Thursday, October 21, 2021

GULGONG COMMON

NEWS ITEMS

1871 - Gulgong Races.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
THE maiden race meeting of this rising gold-field took place on Monday and Tuesday, the 2nd and 3rd January. Owing to the extraordinary wet weather that has lately prevailed it was feared that the races would have to he postponed; but though it was showery on Saturday, and Sunday, the fates were propitious, and the race days were all that could be desired. The course is situated on the Black Lead about three-quarters of a mile from the town-ship, and being very flat, the recent rains had made it heavy—in fact, it was decidedly boggy in several patches of fifty yards or so, which prevented good time being made, and led to one horse, ridden by a young cockey, being killed.
Owing to the heavy state of the course the entries were limited, as several owners of local "cracks " declined to enter after visiting the ground. The contests for the prizes were, therefore, limited to the genus "cocktail," who, as far as sport was concerned, afforded as much enjoyment as if they were so many Barbs or Whifflers; yet it was to be regretted that the prizes did not attract larger fields—but, better luck next time.
The attendance was large, there being about 1700 people present the first day, one-third of whom were on horseback, the greater part being "cockatoos," whose uncouth vagaries with their untamed quadrupeds led to at least a dozen fights.

1873 - [THE RACE COURSE]
[After a day of horse races at Home Rule] we eventually reached our destination, and at Selfe's comfortable quarters didn't long think of our past difficulties, though we determined not to "do" Home Rule on the following day.

As far as I was myself concerned, this arrangement was almost necessary, as I wanted the Tuesday in Gulgong to make myself acquainted with racing affairs, look round the course, and post myself up in the surroundings of the meeting.

During the evening I was asked to attend a meeting of the race committee, who did me the honour to elect me an honorary member of the Club; and made arrangements to show me the course during the morrow forenoon: and I was glad to find all working with a will, and their Club affairs in a flourishing state. Going round the running ground next day, I found that a great mistake had been made in laying it out, the course being a complete circle at a mile and sixty yards, without a bit of straight running in it; and there had been no opportunity after this was discovered to rectify the evil before the meeting.

The Club intend applying for a grant of this land, for racing purposes, then to fence it in, and afterwards lay out the course afresh, so as to secure a good run in. The running was in places very rough, by reason of dray tracks crossing it, and it was generally hard, but on the Tuesday afternoon the harrows were put over it three or four times, back and fore, which had not only the effect of levelling it considerably, but by breaking through the crust it was made much less hard, and jarring of legs in a great measure prevented.

Workmen were busy with the new stand, which was getting into ship-shape steadily; but, as this stand wants considerable alteration. I shall return to this part of the subject again. During the forenoon, horses kept arriving for the next day's racing, and among them Gratis, Westminster, Cyclops and Index, which last was, I noticed, very lame as he walked into town. The Arrow went a spin in the course of the day, as also did Goldfinder, and some others I didn't see. The town kept filling with people, and all things looked well for a good meeting. Our friends who had spent the afternoon at Home Rule gave a deplorable account of the management, and want of sport, which made us who had remained comfortably at Gulgong more than ever satisfied at having done so.
...
Long before it was time to go to the course, the cry of "Races! races!" commenced from a phalanx of 'busmen, all and each eager to get a load, and the numbers of people in the streets told unmistakably that there would be a large attendance on the course which it turned out there was. New arrivals on horse-back and in buggies kept coming in from Mudgee and Home Rule; and many who had not provided for lodgings beforehand, looked not a little disappointed to find they must return after the races, to the place from whence they came.

The new course is situated on the Wait-a-While, close to the shaft which supplies Gulgong with water, and the road to it is so much among logs and stumps, that I assure you I'd rather walk than tackle it in the shickery vehicles, and with the unskilled drivers available for passengers. Of smashes there were some, both of public coaches and private buggies, but I was wonderfully fortunate, (I say so advisedly) in getting over the trips I was obliged to make on wheels, between town and course, with a whole skin and whole bones. The "foot-back" business was by far the best, as it combined safety of locomotion with freedom from dust, and those who, like myself, indulged in it sometimes, must have found real benefit.

Arrived at the course I found the officials at their posts, striving and anxious to bring off their meeting so as to please all their visitors, whether racing men or others, and I think I may say they succeeded. Certainly, fields were a good deal curtailed, and lame horses wore many; but these consequences of too much racing didn't daunt the stewards and other officials, the result being that everything went off in first-rate order, and with no hitches, a state of things always desirable, whether at races or any other sports. [some commentary on horses omitted]

The course disclosed a very satisfactory state of things, both for club and lessees of booths; under the Grand Stand there was hardly any possibility of getting served in less than a couple of minutes, so great was the crush; and the lessee, who must have taken more than £400 in the three days, got a good bargain for £11. There was a long line of booths licensed to sell refreshments, which were frequented by all sorts of people in large numbers, and I'm quite sure there has never before been collected together in New South Wales on a racecourse, such a crowd of the independent gentlemen fraternity, who, as a rule, travel on the best.

The office of judge was in the well-skilled hands of Mr. S. A. Blackman, who it is needless to say made no mistakes; and Mr, W. H. Faid who wielded the starter's flag, was generally pretty successful in getting his horses away. The stewards invited us of the Sporting Press each day to lunch in their private room, and on all sides the officials sought to supply information, and make their meeting agreeable to visitors. Of the horses that ran, not much can be said in favour, taking out one or two exceptions, such as Myrtle, who was just getting herself into condition, The Arrow, Wrangler, and Westminster, who represented Gemma di Vergy, New Warrior, Yattendon, and Lord of the Hills; but there was a very well-bred son of Kingston, in Donus, belonging to Mr Richard Rouse, sen., who bids fair to be a racehorse, but was this time only just taken up, and ever so much too fat...

I'm glad to find the Gulgong racing men determined to go ahead; and as I think they have the correct idea as far as making their course into a good one, a word or two about the Grand Stand will, I dare say, be taken in good part. The present one is too flat from front to back, a fault which prevents any but the first rows of occupants seeing anything; and then the roof comes much too far down in front, so that the upper seats are quite useless. These matters are easily to be remedied, and unless they are so attended to, the Grand Stand will be deserted next year, which would be a pity, as there was this time an evident desire to patronise it. If the Club obtains its grant of the land there will be some encouragement to make improvements; and then with a fenced-in course a good straight run in, a little, clearing trees, and some improvement in the stand, the Race Club, will have every show of going rapidly ahead, as the management of affairs is now in very good hands. It was a most sensible thing not to have a fourth day's racing, as I believe was proposed. During the races the theatre (not Ward's) was opened by the Holloway and Power's company, with Mr. and Mrs. Braham (Miss Lizzie Watson) as stars, and crowded houses were the reward of very zealous efforts to please.
Source: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Sat 24 May 1873 Page 25

1875 - COMMONERS' BOUNDARIES, GULGONG.
Department of Lands, Sydney, 31st March, 1875.
HIS Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, directs it to be notified, that all free holders and householders within the undermentioned boundaries, will be entitled to the use of the temporary commonage at Gulgong. THOMAS GARRETT.
County of Phillip, parishes of Guntawang and Gulgong: Commencing on Wialdra Creek, at the north-west corner of R. Rouse's 1,200 acres ; and bounded thence... [details at link]
About 7000 acres taken from the Gulgong Common are to be thrown open for selection in areas of from 20 to 100 acres. There will be 3000 acres left for the Gulgong commoners, and 700 acres for the Canadian residents. Several mining areas are retained.

1896 - Considerable interest is being taken in a case which was postponed from last week till November 13. A number of Chinese have been cultivating small areas on the Gulgong Common for the past twenty-five years. The common trustees sued them last week for trespass. Speculation as to the ultimate verdict is much indulged in locally. It is generally thought, however, that the holders—the Chinese—will apply for a title, they having remained in undisturbed possession for twenty-five years.
Source: The Maitland Weekly Mercury (NSW : 1894 - 1931) Sat 31 Oct 1896 Page 10
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