This municipal township is distant about twenty miles from Mudgee, and is the centre of the once- famous Gulgong goldfield, now a large and increasing agricultural district. Population, 1283.
The P.M. from Mudgee visits here when required.
- Magistrates— R. Rouse, R. Rouse, jun., C. M. Lowe, R. Stear, S. T. Bishop, S. A. Blackman
- Post and Teleg. Master— J. Clarke
- C.P.S., Mining Regist., Regist. Small Debts, Births, Curator's Agent, Comm, for Affidavits, Warden's Clerk— H. De Boos
- Sergt. of Police— G. Steel Warden— W. J. E. Wotton
- Surgeon— R. H. K. Bennett
- Chemists— Harris, J. Souter
- Hospital: Sec— A. P. Lambert; Surgeon— R. H. K. Bennett
- Municipality: Mayor— R. Heard ; Clerk— E. McCulloch
- Agricul. Assoc.: Sec— S. Turner Comm, for Affidavits — S. T. Bishop
- Banks: A.J.S.— W. R. Bentzen ; N.S. W.— H. D. Voss
- Steam Roller Flour Mill— C. R. Young
- Newspaper— “ Unionist”
- Auctioneers— Plunkett and Co., S. T. Bishop, J. Scully
- Stores— C. R. Young, F. W. Russell, M. Marks, R. Brown, J. Barrett
- Hotels— J. Powell’s, Mary Powell’s, Hewitt’s, Dobb’s, Young’s, Naughton’s, White’s, Piper’s
Source: Moore's Almanac, 1893
An Old Mining Town. ITS PERMANENT PROSPERITY. (BY "BATTLEDORE.")
Situated in the midst of rich and fertile country some 18 or 20 miles from Mudgee, the town of Gulgong stands as a monument to the industry of men, who finding that everyone could not make a living from gold mining, turned to see in what other way the earth would support them, and so established a steady and solid agricultural district. Doubtless in the days when Gulgong was a canvas town, and its population was smitten with the gold fever, money flew round pretty loosely, but to use the words of the leading business man of the locality, Mr. C. R. Young, "I would rather have a year of my present, steady, sure business than a year of the speculative rushes we had when Gulgong started." Mr. Young is a splendid example of the class of men who have made Gulgong the prosperous and thriving town it is to-day. His hotel is a large and comfortable one, his spacious and electrically-lighted store is the largest in the district, and in his well-built flour mill he has a small, but perfect plant of modern milling machinery. An explanation of the lines on which his business is worked describes the business of every store and workshop in "Union Gulgong." He buys the farmer's wheat and sells the farmer his stores. He buys the producer's produce and sells the producer flour. And so the world wags on, as far as Gulgong is concerned. Each man helps his fellow, and in helping him makes a living.
Mr. Fremlin, late Marks and Company, has another very large store in Gulgong, where business is worked on the same mutual lines, and to the mutual advantage. Messrs. Brown and Company are very old business people in the district, and as general storekeepers give satisfaction to all. Mr. T. W. Russell, late Booth and Company, is another leading storekeeper, and his business is an extensive one, he being a particularly strong believer in the "mutual and unity" system. Mrs. Barrett carries on her late husband's drapery business on the best lines; and Mr. C. A. Russell, as boot and shoe maker, stands well in Gulgong business circles. Mr. P. Connolly was for some time the only tailor in the town, but now has to face a little friendly competition from Mr. S. New, recently established. Mr. G. White has started a tinsmith's and plumber's business there, and gives every sign of prosperity. Mr. J. Smith and Mr. J. Gudgeon are the local wheelwrights and blacksmiths, and find their time pretty well occupied with district work. Mr. R. Stear, of the "Times Bakery," has for many years been established as a baker and produce merchant in Gulgong, and does a large trade there. He is also well known in Sydney.
Mr. Souter, the chemist, has lately brought out a specific for the cure of footrot in sheep, which is gaining him a big reputation, and from all accounts is a wonderful preparation. Mr. Harris has a fine chemist's shop in the main street, where special attention is paid to the skilled branches of the business. Mr. R. W. Heard, the saddler, is at present Mayor of the town, and, besides being a prominent businessman, is a most popular and respected citizen. Mr. W. J. Dobbs, of the Albion Hotel, is a favorite host with travellers, and Mrs. Powell, of Tattersall's Hotel, is quite a Gulgong identity. Kelly's Family Hotel, now owned by Mrs. Piper, is another favorite hostelry in Gulgong.
As showing the prosperity and good standing of the town, it may be mentioned that its agricultural show is always a big success, and the society boast over 20 more members than the Mudgee Association. As showing its good fortune and honesty, Mr. Young has been known to assert that no businessman in Gulgong ever went through the bankruptcy court, and no insurance office ever had to pay insurance on buildings burnt in Gulgong.
Between Gulgong and Mudgee lies the little mining township of Home Rule, where Mr. Wells has a comfortable little hotel; and Mrs. Maroney, agent for the TOWN AND COUNTRY JOURNAL, has a good-sized store.
1893 in retrospect - Is Gulgong Slipping?
EVENTS OF THE PAST 40 YEARS [Extract, written 1933]
"Is Gulgong Slipping?" (By Arthur Croft).
IT will be 40 years next January (1934) since I first came to Gulgong. The great financial and industrial depression was on. The wild cat banks had closed up in 1893, and the sound, sanely run institutions were in the throes of financial disaster. That really great man—George Richard Dibbs—put things on a sound basis in one sitting of Parliament by placing on the statute book the 'Bank Issue Act,' wherein he made bank notes legal tender, backed by all the resources of the colony.
In 1893, if I remember aright, the area under cultivation in N.S.W. was 872,000 acres; in 1896 it jumped to 2,870,000 acres, and prosperity was with us once more. When I came here 40 years ago it was by coach from Mudgee terminus. Bill Oldfield's grandfather drove it; the mails came in via Home Rule by another coach, which mostly got set in the mud in Home Rule lane (about where Mrs Stacy's woolshed now is). Gold production had practically ceased—only the glorious traditions of the early seventies remained.
Every building required paint—tons of it. Wheat growing was in its in fancy; 16,300 acres of common and mining reserves surrounded the town; then came the stations. The only brick buildings I remember were the Town Hall (just built) the post office, and Bank of N.S.W. There were eight hotels. The Albion was on the corner where Loneragan's drapery department now stands, the rest of the block to Porter's shop was C. R. Young's commercial warehouse. At the rear was the Silver Dust flour mill— now skin and wool room and garage.
Egan's Hotel was Scully's Chambers and the printing office. Next was Dom's Theatre, with Stringybark walls. The P.O. Hotel—like nearly all the others—was slab, packing case and bag. The Courthouse was a slab building at the rear of the present nice structure. The Australian Joint Stock Bank was a cottage next to Harry Miller's residence. The hospital was on church Hill, and was conducted by a wards main and his wife — Mr and Mrs Tom Strange, I think.
The water supply was Tuxford's Dam; the washings of the streets. The Anglican Rectory was at the rear of the church, and was mostly packing case and hessian. The mail coach stables were alongside the town water supply—to give the water an additional flavor, one supposes. Taken at a glance, Gulgong at that day, looked down and out and falling to that decay which has been the fate of so many old allu vial gold field towns.
And now, the inhabitants. Bob Heard was mayor, later followed by Unity Russell. The town clerk, Edward McCulloch, was in receipt of the princely salary of £50 per year. The council owed the Permanent Trustee Co. £3000, and had an over draft of £700 at the bank. When the interest was about due the mayor would get the biggest ratepayer to cheque up, and all further worry would cease for the next six months. Thanks to the later efforts of the late A. E. Brigden, these debts have been completely wiped out.
Dick White kept the P.O. Hotel. "White all through" was the local description of him, and it was fiting. Johnnie Powell ran the house known still as "Powell's Hotel." Johnnie struck the stranger as a cranky little man, yet he was a very loveble character. Ray Naughton's grandfather ran the house now presided over by his grandson. Veteran Ald. Jack Hewitt ran the Belmore, and Mrs Foster the Albion. J. Gudgeon, J Egstow and B. J. Naughton were the smiths of the town. This was a flourishing trade in those days.
The stores were Young's, Ah Lum's and Unity Russell's. Mail coaches left about noon for Gilgandra (twice) and Coolah (three times) a week. Ploughing matches had just about ended and a P. and A. Association formed.
About May and June each year a great exodus took place, shearers and shed hands making outback for the work at the -----. These were --------- by hand? ----- ------- with --------------- by the shed workers.
-------- among those moving stores were ------ Bros, the ---elaney's, and ----- McGowen.
Among the old identities were P. Joyce the local newsagent, quite blind, but he always delivered correctly. The boys said he could tell the Herald from the Daily Telegraph by the smell. Then there was sturdy, independent little Mrs Whelan, who delivered the firewood in her tip dray; dear old Mrs Ellen Egan, who could build a stack or wield a hayfork with long Jim Morris himself. Ald. Katy, who burned lime and between-times would take contracts to empty nightsoil pits—the pan system had not been inaugurated at that day. And the local undertaker, who always asserted over his nightly beer that he could make a more comfortable "box" than any other man in the trade. (They call the "boxes" caskets these days).
Jack Paradise nightly watched over the goods and morals of the community. Long Bill and Tubby Byers were mine mates. Bill was over 6ft. tall; Tubby was about 4ft, but he was 7ft. round the girth. Scotch Tom bossed the threshing gang. When the engine or machine got bogged Tom (who was the strongest man in the west) lifted it out. Unity Russell never grew out of his boyhood, and was always ready for fun. There were no solicitors, but three usually came from Mudgee on Mondays and kept the court going all day. Dr. Bennett attended to the ills of town and district. Honest John Tuxford was another identity who fully deserved his prefix.
Now you have the names of many old timers of that day. They may not have been keenly progressive, but they were a happy, care-free, lovable people. The times did not warrant the rush and tear of the modern business life, but results show that the town and district was in a state of evolution—that state which turns the sordid looking ugly chrysalis into the most gorgeous butterfly.
