Tuesday, November 9, 2021

1860s


The following lots were for sale in 1860. The list is mainly interesting for who already owned land in the area at the time.

Situation.
  • On the left bank of Cooyal Creek, lying between J. Blackman's 640 acres and T. Blackman's 1060 acres.
  • On the right bank of Cooyal Creek, opposite lots 1 to 4
  • Near Cooyal Creek, adjoining the north boundary of W. R. Blackman's 45 acres 1 rood and the east boundary of N. Kane's 600 acres.
  • On Cooyal Creek, opposite and near A. J. Liddington's 640 acres (Gulgong).
  • On the right bank of Lawson's Creek, opposite W. Hayes' 756 acres.
  • Near the head of Piambong Creek, about 2½ miles northwesterly from G. Rouse's 75 acres 2 roods at the confluence of Piambong and Dogtrap Creeks.
  • At the Two Mile Flat, near Lower Piambong, and about 2 miles north-westerly from lot 17
  • On the road from Wellington to Mudgee, near Guntawang, lying between Rouse's 1147 acres and his 1195 acres.
  • On the left bank of Cudgegong River, opposite and near to G. Rouse's 1053 acres at the confluence of Puggoon Creek
  • On the left bank of Cudgegong River, near R. Rouse's 1222 acres at Wiadragah.
  • Near the road from Grattai to Mudgee, adjacent to G. Cox's 995 acres near Mudgee.

1864 - Sticking up at Cooyal.
The Western Post of 25th instant says:—Information was received in Mudgee, on Wednesday, that a robbery had been committed at Mrs. Garbutt's place, Cooyal, at about eight o'clock on the previous evening. The party consisted of four men, disguised. They were well mounted and masked and armed with revolvers. The scoundrels obtained possession of a saddle, and cash and cheques to the amount of about £40. The sub-inspector, who was out near Cooyal on the evening of the robbery, had information the same night, and started in pursuit then and there. A man has been captured at Gulgong Creek on suspicion, and also two others who were seen with a number of cheques in their possession, and have been lodged in Mudgee lock-up. There is no doubt that they are the parties who stuck up Mrs. Garbutt's house, on Tuesday last—indeed the stolen saddle was found in their possession. It is supposed that they are the men who murdered poor Musson, at the Lower Pyramul. Certain it is that they correspond to the description given of the robbers.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Tue 29 Nov 1864 Page 8

1864 - THE STICKING UP AT COOYAL
The Mudgee police captured two men at Gulgong Creek yesterday afternoon, who there is no doubt are the parties who stuck up Mrs. Garbutt's house on Tuesday last. The stolen saddle was found in their posession. These are the men, it is supposed, who murdered poor Musson, at Lower Pyramul, They correspond to the description given of the robbers.—Western Post.

1865 - [STOLEN SHEEP]
A warrant has been issued by the Mudgee Bench for the arrest of James M'Kenzie, alias Scotchy, wherein he is charged with stealing 64 sheep (49 of which have been recovered), the property of John Holbuird, of Gulgong, near Mudgee. He is about 28 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches high, dark sallow complexion, dark eyes, dark brown hair and whiskers worn all round face; speaks slowly and softly, and half closes his eyes when speaking; dressed in blue monkey jacket, moleskin trousers (sometimes wears his boots outside), stitched drab California hat, and red muffler. Is supposed to be riding a small iron-grey mare, branded A over G on shoulder. Has lately been employed as
a ploughman.

1866 - HAIL STORM
We regret to hear that a very severe hail storm fell in the neighbourhood of Gulgong on Saturday last. We were shown a quantity of the heads of wheat completely knocked out by the hail, and it is said that in some cases the destruction of wheat crops has been almost complete. Considerable damage was also done at Menah and Wilbertree. The storm missed Mudgee altogether, although on the outskirts hail fell; but not heavy enough to inflict any serious damage.

1866 - Hail Storms near Mudgee.
During the past week several very sharp hail squalls have fallen in the vicinity of the town. On Thursday, heavy hail fell at Talbragar, Gulgong, and Green Swamp. Hailstones were also picked up at Broombee. A traveller informs us that he never witnessed such a storm as he fell in with on the Cassilis road, on Sunday last, and describes the lightning as something appalling. Whether these storms have not fallen very heavily in cultivated districts or not we cannot say, but only in one or two instances have we heard of much damage. Mr. Pile, of Mullamuddy, had a wheat crop seriously damaged, but we have not heard of any more. The hailstones were very large at Broombee, but they did not fall thickly. On Sunday last a tree was struck near the telegraph office, and shattered to pieces. Several gentlemen in Hughson's Hotel received a smart shock at the time, as they stood in the verandah, looking at the storm - Western Post, Dec 21.

1867 - RAIN, RAIN.
We were informed yesterday that the Cudgegong, near Lahy's, was running strongly with water received from the tributary creeks in that neighbourhood. Gulgong Creek was also running.

1867 - NEW REEFS
The discovery of a now reef at Gulgong has been the cause of some excitement during the last few days. If the specimens of quartz exhibited be any criterion of the character of the whole reef, it must prove a very rich one. Several claims have already been pegged out, and one or two of our townsmen are talking of going into the matter in a very systematic way. It appears that this is not the only reef in that district, two others have been discovered in the same locality, and it is possible that a continuous track of auriferous country will be discovered between Gulgong and Guntawang. We have some information to hand touching a small field at Carwell, which is said to be recently opened up with fair prospects. Such items as we have to hand are, however, rather too vague to lead us to state any opinion of a definite character upon the matter.—Western Post.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Mon 2 Sep 1867 Page 4
 
A Pioneer Goes North.—He Tells His Experience—Life in the Sixties.
(By the '"Guardian's" Special.)
Hearing that Mr. Jeremiah M. Keogh was about to leave Gulgong, after a residence of many years, the 'Guardian' reporter pounced upon him unawares and took down a few notes which are here given in Mr. Keogh's own words, with, perhaps, a little embroidery thrown in:
...
BREAD AND SPUDS.
Hearing of the gold rush at Gulgong, I made tracks for there on the day after the races at Two Mile Flat. Tents were all over the place, and miners of all nationalities in profusion. They were all in quest of gold. Their main trouble was want of bread. They were not short of beef, as Long Ome McFadden had a few sheets of bark stuck up with quarters of beef hanging therefrom. Mac's place was situated in Mayne-street, just opposite to where George Bellette's bakery now stands. Seeing that the miners must have bread, I hurried to Mudgee, and returned with two cartloads of the staff of life from Michael Daly's bakery, Mudgee, before they thought of building an oven on the goldfields.
I supplied them with bread, and they next cried for potatoes. I saddled a horse and made for Flatlands, the other side of Rylstone, bought potatoes, and took two teams laden with spuds to Gulgong. I paid £5 per ton for them at Flatlands, and received £11 per ton from the hungry Gulgong miners. I then saw the late John Scully (one of the best known men on the field) making his first batch of bread.

1868 - ANOTHER CHARGE AGAINST THE BUSHRANGER JOHNSON.
The Western Post of Saturday reports, that the following case was heard in the gaol, on Monday, the 1st instant, before Mr. G. Warburton. Charles Johnson, highway robbery under arms. Donald Miller deposed: I am a constable in the Mudgee police force; this evening I charged the prisoner with having stuck-up George Ashton, on the evening of the 6th April last, near Gulgong, and stealing from him about £16 in cheques, and about £4 in notes and silver; I produce a cheque marked A, which I received from Mr. Sub-Inspector Medley this evening; I did not then show the cheque to the prisoner; in reply to
the charge, prisoner asked if the weather was fine outside; I have shown the prisoner the cheque; he declines to look at it. 
George Ashton deposed: I am a farmer, and live at Talbragar; I recollect the evening of 6th April last; I
recollect being near a place called Gulgong; I was travelling on horseback along the road; I was in company with Mr. Woods and two Mr. Campbells, of Mudgee; we were stuck-up by Charles Johnson, now prisoner before the Court. Prisoner rode from behind, cantering his horse; he turned his horse round; he then said "Stand every man, or the first man that stirs hand or foot I will blow his brains out." He then ordered us off our horses. At the time he first spoke he had a revolver in his hand. After I got off my horse he asked me if I had any money. I said I had a little. He then told me to turn it out. I did so; it was somewhere about £23 odd. There was £16 5s. in cheques, and the remainder in notes and silver; after handing the money to him, he ordered me to lay down on my face and hands; he asked the other chaps if they had any money, and they replied no; he then said we could all go; we rode a short distance, and then addressing me he said, "Stop, I'll take that horse;" he did not take the horse; amongst moneys the prisoner took from me, the cheque produced, marked A, was a part thereof; I gave up the money, seeing the prisoner was armed; and I was afraid of him shooting me. Committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions, Mudgee, 2nd July.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, September 5, 1874
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