.2 Homesteads and woolsheds 30 4.2.3 Young central business district 31 4.2.4 Cemeteries and isolated graves 31 4.2.5 Farming landscapes 32 4.2.6 Engineering and industrial heritage 32 4.3 Statement of significance 33 5. The Heritage System 36 5.1 The Heritage Act 36 5.2 Heritage Branch, Department of Planning 36 5.3 Heritage Branch website 36 5.4 The Burra Charter 36 5.5 Young Shire Local Environmental Plans 37 5.6 General questions on the listing of heritage places 39 5.7 Statutory heritage listings 40 5.7.1 Local LEP listing 40 5.7.2 State Government Agency listing 41 5.7.3 State Heritage Register listing 41 5.8 Non-statutory listing 41 5.8.1 The Register of the National Estate 41 5.8.2 National Trust Register 42 5.8.3 National Parks listings 43 5.8.4 Special interest listings 43 5.9 A New Young Shire LEP 43 5.10 Discussion on new LEP Heritage Schedule listings 43 5.11 Items to be recorded only 43 5.12 Proposed LEP Heritage Schedule 44 5.13 Recommendations for State Heritage Register listings 66 5.14 General management recommendations 67 5.15 Notification to owners 67 Young Shire Community-Based Heritage Study 2006-2008 6. Proposed Conservation Zone 68 7. Proposed Management Strategies 70 7.1 Development Control Plans 70 7.2 Consultation with owners 70 7.3 Site specific management recommendations 70 7.4 Management Plans 71 7.5 Interim Management Plans 71 7.6 Heritage Adviser 72 7.7 Mapping location and Curtilage 72 7.8 Access to heritage items 72 7.9 Recording 72 7.10 Archaeological management plan 73 8. Glossary of abbreviations 73 9. Definitions 73 10. References 74 Appendices Appendix A Young Draft LEP Heritage Schedule Appendix B Young Conservation Zone – list of contributory items Ray Christison 24 November 2008 3 Young Shire Community-Based Heritage Study 2006-2008 1. Introduction 1.1 Background to the study The Young Shire Council is developing a new Local Environmental Plan in accordance with NSW Department of Planning guidelines. As part of this process a Community-Based Heritage Study was commissioned by Young Shire Council. Following receipt of expressions of interest Ray Christison of High Ground Consulting was engaged to co-ordinate the Heritage Study and prepare a Thematic History. The study was commenced in November 2006. The initial timeframe of two years was reduced in late 2007 to 21 months with completion required by the end of August 2008. This study was undertaken in accordance with Heritage Branch, Department of Planning Guidelines for Community-Based Heritage Studies. In accordance with these guidelines the general aims of the study were to: • Prepare a history of the Young Shire using the NSW historic themes, • Work with the community to identify places and items of significance in the story of Young Shire, • Describe these heritage items and assess their condition, • Prepare summary inventory sheets for each heritage item, including a statement of significance, • Prepare a study report, including recommendations for management and promotion of the heritage of Young Shire. 1.2 The study area The study area covers the Young Shire. This includes Town of Young, the villages of Bendick Murrell, Bribbaree, Koorawatha, Milvale, Monteagle, Murringo and localities of Crowther, Kingsvale, Maimaru, Thuddungra, Wambanumba and Wirrimah. Young Shire covers an area on the Southwest Slopes of New South Wales leading westward and southward into the Riverina. This is part of the South Western Slopes Bio-Region which extends from Cowra into Western Victoria1. The topography of this region has been described as follows: The South Western Slopes Bioregion is a large area of foothills and ranges comprising the western fall of the Great Dividing Range to the edge of the Riverina Bioregion. A very wide range of rock types is found across the bioregion, which is also affected by topographic and rainfall gradients that decrease toward the west. These physical differences have an impact on the nature of the soils and vegetation found across the bioregion. Inland streams pass across the slopes in confined valleys with terraces and local areas of sedimentation. Geology, soils and vegetation are complex and diverse but typified by granites and meta-sediments, texture contrast soils and a variety 1 The South Western Slopes Bio-Region. [Online] p.119 Ray Christison 24 November 2008 4 Young Shire Community-Based Heritage Study 2006-2008 of eucalypt woodlands …2 This landscape features ‘shallow, stony soils’ on the tops of ridges and hills with soils lower down consisting of materials eroded from former mountains. Alluvial sands and loams are common with clays increasing towards the Riverine plains of the west.3 Native plant communities in this region consist of the following: In the higher rainfall eastern hill country, woodlands and open woodlands of white box (Eucalyptus albens) are dominant. To the west and north these give way to vegetation communities dominated by grey box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) and white cypress pine (Callitris glaucophylla). Other tree species characteristic of the bioregion include red stringybark (Eucalyptus macrorhynca) on higher slopes, with black cypress pine (Callitris endlicheri), kurrajong (Brachychiton populneum), red ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon), white gum (Eucalyptus rossi), yellow box (Eucalyptus melliodora) and Blakely’s red gum (Eucalyptus blakelyi) occupying the lower slopes. Valley flats are dominated by rough-barked apple (Angophora floribunda), with river oak (Casuarina cunninghammia) found along eastern streams and river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) lining the larger central and western streams.4 Remnant areas of Grassy Box Woodland, such as Monteagle General Cemetery and Koorawatha General Cemetery have been set aside to conserve important aspects of the plant and bird diversity of the region. European occupation of the area has been characterised by extensive pastoral activity, including wool growing and beef cattle raising, and agriculture such as wheat growing. The soils and climate of the area around Young have hosted the development of a famous and diverse stone fruit industry that has been active since the late 19th century. Young is also famous for the alluvial gold rush that occurred along Burrangong Creek and its tributaries in the 1860s with alluvial mining continuing until the early 20th century. The gold rush was characterised by a shortage of water and conflict between groups of miners. These tensions led to anti-Chinese riots that occurred in 1861. 1.3 The study process The study commenced in November 2007 with initial consultations regarding process being undertaken with Young Shire Council staff. Initial actions undertaken included: • Articles and notices placed in the Young Witness newspaper advising of the Heritage Study and inviting expressions of interest from members of the public wishing to participate in the Community-Based Heritage study Working Party. • The public were invited to nominate places considered to be of significance. A form was prepared to assist this process and made available at the Council offices. 2 The South Western Slopes Bio-Region. [Online] p.120 3 The South Western Slopes Bio-Region. [Online] p.120 4 The South Western Slopes Bio-Region. [Online] p.120 Ray Christison 24 November 2008 5 Young Shire Community-Based Heritage Study 2006-2008 • Letters sent to the National Trust of Australia (NSW), Engineering Heritage Australia and the Art Deco Society of New South Wales requesting lists of items in the Young Shire maintained by these organisations. A Community-Based Heritage Study Working Party was established by Young Shire Council to assist with the study. This group met bi-monthly and assisted the Heritage Study Co- ordinator to: • Identify potential heritage items, • Research of the history of potential heritage items, • Inspection of potential heritage items under the supervision of the Heritage Study Co- ordinator, • Editing the draft Thematic History. A Thematic History was prepared in consultation with the working party. This drew on previously published local histories, general histories and local primary sources. In June 2007 village meetings were held in villages across the shire to introduce the Heritage Study and identify potential heritage items. Meetings were held as follows: • Bendick Murrell, Bendick Murrell Memorial Hall • Bribbaree, Bribbaree Memorial Hall • Koorawatha, Koorawatha Memorial Hall • Maimaru, Maimaru Public School • Monteagle, Monteagle Community Hall • Murringo, Murringo Mechanics Institute Follow-up meetings were held in Bendick Murrell, Bribbaree and Koorawatha to identify and inspect potential heritage items. Village committees and progress associations assisted in providing information on properties and arrange contact with owners. Places identified by the community and Heritage Study Co-ordinator were inspected by the Co-ordinator. 1.4 Authorship This study was undertaken by Ray Christison, Heritage Consultant of High Ground Consulting, 116 Hassans Walls Road, Lithgow NSW 2790.