In 1873 there were at least 8 blacksmiths in Gulgong. They were listed among the 275 persons who sign the 1873 petition to make Gulgong a Municipality.
In 1884 there were 15 blacksmiths in Gulgong who were kept busy sharpening the picks of gold diggers in addition to their usual business.[*]
Blacksmith, Valentine Taylor, Gulgong
This video is the Gulgong part of an ABC TV promotion from 1972 called “The Good Looking Australian”. The blacksmith is Valentine Taylor (notice he’s missing the pointer finger on his left hand). He was 89 at the time. The filming is thought to have been done at Harry Gudgeon’s blacksmith shop which is now part of the Gulgong Museum.
Source: Lea Anthony
The horse Val was shoeing was the Lewis' horse Digger. Val had trouble driving the nails in because Digger's hooves were very hard.
Source: Andrew Lewis
