See also Ulan Mine; Ulan School; Ulan Cemetery and Reedy Creek Inn
Ulan Hotel (circa 1890) - photo digitally enhanced
Source: Mr Tom Robinson via Robinson Family Collection, University of Newcastle
Ulan Hotel , July 1930
Source: ANU
Ulan Hotel, January 1976, owner J Marskell
Source: ANU
1928 - A visit to Ulan
Picturesque Little Township - Beauties of 'The Drip' - Wait Till the Railway Comes -
What Hope is There?
(By a Special representative).
What Hope is There?
(By a Special representative).
A pretty little spot is Ulan 25 miles from Mudgee on the main road to Muswellbrook. Little is known in a general way of this picturesque little township, but some day it may be 'on the map' as a great industrial centre. And who will be able to say then that they have not heard of Ulan coal?
Apart from coal, the district on towards Wollar, is supposed to be rich in untapped oil, resources, and it has been confidently stated that some day Wollar may be able to boast of the largest oil seam in the world. Who knows!
The cross country railway will run through the Wollar district to Ulan and on to Gulgong. What an important place Ulan will then become!
SHORT AND SWEET.
There is always one thing that will stick to Ulan while that name is retained. Ulan! How short and sweet is thy name! It will not be like Coonabarabran, where at the present time a controversy is raging about an alteration in the name. No one will ever be able to object to the name of Ulan on the grounds that it is 'unromantic, unmusical, ridiculous; a humiliation and generally objectionable, and to be disowned if possible.' No, and if anyone in the future desires to alter the name, they may find it is like a bad fiver in being hard to change. So much for the name.
FINE IS THE WORD.
The writer spent a very pleasant day and a half at Ulan during the Easter holidays. It's a fine little place, because it has two fine men who controls the business interests there. Everyone speaks highly of host Buchanan and his wife, of the Post Office Hotel. And the district boasts proudly of the large up-to-date motor garage opposite, owned by Mr. Pugliese, who is recognised as a good mechanic and a splendid type of business man.
A BREAKDOWN.
Leaving Gulgong on Thursday evening for that charming and thriving centre, Merriwa, the writer (accompanied by his wife) found it advisable to make a halt for the night at Green Hills owing to the development of car trouble.
WHY WORRY.
We were sailing along past the Green Hills Hotel, kept, by Mr. Gobetti and his bright and charming wife, but had not gone more than two or three hundred yards when fairly suddenly trouble came. We turned back and decided to stay at the hotel. Why worry, we thought. We had no need to, at anyrate. Mr. and Mrs. Gobetti looked after us A1, and we almost regretted that we were obliged to leave next morning.
PROMPT ATTENTION.
The postmistress at Turill Post Office, was extremely obliging in opening the exchange on the night of the mishap and a 'phone call was put through for a spare part to be sent to Ulan. There we arranged for Mr. Pugliese, the garage proprietor, to put us on the road again, and he was extremely courteous, obliging and business like at out it, too. However, the spare part was not exactly the thing, and we had to wait until late on Saturday morning.
HOST BUCHANAN.
We made the best of our enforced sojourn in Ulan, and had no regrets at being 'hung up.' Host Buchanan, whom the writer knew many years ago and has seen regularly for a good number of years past, made us 'at home.' He entertained us at the piano, and we enjoyed his playing. Many years ago while he was in the Baerami district, Mr. Buchanan was a noted pianist. His services and those of his brother, were always in great demand at country dances.
When it was known that 'Charlie' Buchanan was to preside at the piano it was the sign for a good attendance. Mr Buchanan has not forgotten any of the old tunes and is able to rattle off quite a number of them at the present time.
OTHER VISITORS.
There were other Easter visitors at the Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Sparkes, of Muswellbrook, their son and his wife, of West Maitland, and Mr. Fletcher, also of West Maitland. They formed a party who were bent on a visit to Mudgee, Gulgong, Wellington, Orange, Bathurst, and other towns, but spent the best part of the day with Mr. Buchanan, who is an old friend of Mr. Sparkes, of Muswellbrook. All told, we were a happy family.
THE SIGHTS.
Mr. Jack Ashmead, who, by the way, is part of Ulan, showed some of us the sights and we had quite a delightful tramp around. Rather a good way of spending a holiday. We looked about and talked of land values and the prospects for the future. A nice clean spot round about Ulan after the rain. The water soon disappears from view in the sandy soil.
'THE DRIP.'
A charming spot is what is known as 'The Drip.' It is just off the main Ulan-Cassilis road about 6 miles from Ulan. On a hot summer's day there is no spot within a hundred miles so delightful. One has to visit there on a real summer's day to appreciate its beauty and the cool atmosphere. Ferns of the maiden-hair variety and others, grow in profusion. It is a fern-lover's paradise. And the huge crude boulders of rock and stone!
Ah! Cold and not so inviting during the winter months. More will be heard of this great spot someday. It is the best summer-time place in the Mudgee-Gulgong district.
RECREATION GROUND.
Quite close to the small cluster of business houses and private residences that form the township is the Ulan sports ground. It is a rather impressive looking ground for so small a place. The tennis courts are used frequently. Although there are no district champions at Ulan, a number of the younger residents are keen players.
DANCE HALL.
The building used as a dance hall in Ulan (almost opposite the Hostel) is hardly suitable for the purpose. It is not large enough or sufficiently up-to-date. "But wait till we get the railway" is the motto with citizens of the type of Messrs. Buchanan, Pugliese and T. Cunningham (manager and part-proprietor of the coal mine) anything in the line of improved buildings is possible. Take Mr. Pugliese's motor garage as an example. It is a building that would be a credit to any country town.
CHURCH HALL. PROPOSED BUILDING.
The Church of England parishioners are giving consideration to building a hall, the choice of the site being one of the contributing factors to the delay in proceeding with the work. As a large hall is needed it is hoped that this difficulty will soon be overcome. The Church building is situated in the main street and if a hall was built on the Church ground nearby it would certainly be in a very convenient and prominent position. It is reported that a stage will also be built in the hall and if this is to be the case, musical and concert parties will then be able to visit Ulan.
COAL - 100 TONS STORED.
Five or six men have been employed at the coal mine for some little time past. The mine is situated over a mile away from the Hotel and over half a mile to the left of the Ulan-Cassilis road. The cross-country line will run between the hotel and the mine. Mr. Cunningham and his wife reside at the mine. The developmental work is well ahead and prospects are exceptionally good. The company controlling the mine are waiting for the railway, and there will be big things doing when the construction of the line starts. It is reported that 100 tons of coal is stored at the mine. The quality has been pronounced by experts as being very good. Mr. F. D. McMaster, of 'Dalkeith,' Cassilis, has been purchasing his supplies from there for over 12 months past.
WHAT HOPE IS THERE? GOVERNMENT'S DECISION.
The decision of the State Cabinet in relation to railway works that 'any new works in view would be started, when it was felt that the Government had the money to complete them' raises the question, what hope is there for this much-needed cross-country line? No doubt some optimists have become perturbed. One can be excused for wondering when the Government will have the money to start and complete the line. Take the statement of the acting-Premier and Minister for Works (Mr. Buttenshaw) on the question of water supplies for country towns. Mr. Buttenshaw has been reported as saying that the Government is unable to provide the money for country water supplies under the Migration Agreement, and as other statements of Cabinet Ministers show the Government is on the stump financially so far as many necessary country works are concerned, little hope is held out for relief.
However, the Government is to make financial provision for rail ways under construction to be completed at the earliest possible moment, and that is something. After the completion of these partly constructed railways, the cross-country line may come to the forefront.
THE HOLIDAYS. - SCORES OF CARS
It is surprising the number of tourists and other cars that passed through Ulan during the Easter holidays. One car after an other, most of them loaded with passengers and luggage, appeared to be passing through all day Good Friday. Some were bound for the North from Sydney and southern districts, from Mudgee via Ulan to Muswellbrook, being a main road. It is a very good stretch of road, too, that is according to opinions expressed by a number of tourists. From Ulan and from some distance on the Mudgee-Ulan road, to about 15 miles past Merriwa the road is in the Merriwa Shire.
CIRCUS AND RODEO.
Green's Circus and rodeo showed at Ulan and some fine exhibitions of buckjump riding were given. A local horse was brought into the ring and one of the crack riders was thrown in his first attempt. He was successful in staying on in his next attempt. Great interest was taken in this event.
PERSONAL.
Mrs. Buchanan, wife of Mr. Buchanan, of the Hotel, had a most enjoyable and very, interesting motor tour to southern districts in their Dodge Sedan car.
MARKET GARDEN.
Mr. Henry Carr has a very fine market garden at the old stone house a few miles from Ulan on the Cassilis road. It is situated right near, the creek, and all kinds of seasonable vegetables are growing well.
Mr. H. S. Archer, whose property is about five miles from Ulan to wards Wollar, has a fine crop of pumpkins. A couple of days ago he took some in to the Gulgong District Hospital, and the matron was highly pleased.
RACE CLUB.
The Race Club has not been active for some time past. Some very good meetings have been held here.
A CHAMPION. -THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.
Mr. Jack Ashmead, the village blacksmith, has two Australian championships to his credit. As the village blacksmith he undertakes to repair anything from a broken needle to an aeroplane, and he is credited with being an Australian champion at repairing needles. This may, perhaps, account for his being a ladies' man.
He also holds a championship at the Post Office Hotel, the genial 'Fitz,' of the 'Wingham Chronicle' having made the discovery when touring through Ulan not so very long ago. At the present time, however, Jack is hot seeking championship honors of any kind. He is one of the most popular residents of the little township.
GREEN HILLS RACES.
A race meeting is to be held at Green Hills on Saturday, April 28. There are five events for money prizes and leather events will also be run. Mr. J. A. Henderson is the secretary.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Mon 23 Apr 1928 Page 18
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Mon 23 Apr 1928 Page 18
