TUXFORD'S DAM
Tuxford's dam
Anglican rectory in background.
Anglican rectory in background.
Source: Peter Martin
[PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS]Tuxfords Dam was originally a watering hole for stagecoach horses. At the rear of our house in Mayne street, (which backed onto the dam) there used to be stables where the horses were housed overnight.
Source: Peter Martin
As a child I, along with all other eligible Phegan siblings, attended All Hallows’ school. In those days the playground for the girls was the school ground and the boys' was across the lane...
At the bottom of the boys' playground and at the rear of the houses facing Mayne street was a huge dam known as Tuxford's Dam. That extended right to almost the rear of Max Cross's Neptune Service Station [sic, Golden Fleece]. I have no idea whether it was to supplement the town supply or as the bowling club end was vacant maybe it was part of a TSR (someone will know).
This dam at the base of its wall had a George and Annis Bills water trough. Tuxford's Dam was drained about 1960 and I clearly remember myself and Stephen Thurling walking out through the mud as the dam dried up collecting hapless turtles caught in the same. What we did with them I have no idea. The area of which I speak was later built out with government housing and these still exist.
On 8 July, 1878 Thomas Farlow reported a missing/stolen brown draught horse. His address was given as "Tuxford's Dam, near Gulgong."
Source: New South Wales Police Gazette and Weekly Record of Crime (Sydney : 1860 - 1930) Wed 24 Jul 1878 [Issue No.30] Page 265 Hares are plentiful and destructive here. The farmers are compelled to put palings around their orchards and gardens. A shooting party went yesterday to Samuel Blackman's, at Cooyal, and shot 145 in a few hours. Tuxford's Dam, the sole dependence of carriers and stock around the town, is now dry.
The weather is fine and warm. Wheat is rising, the present rate being 4s. 6d.
1889 - Mention of expenditure for fencing Tuxford's Dam, Gulgong
Source: New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900) Tue 15 Oct 1889 [Issue No.554 (VICTORIAE REGINAE)] Page 7391
On Saturday afternoon a large crowd assembled at the reservoir known as Tuxford's Dam to witness what has never before been seen in Gulgong, viz., a professional diver, in full dress. As previously stated, the services of the diver were obtained for the purpose of repairing machinery at the bottom of the London Co.'s Mine Rouse's paddock and after he had finished his engagement there, Mr. R. White, of the Post Office Hotel, saw an opportunity of giving the school children and in fact, many adults an instructive and interesting treat, by allowing them a chance to witness the manner in which the explorers of the deep, work. The necessary expenses being paid by subscription from the business people of the town. A very large number of people assembled to witness the exhibition, and much interest was evinced on all sides with regard to dress, and the machinery for conveying air to the diver, who stayed underneath the water for a considerable time.
Source: Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal (NSW : 1851 - 1862; 1872; 1882; 1885 - 1897; 1899 - 1904) Tue 28 Jul 1891 Page 3
1896 - [TOWN WATER SUPPLY]
The crops, which looked so well a few weeks, back, will be an absolute failure if rain does not fall very shortly (writes our Gulgong correspondent). At the present time the crops are already mostly ruined by the dry weather and the heat. Water for stock and mining purposes is becoming extremely scarce also. The water being raised from the Red Hill Company's shaft, about 200 gallons per hour, has been diverted to Tuxford's dam (the only supply for the town), but owing to the great heat and dust did not reach within 150 yards of the dam. Dust storms are the order of the day, the roads being 6in deep in it.Source: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Sat 17 Oct 1896 Page 14
GULGONG, Wednesday.— The drought still continues with great severity. All dams on the common are dry, and stock are perishing hourly. On one station on the Talbragar last week, forty horses were killed in order to save feeding expenses. In good seasons the animals would have been worth, on an average, £15 per head. Along the river at Cullengoral the oak trees are being cut down for sheep feed. Bitterly, cold weather prevails. Nearly every farmer in the district has to buy feed for stock. The Gulgong Council is making strenuous efforts to secure a grant from ths Government for the purpose of cleaning and deepening Tuxford's Dam, the town reservoir.
Source: Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931) Tue 25 May 1897 Page 6At Gulgong on Thursday old Williamson Taylor, a well-known colored identity, found a nugget weighing 5oz. 17dwts. 18grs. at the back of Tuxford's dam, the head of the course of Adams' lead. It was sold to the Bank of New South Wales at £3 18s 6d per oz.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Tue 7 Nov 1899 Page 2 1899 - [FOSSICKONG]
Last week, while fossicking at the back of Tuxford's Dam, Gulgong, a man named Taylor unearthed a nugget of gold weighing 5oz 7dwt. The find was made quite near the surface; and the nugget realised £3 18s 6d per oz.
1899 - [DRY DAM]
There is practically a water famine at Gulgong. Tuxford's dam has gone dry, being the first there for very many years. All the water is drawn from Reedy Creek.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Fri 8 Dec 1899 Page 111900 - [WATER FAMINE]
Gulgong is threatened with a water famine, and another month of similar weather to this will leave almost a dearth. Tuxford dam has given out, and water for drinking purposes has to be drawn from Reedy Creek. The Star Lead retails water at 1s for 400 gals., whilst the dam on the Common, at Home Rule side, is rushed daily by stock belonging to settlers in that locality.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Fri 5 Jan 1900 Page 81900 - [ROADWORKS]
The Council intends to expend some money on Queen-street, from Mr. Heard's residence to the Convent. In wet weather this part of the street is in a deplorable state, and it is impossible for people to escape the mud and water which accumulates there. A great deal of traffic is on that road, as it leads to Tuxford's dam, and the road is also used by people going to church and also by the children attending the Convent school. It is a wise move of the works committee, and it is to be hoped that permanent repairs will be effected.
1927 - Water Supply - TUXFORD'S DAM.
This handy water supply in Gulgong is rapidly becoming exhausted. The heavy rain of a few days ago stirred up the rubbish and hundreds of carp are coming to the surface, no doubt feeling sick through the mud in the water. Some of them are up to l½ lbs weight. The small boys are having a good time with them, but owing to their bony nature they are unfit for consumption.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 10 Nov 1927 Page 15
Location of Tuxford's Dam, 1887 Parish map
Aerial Photo of Gulgong. Tuxford's Dam on far left.
Source: Gulgong Pioneers Museum
