Wattle Flat, a tiny village about 33 kilometres north-east of Bathurst NSW, is an interesting place to stop off on the way to
exploring Sofala and Hill End.
Wiradjuri people
Wattle Flat is in the traditional territory of the Wiradjuri people, which encompasses a vast expanse of central New South Wales.
As hunter gatherers, Wiradjuri people moved across the landscape according to seasons and food availability. Hunter-gathering requires complex knowledge and skills, and was and is, passed down
through generations.
A statement made by one of my Wiradjuri informants is worth recording, as showing that all the restrictions or enlargements of privileges are the result of thought. He said " and Kubbi-guro (bush-rat)
Kubbi-butherung (flying-squirrel) can each marry Yibatha-gurimul (opossum), because they are "
very near to each other in the Kubbi-budjan (that is sub- class). It was also said that Kubbi-bandicoot cannot marry Yibatha-opossum, but may marry Yibatha-kangaroo, or Yibatha-mallee-hen ; but for this no reason could be given" other than our fathers said it was so." (p.210)
In the Wiradjuri tribes there is an assembly of the initiated men, at which the Headmen discuss matters and decide what is to be done. Such matters are, for instance, disputes with other tribes, dealing with tribal offences, and similar circumstances. In cases of abduction of women, adultery, or murder, and where the offender has escaped to his own local division, or to a neighbouring tribe, the course is as follows. If the Headman decide that he is to be killed, the people with whom he has taken refuge are required by messenger to give him up. If they refuse to do so, there is a fight between them. If in this the offender's tribe is routed, no more is done, but the offender is always in danger of being killed, if possible. (p.332)
 |
| A Native Chief of Bathurst. 1820 / drawn by J.W. Lewin (French expedition) (Windradyne was an Aboriginal warrior) |
The medicine-man of the Wiradjuri also uses a kind of charm called Yangura, consisting of the hair of a dead man mixed with his fat and that of the lace-lizard, rolled into a ball and fastened to a stick about six inches long. This is carefully concealed by the medicine-man until he wishes to make a person ill, or cause his death. Then it is unwrapped and laid before a fire, pointing in the direction of the in- tended victim, ft is believed that the spirit of the dead man whose fat has been used will help the charm to act. (p. 361)
A messenger in the Wiradjuri tribe is provided with a message-stick, the notches on which remind him of his message, and if it is to call the people together for initiation ceremonies, he carries a bull-roarer {Bobu or Mudjigang), a belt [Gulir), a man's kilt {Buran or Tala-bulg) made of kangaroo-rat skin, a head-string {Ulungau-ir), and a white head-band {Kainbrun). The messenger having made known his message to the man to whom he is sent, and delivered his message with the other emblems above mentioned, the recipient assembles the men at the council-place {Ngulubuf). He then shows them the message-stick and other articles, and delivers to them the message which he has received. Sometimes, when the kilt is sent, the strands of skin forming it are used instead of a notched stick, to remind the bearer of his message. The recipient of the message-stick sends it on, with all the articles which he has received, by one of his own people, and it thus travels until the farthest point is reached. (p. 693)
The Wiradjuri divide the food on the rule of the community of goods, a general distribution, or sharing alike. (p.764)
1800s
Journals of two expeditions into the interior of New South Wales, undertaken by order of the British government in the years 1817-18. Read
here
Windradyne was an Aboriginal warrior.
Here
Note: Debate about the name Wiradjuri. Norman Tindale wrote that Wiradjuri was one of several terms coined later, after the 1890s had seen a "rash of such terms", following the publication of a work by ethnologist John Fraser.
In 1817, John Oxley surveyed and
mapped the Lachlan river and discovered good grazing land west of Bathurst.
1820s
Between 1822 and 1824, the Bathurst region experienced significant frontier conflict. The Wiradjuri adopted a guerrilla-style approach against British settlers, as traditional sources of food were disrupted.
Initial violence included attacks on
settlers and livestock by Wiradjuri warriors. Then more attacks with the murder of convict hut-keepers, scattering herds and spearing of cattle. Read
here
Swallow Creek was abandoned. In late 1823, the warrior Windradyne (known as Saturday by the British) was captured for the first time.
The Potato Field Incident occurred with a misunderstanding over food which led to violence and escalating tensions.
Then ambushes and retaliatory attacks, resultied in casualties on both sides.
In response, Governor Brisbane declared martial law in August 1824.
1830s
Thomas Mitchell explored the Bathurst region during his expeditions in the 1830s.
Three expeditions into the interior of Eastern Australia, with descriptions of the recently explored region of Australia Felix, and of the present colony of New South Wales, Read
here
1850s
Edward Hargraves is credited with discovering gold at Summerhill Creek on February 12, 1851, triggering the gold rush in the region.
 |
| Goulburn Herald and County of Argyle Advertiser (NSW : 1848 - 1859), Saturday 26 July 1851. Note: in 1887, William Henry Suttor Junior claimed that Murdering hut was where poison damper was placed for Aboriginal people (Suttor, Australian Stories Retold, p. 65) |
 |
THE TURON. From the Correspondent of the Bathurst Free Press.) Since my last there has been some very good diggings discovered near Stoneham's and the old crossing place, below the Wallaby Rocks. Very good surface diggings are being worked on Maitland Point, where the Chinese remain at work, and appear to be doing well. There have been about seven hundred licenses taken out this month about five hundred of them for Wattle Flat, where a great number are doing very well. This will be seen by the quantity of gold sent by escort as it is nearly all the produce of Wattle Flat. A great number are keeping their gold, as they think the price too low at present. A party of coloured Americans are fitting up a machine for washing gold to be worked by horse labour, something after the plan of a Pug Mill. This I have no doubt will answer well as the labour is very great to detach the gold from the extreme tenacity of the clay in that vicinity. I have no doubt there will be some rich diggings found in that neighbourhood before long as there is scarcely a spot in which gold cannot be found. Sofala, Feb. 15, 1855.Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Saturday 3 March 1855 |
 |
| Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal (NSW : 1851 - 1862; 1872; 1882; 1885 - 1897; 1899 - 1904), Saturday 9 June 1855 |
Peter Coups, a convict, married Hannah Martin the daughter of John Martin (Alexander 1788) and Mary, daughter of John Randall (Alexander 1788). They had 14 children. Peter moved to wattle Flat in 1857. Peter Coups and Hannah Martin Coups are buried at Wattle Flat Catholic Cemetery. See
here |
SERIOUS AFFRAY WITH THE CHINESE. About 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, two bro-thers, owners of a puddling machine on Wattle Flat, quarrelled with a party of ten Chinese, who work a claim only separated from their machineby a dam, at which both parties have been in the habit of washing their stuff. It seems blows were on this occasion first struck by the Chinese, who took umbrage at the puddlers emptying sludge into the dam, thereby raising the water to a higher level, and making it difficult, if not dan-gerous for the Chinese to work their claim. One Chinaman attempted to prevent one of the bro-thers from doing, as he supposed, more injury, and used a rake to drive him off. The Englishman retaliated, but was quickly knocked down for his temerity, the remainder of the Chinese party joining in the melee. The Englishman's brother seeing what had occurred, rushed to the rescue and was pretty well mauled for his pains. One of the brothers then used a shovel, as they told me, to ward off the blows being inflicted on them by the before mentioned rake, and other weapons used by the Chinese; which proceeding, I am sorry to say, was the cause of a serious injury being inflicted on one of the Chinamen. I was only just in time to see the Chinaman carried to his tent, situate in the camp at the west side of Wattle Flat, where I went and saw his wounds dressed by Dr. Robinson, who was speedily in attendance. The doctor treated him with the greatest care, and displayed the utmost anxiety while probing a ghastly looking wound on the left side of the head, and to the relief of the bystanders he pronounced his opinion that the wound was not dangerous, the skull not being fractured. Some fears were entertained that the man's left arm was broken, as he could not move it, and groaned very much on its being touched. Upon examination, however, it was found to be not broken, though seriously bruised. While the doctor was busily engaged dressing the injured man's wounds, only a few of his countrymen were looking on or rendering assistance. Some had formed themselves into knots, and were either laughing and chatting with each other, or seated at small outside tables gambling.Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), Friday 8 January 1858 |
Up to 40,000 people lived at Wattle Flat at the height of the gold rush.
1860s
The original Anglican Church of St Thomas was erected in 1860.
 |
| A bushranger attempted to stick-up Stewart's store, at Wattle Flat, last night. Mr. Stewart resisted, and fired upon the tetlow, who returned the lire. They exchanged several shots, but Mr. Stewart beat the scoundrel off. Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), Tuesday 27 March 1866 |
1870s
 |
| Protestant Standard (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1895), Saturday 12 August 1871, |
 |
| Newcastle Chronicle (NSW : 1866 - 1876), Thursday 11 December 1873 |
Construction of a new stone Anglican church building was commenced in 1871, and renamed the Holy Trinity. The building was completed in 1874 but the consecration, by Bishop Samuel Marsden, was not until 1879.
1890s
 |
| National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 - 1954), Friday 9 March 1894 |
 |
WATTLE FLAT SOCIAL Wattle Flat, Friday. The bachelors social came off on Wednesday night, and thanks to tho efforts of an energetic committee ably assisted by several young ladies, was a great success. The duties of M's.O. were efficiently carried out by Messrs. A.D. Carmichael and G. Foster, and the catering done by Mr. J. T. Jones was all that could be desired. About 40 couples presented themselves, and at 9 o'clock started dancing to first-class music rendered by the Sykes brothers (piano and violin), and continued until daylight, when nil wont home apparently well satisfied with tho night's amusement. The ladies were very tastefully and prettily attired. I am not brave enough to attempt to name the belle, but I think the following aro most entitled to special mention : Misses McDonald (2). Miss Storey, Misses Prime (2), Miss King,' and Miss Nicholson (Sofala). Those present ,were Mesdames Brockwell, Atherton, Eldridge, Grater, Bond, McKinney, Griffin, Jones, Wyring, Misses Webb (2), Gellnnd (2), Glasson (2), Little, Thompson (2), Beath, Mackie, Locker, Jones, McCarthy (2), and other ladies, names not known.National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 - 1954), Saturday 31 August 1895 |
 |
| Lithgow Mercury (NSW : 1898 - 1954), Friday 8 July 1898 |
 |
| Home of John Bockwell, Wattle Flat, NSW, |
 |
| The Lady Forrest Mine-The main shaft, Wattle Flat, NSW, Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Saturday 14 November 1896 |
 |
The Lady Forrest Mine- The water shaft. Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Saturday 14 November 1896
 | | Members of the Ellis and Brockwell families, Wattle Flats, NSW |
|
 |
| National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 - 1954), Thursday 5 March 1896 |
Patrick Chifley, the paternal grandfather of the 16th Australian Prime Minister Joseph Benedict (Ben) Chifley died 6 Jan 1899, was buried at at Wattle Flat Catholic Cemetery.
1900s
 |
| Wattle Flat School, NSw, Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 26 October 1904 |
 |
| Mining at Clay Flat, Wattle Flat, NSW, Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 26 October 1904 |
 |
Keeley Brothers, Wattle Flat, NSW, Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 26 October 1904
Wattle Flat is a mining district, the history of which lies in its past, although it is sure to always provide a comfortable living for a good many men. In the early days, however — that is in the fifties and sixties — the district was a rich mining field, but the fame of the place has waned, although even to-day the existence of the town depends in a very large measure on the gold won by the small army of fossickers working in the district.
|
Wattle Flat is situated about 25 miles north of Bathurst, on the road to Hill End, and about five miles south of Sofala, on the Turon River. Communication from and to Bathurst is by coach. The township lies on a tableland, 2000ft above sea level, and in the centre of an amphitheatre of hills of a high range, which bounds the Turon on the south. To the north of Wattle Flat is the Sofala district, on the south the Wyagden district, on the east the old Lime Kilns district, and on the west the Millimurra Ranges. The road from Bathurst ascends Wyagden Mountain, well known in connection with the murder of a police officer in the early days in connection with a supposed plan to " stick up" the escort.
With the exception of two claims working at Clear Creek (12 miles distant from Bathurst), and owned respectively by Dr. Machattie, of Bathurst, and Mr. W. Sinclair, of Clear Creek, there is no mining work doing between the two centres. At Wattle Flat, however, the field that has produced tons of alluvial gold, there is a stir in quartz reefing. Alluvial mining is practically at a standstill, and with the exception of a few fossickers and a puddling machine or two on the flats, there is little doing, and, for some years past, the alluvial gold has been looked upon as having been worked out; and, when one considers the raking over the field has had since the early fifties (some 8000 miners' rights being issued to Chinamen alone), it can be easily under-stood.
Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 10 July 1907
 |
| Big Oakey Gold Mine, is situated about 1½ mile north of the township of Wattle Flat, NSW, Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 10 July 1907 |
Esther Aiken, buried at Wattle flats Anglican Cemetery in 1911, was a daughter of ex-slave John Aiken from Barbados and Frances Randall, whose father was John Randall, an ex-slave from Connecticut, who was in the English military in the War of Independence but was transported on the First Fleet for stealing a pocket watch. See
more |
| Elizabeth White and Peter Coups (middle and far right) were descendants of African slaves from the Americas transported to Australia in the First and Second Fleets. Their ancestors were John Randall, who was a former soldier in the British Army (second left) and John Aiken and John Martin and they were some of the African American convicts in the First and Second Fleets |
WWI (1914-1918) Pte. J. MINI, Wattle Flat.
KILLED IN ACTION
 |
| National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 - 1954), Monday 29 November 1915 |
 |
| John Tetlow Brockwell at Brooklyn Wattle Tree Flat, NSW, no date |
1920s
 |
| National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 - 1954), Wednesday 22 December 1920 |
 |
| Smith's Weekly (Sydney, NSW : 1919 - 1950), Saturday 15 September 1928, |
1930s
 |
| Royal Hotel, Wattle Flat, NSW, 1930s |
 |
| Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Thursday 8 September 1932 |
 |
| Lithgow Mercury (NSW : 1898 - 1954), Wednesday 22 September 1937 |
 |
| Miners' Arms Hotel, at Wattle Flat, NSW, Lithgow Mercury (NSW : 1898 - 1954), Wednesday 22 September 1937 |
1940s
LATEST RAAF CASUALTY LIST
SKI. O. L. Dowllng. Wattle Flat.
Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), Monday 18 October 1943
1970s
 |
| Old butcher shop, Wattle Flat, NSW (owned by Sid Hodges at one time. House behind burnt down) |
 |
| General Store, Wattle Flat, NSW |
2000s
 |
| Wattle and daub building, Wattle Flat, NSW, Merryjack |
2020s
Hawthorn Cottage Wattle Flat, one that was one of our oldest surviving homes in the village burnt down in 2023.
 |
| Hawthorn Cottage Wattle Flat, one that was one of our oldest surviving homes in the village burnt down in 2023. Wattle Flat, NSW. |
Around Wattle Flat
 |
| House at Wattle Flat, NSW |
 |
| Wattle Flat Court House, built 1897. as also functioned as a as a post office and arts and craft store |
 |
| Original cottage, Wattle Flat, NSW |
 |
| Wattle Flat, NSW, 1870s cottage |
 |
| Originally known as the Holy Trinity Anglican Church and constructed around 1870, Wattle Flat, NSW |
 |
| St Mary of the Cross Catholic Church, Wattle Flat, NSW |
Around Wattle Flat
More information about people and business, here
The Northern Reserve has a camping area
DISCOVER THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF WATTLE FLAT
