1850s

1857

THE MUDGEE RIVER DIGGINGS — It may not be known to many of our readers that, from Guntawang, fifty miles down the Mudgee River, gold is being found in large quantities. There certainly are not at present many diggers at work, but we have been assured that, if a sufficient number of people arrived to test the ground, these diggings will turn out to be second to none in the colony. About fifty persons are at work on the river five miles below Guntawang, and we are credibly informed, that the whole of them earn from fifteen shillings to a pound per day. The sinking is not more than twelve feet, and in some places surfacing is going on. Stores are plentiful.— Mudgee Newspaper.

1858

Territory now considered local to Gulgong can be recognised in this description of the electoral district of Wellington found in the Australian Almanac of 1858.

BOUNDARIES OF THE POLICE AND ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

62. Wellington.

Embracing the north-western and midland portions of the County of Wellington, and that part of the Squatting Districts which is now included in the Settled Districts; and bounded on the north from near the confluence of Wildra [Wialdra] Creek with the Cudgegong River, by a road leading north-westerly from Guntawang to Cobra [Cobbora], to the range dividing the Cudgegong and Erskine waters; on the west by that range to within 10 miles of the Town of Wellington; thence by the boundary of the Settled Districts, being a curved line westward of the Town of Wellington, including all lands within 10 miles from any point of the outward limits of the said town to the Bell River, and by that river to Larras Lake; on the south by Larras Lake to its head; and thence by a line to the head of Currugurra Creek; by that creek to the Macquarie River, and by the Macquarie and Turon Rivers and Cunningham’s Creek to the range dividing the waters of the Macquarie and Cudgegong Rivers, and by that range and a spur from that range to the confluence of Mero Creek with the Cudgegong River, and by the Cudgegong River to the junction of the Wildra [Wialdra] Creek aforesaid.

Source: J. Cox and Co's Australian almanac. 1858)

HERITAGE

In 1975, the government, under the Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975 published notice of intention to enter the Wialdra Creek Rail Bridge (on the Gwabegar-Wallerawang line, 3.5 km north-west of Gulgong) in the Register of the National Estate

Source: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Special (National : 1977 - 2012) Tue 26 Apr 1988 [Issue No.S115] Page 26