THE AUSTRALIAN HANDBOOK
GULGONG, a mining township in the county of Phillip, 198 miles W. (202 postal) from Sydney, and 18 from Mudgee, between the Cudgegong river and the Wyaldra or Reedy creek. Communication with Sydney is by coach to Mudgee 20 miles, thence the rail. It is mainly an alluvial goldfield extending over a considerable area, being 8 miles east and west, and 9 miles north and south, the leads lying under basalt, but the average sinking does not exceed 84 feet. There are estimated to be about 300 miners at work in the district, the total population being about 1,600. Newspaper, the People’s Advocate.
The town consists mainly of two thoroughfares, running at right angles to each other, nearly north and south, and east and west. In Mayne Street is the N. S. Wales Bank; the Joint Stock Bank is in Herbert Street. The hotels are Post Office, Albion, Tattersall’s, Powell’s, and the Star, with between 10 and 12 smaller ones. It has four churches, two schools, public school has an average attendance of 169 pupils, hospital, post, telegraph, Government savings bank and money-order offices; police camp, and courthouse. A free library is here, under the control of the Municipal Council with 1,040 vols.
Local companies have been formed for the purpose of working several old and new leads, and seven mines are being worked by a Melbourne Syndicate; powerful machinery is employed and successful results anticipated. In 1885 the yield of gold amounted to 1,017 ozs., valued at £3,920. Agriculture is now to a great extent superseding mining, and in 1877 a large portion of the non-auriferous land, which had formerly been reserved as a goldfield, was, on the report of Mr. Wilkinson, the Government Geologist, thrown open to free selection and conditional purchase. It is well adapted for farming, being alluvial flats and low hills, with a good depth of rich red soil. A steam flour-mill has been added to the industries.
Gulgong has been incorporated since February 5, 1876, the municipality covering 36 square miles, there being 72 miles of roads and streets, and property of the rateable value of £87,490; the Council consists of a Mayor and eight Aldermen. Gulgong forms portion of the police and land districts of Mudgee. Water is supplied from a reservoir near the town.
