Historical Australian Towns: Tumut NSW: At The Foothills of The Snowy Mountains

Tumut is located about 410 kilometres (250 miles) south-west of Sydney and 525 kilometres (330 miles) north-east of Melbourne.

Situated on the banks of the Tumut River, on the western foothills of the Snowy Mountains, Tumut has an interesting history and wonderful buildings to explore.

Wiradjuri, Ngunnawal and Walgalu (Wolgal) Peoples

The name Tumut likely comes from the Aboriginal word doomut, meaning “river campsite”.

The Tumut River was a meeting place for the Wiradjuri, Ngunnawal and Walgalu peoples.

Norman Tindale (1974) indicated that Ngunawal territory ran from "Queanbeyan to Yass, Tumut to Boorowa, and east to beyond Goulburn; on highlands west of the Shoalhaven River". However, there appears to be confusion about where the actual borders were for the various groups, who were probably related through kinship ties.

Anthropologist Alfred Howitt learnt many aspects of Aboriginal culture from Yibai-Malian, aka Murray Jack, who wore a breastplate describing him as King of the Wolgal and was born at Talbingo (near Tumut). Howitt also claimed that some of the Wiradjuri lived on the lower Tumut River (Howitt 1996).

Photograph of Murray Jack, also known as Gentleman Jack. He was married to Flash Margaret; taken by a visiting photographer in c1880. Murray Jack (or Yibai-malian) was born at Talbingo Mountain (near Tumut) of a Wiradjuri father and a mother from the Theddora (Dhudhuroa) of Omeo. He was a leader to both the Wolgai and Ngarigu peoples

However, Mr W. Parkes, the former manager of the government settlement at Brungle (between Tumut and Gundagai), corresponded with Tidale in 1952, writing that he recalled a description conveyed to him in 1948 by 74-year-old Frederick Freeman, an old "halfcaste" Wiradjuri man, about what he called the Wiradjuri "line".

Mr W. Parkes claimed that Tumut was not on the Wiradjuri “line”, but on “the line” of the Gurmal, “a different lot altogether”, “the lot who lived upon the Bugangs [Bogong Mountains]”, who spoke “a lot like the Ngunuwal” and were associated with the latter on the Tablelands (Parkes 7.5.1952).

Despite the confusion, there is evidence that various Aboriginal groups used the Tumut region for trade, ceremony and some groups travelled to the mountains east of Tumut to harvest Bogong moth as a food source.

George Bennett, who lived around Tumut in the early 1830s, described the harvesting of Bogong moths by Aboriginal people. Journeying to Bugong Mountain, called "Gunundery" by Aboriginal people, he described huge numbers of moths on the sides and crevices in the granite. Fires were lit beneath the moths. Then they were cooked, and wings were removed and pounded into a type of patty.

The Bogong moths were a seasonal food, and the daisy yam was a more reliable staple food source.

According to Bennett, crows feeding on the moths were also harvested by Aboriginal people: the “highland crows”, ‘arabul’, the ‘fat fellas’, and the “lowland crows” ‘gundagiar’ or ‘worgan’, the ‘poor fellas’ (Bennett, 1834).

Hunter-gatherer lifestyles generally maintained populations that suited the carrying capacity of the land. The hunter-gatherer adaptive practice required not only access to large areas of land, but a great deal of skill and knowledge. The arrival of European settlers with a different concept of land use and the resulting competition for land severely impacted hunter-gatherer societies.

Brungle Mission Station, between Tumut and Gundagai, was established in 1888 for Aboriginal people who lived at Brungle or nearby.

Vince Bulger, a Wiradjuri elder and respected member of the Tumut community, had lived with his family on Brungle station for a period of time as a child. He recalled many stories of his childhood, such as Aboriginal elders at Brungle station talking about a battle that was fought before European settlement between Ngunnuwal and Wiradjuri clans. The Wiradjuri were returning to the high country after holding initiation ceremonies at Mudjarng (now known as Pine Mountain), when they were ambushed by Ngunnuwal, who wanted to rescue a woman who had been kidnapped by Wiradjuri men.

Hamilton's Stone Monument. This monument was put in place to tell the story of Hamilton, an Aboriginal guide and mediator between the first settlers and Aboriginal people of the Tumut Valley. (see here)

Europeans: 1820s

In 1823, Commissioner Bigge recommended that an expedition be sent inland from Port Phillip to pursue a north-easterly course to Lake George to ascertain the character of the country.

Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane then proposed the idea that a party of convicts could be transported by water to the southern coast and then turned loose to find their way back overland to Sydney. If they were successful, the convicts would obtain a free pardon and a land grant.

Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane (1773-1860), by F. Schenck, c.1850, State Library of New South Wales

In 1824, Hamilton Hume and former Royal Navy Captain William Hovell led an expedition to find new grazing land in the south of the colony and to find an answer to the mystery of where New South Wales's western rivers flowed. The exploration party passed through the Tumut River Valley in November of that year.

The first European settlers followed soon after Hume and Hovell's explorations, some bringing sheep with them. Thomas Boyd, a member of Hume and Hovell’s exploration party, returned to Tumut in the early 1830s and selected land on the Gilmore Creek at “Rosebank”.

Boyd was transported to Australia aboard the "Isabella" which left Cork, Ireland on the 4th of November 1821 and arrived 4 months and 4 days later in Sydney Cove on the 14th of March 1822. Originally, he had been sentenced to death for "Highway Treason". Read Boyd's story here

The Ship Isabella at Sea, James Wilson Carmichael - National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

On 27th November 1828 explorer Captain Charles Sturt recorded that he visited the station of Mr Warby at Darbalara on the Tumut River.

1830s-50s

Dr George Bennett, an Englishman, explored the area of Tumut in 1832. His "Journal of a Naturalist", entitled Wanderings In New South Wales, was first published in London in 1834. One interesting observation in the book is an Aboriginal man describing a preacher:

"He, white feller, belonging to Sunday, get uptop o' waddy, pile long corrobera all about debbil debbil, and wear shirt over trowsel".

The first land surveyed in Tumut was by Surveyor Townsend, who measured 1280 acres of Tumut Plains for Mr Hamilton Rose. Dr Bennett wrote in his book that Aboriginal people were spearing the cattle at this farm for food.

In 1845, a Court of Petty Sessions was established at Tumut, with Frederick Walker appointed as the inaugural magistrate.

Goulburn Herald and County of Argyle Advertiser (NSW : 1848 - 1859), Saturday 7 September 1850

After the disastrous 1851 flood, the townsite was moved further up the hill from the original site.

Tumut Post Office opened 1 January 1849. The foundation stone of the first Catholic Church of St Mary’s of the Immaculate Conception was laid in 1858.

1860s

Large numbers of people passed through Tumut on the way to Kiandra during the 1860s gold-rush

The first show was held in the Tumut district in 1862.

Tumut Police Station was established in 1862. In 1863, Tumut had a staff of one mounted sergeant and two mounted constables, plus two foot constables.

There were eleven hotels at Tumut and a population of about 400 in the 1860s.

The poplars along the Tumut River were planted in 1861. The hotelkeeper, Irishman Barney Kelly, imported the first Lombardy poplars to the area.

Johnny Taylor, who was born in 1845, was a member of the "Pialligo tribe". In the 1860s, he became head stockman for Mr E. G. Brown at Blowering, Tumut. He was a star player at the Tumut Cricket Club and was often honoured as the club’s highest scorer. He died in 1875 and was buried at the Pioneer Cemetery at Tumut.

Wagga Wagga Advertiser (NSW : 1875 - 1910), Wednesday 7 July 1875

1870s

Tumut Court House (1878), Police Station (1874) & stables (1879), designed by colonial architect, James Barnet.

"Probably the last of the black chiefs was “Wellington”, with “Sally”, his wife. They were kindly, helpful, and greatly respected. “Sally” died first and was buried in Arentz’s paddock, near the Tumut Showground." by by REV’D. J.D. FRENCH Member of Tumut and District Historical Society, 8th June, 1965

1880s

In 1887, Tumut became a municipality.

O'Brien's Hotel on right, a bank on right, Tumut, New South Wales [picture] / Charles Gabriel (between 1887 and 1927)

1890s

Three Chinese farm workers with harvested tobacco, Tumut Region?, New South Wales, ca. 1885, NLAUST

Miners at the chrome mines at Kangaroo -Mountain, between Tumut: and Gundagai, NSW, about 1890s

Tumut Tennis Club, NSW, Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 9 November 1895

1900s

In 1900, the Tumut Cottage Hospital was built by public subscription.

The Old Tumut Butter Factory was established in 1902.

A roadside store on the road to Tumut, NSW, Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Saturday 3 August 1901

Tumut street view, showing the Anglican Church, NSW, Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Saturday 4 May 1901

O'Brien's Commercial Hotel, Tumut, NSW, Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Saturday 4 May 1901

O'Brien's Tumut Hall, NSW, Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Saturday 4 May 1901

1. BEALE'S BREWERY, TUMUT. 2. G, SPEICH'S EMPORIUM, TUMUT. NSW, Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Saturday 4 May 1901

Blakeney's Saddlery, Tumut, NSW. Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Saturday 4 May 1901

J. Learmont & Co. Tumut, NSW. Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 21 October 1903

G. F. Grill, of the Post Office Stores, Tumut, NSW, Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 21 October 1903

Construction of the railway line from Gundagai to Tumut began in 1901. The first train arrivied on 2 December 1903.

Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 21 October 1903

The racecourse, Tumut, NSW, Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), Thursday 22 October 1903

Before Canberra was selected as the new Federal Capital of Australia, many other locations were assessed as suitable spots for Australia's capital. When the Parliament held its first vote, the Senate proposed Bombala but the House of Representatives selected Tumut. However, In October 1908, a bill, confirming Yass-Canberra as the nation’s capital was passed by the Parliament.

On the riverbank, Tumut Racecourse, NSW, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 21 October 1903

Tumut Show, Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 3 March 1909

Royal Hotel Hotel, Tumut, NSW, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 3 March 1909

Granstand and crowds at Tumut, NSW, Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 28 February 1912

"Tumut, N.S.W. - 1913" by Aussie~mobs is marked with CC PDM 1.0

WWI

Name: Edward John Frances Ryan. Birth Date, Feb 1890. Birth Place: Tumut, New South Wales, Australia. UK, Victoria Cross Medals, 1857-2007. World's News (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 1955), Saturday 8 November 1919

Private Ernie Johnson, of Tumut, NSW, was wounded at Gallipoli, Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), Tuesday 1 June 1915

Charles Thomas Horan, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Tumut Convent School, Tumut, NSW, Killed in action, Lone Pine, Gallipoli, 7 August 1915, Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), Tuesday 1 June 1915

Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 11 September 1918

Bombowlee Road, near Tumut, NSW, Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 12 November 1919

1920s

Adelong and Tumut Express and Tumbarumba Post (NSW : 1900 - 1925), Friday 26 November 1920

In Memory of Thomas Boyd, Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 12 November 1924

Tumut Butter Factory, NSW, Tumut Advocate and Farmers and Settlers' Adviser (NSW : 1903 - 1925), Tuesday 11 November 1924

Home of David Richardson, Tumut, NSW (1872), Tumut Advocate and Farmers and Settlers' Adviser (NSW : 1903 - 1925), Tuesday 11 November 1924

Avenue of poplar trees, Tumut, NSW, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 19 December 1925

Tumut Public Hospital, NSW, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 8 June 1929

Wynard Street, Tumut, NSW, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 8 June 1929

Oriental hotel, Tumut, NSW

Jimmy Clements, aka King Billy, and John Noble, aka Marvellous, both lived for sometime on the Brungle reserve between Gundagai and Tumut, at the foot of the Snowy Mountains. In 1927, they both walked for three days from the Brungle Aboriginal Station near Tumut to Canberra.

On 9 May 1927, Clements and Noble were the only Aboriginal people to protest the opening of Parliament House.

Jimmy Clements, or "king Billy," a Wiradjuri elder took part in the opening of Australia's parliament house. He walked from Brungle (near Tumut) to appear uninvited at the opening ceremony - the first Aboriginal protest at parliament house. Clements was initially told to move on by police at the ceremony due to his attire but due to popular support from other members of the crowd he ended up among prominent citizens who were presented to the Duke and Duchess of York (later known as King George VI and Elizabeth the Queen Mother)

1930s

Peter Stathis and his sons ran the Montreal Theatre in Tumut from 1930 to 1965.

Main Street ,Tumut NSW .ca.1930. State Records NSW

Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Wednesday 14 January 1931

Tumut and Adelong Times (NSW : 1864 - 1867; 1899 - 1950), Tuesday 23 January 1934

The new Co-operative Butter Factory, Tumut, NSW, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 15 July 1939,

Panorama of Tumut, NSW, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 15 July 1939

Wynyard Street, Tumut, NSW, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 15 July 1939

Nurses' home at the district hospital, Tumut, NSW. (Left to right)— Nurse J. Davies, Sister E. King, Nurse J. Croft, Sister M. Bell, Matron M. O'Rourke, Nurse M.Reck and Sister D. McElnea. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 15 July 1939

1940s and WWII

LADY MORSHEAD, wife of Lt-Gen Sir Leslie Morshead. GOC AIF, Middle East, was one of the Red Cross Transport Auxiliary who drove wounded troops who have returned to Sydney from Middle East to their homes. Here she is with Gnr W. J. Herlihy, of Tumut. Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 12 October 1942

Dan Grotty and his well trained horse, "Silver" give a demonstration of trick riding at Tumut Rodeo. Dan is performing a shoulder balance at full speed. Land (Sydney, NSW : 1911 - 1954), Friday 22 November 1946

The Tumut Showgrounf is one of the most picturesque in the State. The beautiful English elms and poplars provide welcome shade. This picture was taken during lastweek's Rodeo when 4,000 visitors attended Land (Sydney, NSW : 1911 - 1954), Friday 22 November 1946

The Tumut Broom Factory was established in 1946 by the Tumut Cooperative Millet Society.

Broom making at Tumut, NSW, Land (Sydney, NSW : 1911 - 1954), Friday 7 November 1947

GOING HOME. Ah Him, 93, of Tumut, former Western Districts jockey, who has lived in Australia for 73 years, left by the Soochow for his homeland. Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), Wednesday 9 June 1948

Tumut (CSC) Monaro Motors Pty. Ltd., Tumut, has been the N.R.M.A. district depot from the 1930s

Tumut Hydroelectric PowerStation is a series of three hydroelectric power stations constructed between 1949 and 1974. Blowering Dam was built for the purposes of flood mitigation, hydro-power, irrigation, water supply, just above the town with Tumut 1, 2 and 3 power stations on the Tumut River.

1950s

Land (Sydney, NSW : 1911 - 1954), Friday 14 April 1950

Wynyard Hotel (1950s), Wynyard Street, Tumut, ANU

Tumut's captain, J. Shihee, receiving the cup for tbe champion team of the Intermediate Seniors section at the big Riverina Rugby League schoolboys' carnival last Saturday: at Junee. Shihee, a hooker, is a most promising footballer. Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 - 1954), Friday 8 August 1952

MR. FRANK MALONE shows a good sample of broom millet "hurl" grown on his property at Homesdale, Tumut, NSW, Land (Sydney, NSW : 1911 - 1954), Friday 4 April 1952

BY THE GUM TREES over the border, Mr. Gus Wade, from Brungle station via Tumut (N.S.W.), led a packhorse carrying his camp gear, as he drove a mob of Aberdeen Angus steers to a special sale at Wodonga yesterday. Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Saturday 17 July 1954

The Festival of the Falling Leaf was first celebrated in 1954.

Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), Tuesday 27 April 1954

1980s

Tumut rail line closed in 1984 due to flooding and damage.

Around Tumut

All Saints Tumut, Anglican Church, designed by architect Edmund Blacket, completed in 1878

Police Lock-up-Keeper's residence and former cells (now Police offices), rear, Wynyard Street, Tumut. Tumut had a police station built in 1890 and a lock-up

Immaculate Conception Parish, Tumut, NSW,

Grandstand, racecourse, Tumut, MSW

Star Hotel, Tumut NSW, was previously the Moanisle Hotel. In 1882 there was a report of a burglar in the Star's kitchen, when police arrived to investigate, it was found to be a wandering cow.

Muriin (Wiradjuri: canoes) on exhibition at the Tumut Visitor Information Centre, NSW

The Oriental Hotel (Queen's Arms Hotel) was built in 1876 and replaced an earlier 1850 hotel, Tumut, NSW

Commercial Hotel, Tumut, NSW

The former Commercial Bank of Sydney, built in 1889, Tumut, NSW

Wynyard Street, Tumut. Tumut Post Office, incorporating residential quarters at first floor level, was built in 1879. The Royal Hotel was built in 1854.

Tumut court house was built in 1878, and is adjacent to the police station, NSW

The Montreal Theatre, Tumut, NSW, was built in 1929 by Learmont the draper who had his shop next door. Interestingly, the word Montreal is an anagram of Learmont