The historic gold mining town of Gulgong, in the Mudgee region of NSW, is 300 km (190 mi) northwest of Sydney.
This 19th-century gold rush town has plenty of history and charm to discover.
Wiradjuri Aboriginal People
The Gulgong area is part of the Wiradjuri territory.
Most Aboriginal people lived a highly mobile lifestyle in extended family groups, of between 10 to 50 people.
Mostly, men would hunt animals and women would collect seeds and plants to eat, using knowledge passed down the generations.
Fire was very important to Aboriginal people. Author of Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari, wrote:
“........ by the time Sapiens reached Australia, they had already mastered fire agriculture. Faced with an alien and threatening environment, it seems that they deliberately burned vast areas of impassable thickets and dense forests to create open grasslands, which attracted more easily hunted game, and were better suited to their needs. They thereby completely changed the ecology of large parts of Australia.”
According to fire historian Stephen Pyne:
"Without campfires there would be no storytelling. Without torches and bonfires, there could be no ceremonial community after dark. Without the protective radiance of the hearth fire, Aborigines were defenceless against the evil spirits that marauded the night in search of souls to devour. Fire was ubiquitous in Aboriginal ritual and myth because it was ubiquitous in Aboriginal life. "
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| SMOKING OUT THE OPOSSUM J. H. Clark, Del. Published & Sold October 1st 1813, here The name Wiradjuri appears to be a term created by Reverend Dr John Fraser, an Australian ethnologist and linguist during the 1890s. |
According to anthropologist and ethnologist Norman Tindale, there was a "literary need for major groupings that [Fraser] set out to provide them for New South Wales, coining entirely artificial terms for his 'Great tribes'.
Tindale also mentions other ethnologists, R.H. Mathews, A.W. Howitt and John Mathew as promulgators of the "nations" concept. (#)In 1821 William Lawson (who crossed the Blue Mountains) explored the Gulgong area. Then, in 1822, the sons of William Cox (the man responsible for the road through the Blue Mountains) extended their Mudgee property to the Gulgong area.
Richard Rouse, a squatter, moved into the region in 1822 and he and others eventually obtained licenses to legally occupy runs.
1830s
In 1831, Major Thomas Mitchell explored the area and named the district Gulgong using an Aboriginal word meaning “deep waterhole”.
Louisa Lawson was born on Edwin Rouse’s station, Guntawang, in 1848. She was not only, the mother of the famous poet, Henry Lawson, she became a newspaper proprietor and campaigned for female suffrage in Australia.
1860s
A small amount of gold was discovered in the area in 1866.1870s
In 1870, a major gold lode was discovered and within six weeks 500 people had arrived. The alluvial leads in the district were some of the richest in the State. |
| Dr. Kelly seen outside his consulting rooms in Moym Street, Gulgong, next door to Wood's “West End” Stores Of especial interest is his window display, which comprise articulated hands and other bones and jars of coloured water adorned with astrological or similar emblems. Gulgong, NSW, 1870 |
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| American Tobacco Warehouse and Fancy Goods Emporium are heritage-listed adjacent shops at 123-125 Mayne Street, Gulgong, NSW, built 1870 |
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| The Greatest Wonder of the World, Gulgong, NSW, heritage-listed adjacent shops at 123-125 Mayne Street, Gulgong, NSW, built 1870 |
Union Church conducted in a bark hut in 1871. Methodists built a church in 1871.
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| One of Gulgong’s principal streets as it appeared early in 1871. NSW, The style of building — stringy-bark with “ false-front” of pine—was characteristic of the period. |
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| Black Lead, Gulgong, NSW, 1871 |
Joey Gougenheim, an Irish actress, leased Ward’s theatre and held many theatrical productions. She also performed at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Mayne Street.
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| Gulgong. Joint Stock Bank. Henry Beaufoy Merlin and Charles Bayliss photographed Gulgong gold rush in 1872. 500 glass plate negatives are now the Holtermann Collection Museum. UNESCO heritage listed. https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/ |
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| Sun Tong Lee Store 1872, Herbert Street, Gulgong, Now part of the Gulgong Pioneers Museum facade |
The Prince of Wales Opera House, built in 1871, is the oldest still-operating Opera House in the Southern Hemisphere.
"The lower part of Herbert-street is
considered to be the Seven Dials of Gulgong; and some
queer scenes take place there all night long. "
Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), Wednesday 20 March 1872
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| Louisa Lawson and her son Charles William Lawson outside their bark hut, Gulgong, New South Wales, ca. 1872 |
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| Sportmans Arms Hotel (“Widow Powells”), next to Barnes Mudgee Store and Plunkett and Co. auctioneers, Mayne Street, Gulgong, New South Wales, ca. 1872 (now, The Commercial Travellers House) Here |
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| Gulgong. Chemist shop. Henry Beaufoy Merlin and Charles Bayliss photographed Gulgong gold rush in 1872. 500 glass plate negatives are now the Holtermann Collection Museum. UNESCO heritage listed. |
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| Public School, of 'bark and poles’ construction, on one of the outfields—probably on the Black Lead, Gulgong, NSW, The Holterman Collection, !872 |
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| Looking north down Herbert Street (west side), towards Black Lead, from a point near its intersection with Mayne Street (also known as Queen Street), Gulgong, NSW, The Holterman Collection, !872 |
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| Gulgong, NSW, in 1872 |
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| At this time there were three newspapers in Gulgong, “The Gulgong Guardian,” “The Gulgong Mercantile Advertiser,” and “The Gulgong Argus;” the latter's premises, as illustrated above, were situated in Belmore Street. Gulgong, NSW, The Holterman Collection, !872 |
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| A blacksmith's forge, probably at Black Lead. Gulgong, NSW, The Holterman Collection, !872 |
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| Binder’s Star Hotel and London Music Hall was situated next to the Oriental Bank, on the north side of Mayne Street between Herbert and Medley Streets. It is believed that this photo- graph can be accurately dated (by the fortunate inclusion of the illuminated canvas box sign featuring “Mr. and Mrs. Holloway to-night”) to July 20th, 1872. There were two other theatres in Gulgong at the time, Ward’s, and Cogdon’s 'Prince of Wales’. Gulgong, NSW, The Holterman Collection, !872 |
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| A typical shaft on the Gulgong field, showing “pig-sty” construction of the shaft collar. Points of interest are; windlass (normally fitted with a primitive form of brake), rawhide buckets and ventilation fan; a slab fence (similar to that behind the men's jackets) divides the pay wash (seen on the left) from the mullock on the right. Gulgong, NSW, The Holterman Collection, !872 Wheat and wool were being produced in the area and a flour mill was built. |
considered to be the Seven Dials of Gulgong; and some
queer scenes take place there all night long. "
Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), Wednesday 20 March 1872
Between 1870 and 1880, approximately 15,000 kg of gold was removed from the Gulgong fields.
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| Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative |
The principal place of amusement was the Prince of Wales Theatre.
Ashton's circus was also going nightly, having settled down permanently on the field.
Although thousands of men of all classes were
there, very little of the rowdy element got a
footing, as the genuine miners would not
tolerate anything in that line. For the
population that were there, the police were
very few, and their services were not much
required. (1.)
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| Neil McKinnon's Robert Burns Hotel, showing family with little boy dressed in Scottish tartan kilt, Gulgong, 1870-1875, by American & Australasian Photographic Company, SLNSW |
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| Prince of Wales Theatre, Gulgong, NSW, 1879 |
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| A Baker's shop at Gulgong NSW 1870-1880 . The building is made of bark with a wooden facade. ( SLNSW ) |
1880s
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| Australasian photo-review.Vol. 60 No. 9 |
First Catholic church built in 1885.
By 1876, the boom had begun to decline and it was all but over by 1880.
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| Gulgong, NSW, Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Saturday 13 February 1897 |
1900s
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| Group portrait of male and female members of the Presbyterian Tennis Club, Gulgong, some holding racquets. https://www.flickr.com/photos/royalaustralianhistoricalsociety/ |
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| The picture shows, on the road between Pine Ridge and Mudgee, a team of 13 horses, NSW, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 17 December 1902 |
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| Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954), Thursday 27 September 1900 |
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| Mayne Street, Gulgong. NSW 1905, SANSW |
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| Gulgong Rifle Club, NSW. Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 12 June 1907 |
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| Gulgong Public School, NSW, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 12 June 1907 |
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| Opening of the Gulgong Show, NSW, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 20 March 1907 |
The Gulgong railway station opened on 14 April 1909.
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| Opening of Gulgong Convent, NSW, Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Thursday 2 September 1909 |
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| Russell's Commercial Hotel, Gulgong, N.S.W. - 1910, Aussie Mobs |
WWI
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| PRIVATE J. A; LANE ' (Gulgong), died of - wounds.Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), Thursday 17 June 1915 |
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| PTE. T. WHITTON, Gulgong;- — Wounded. Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 27 December 1916, |
1920s
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| Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1965), Friday 17 August 1928 |
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| Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Thursday 23 May 1929 |
1930s
Each Tuesday, the Pictoria Theatre operated as a roller skating rink.
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| Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954), Thursday 11 June 1931 |
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| Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954), Wednesday 15 January 1930 |
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| The Gudgeon Cottage in the 1930s. 1891. The cottage is on the grounds of the Gulgong Pioneers Museum, Gulgong, NSW |
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| Gulgong's Fire Brigade, NSW, Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 29 August 1934, |
1940s
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| GIBBONS, William Thomas Private, 2nd/1st Infantry Battalion, Australian Military Forces (Army WW2) Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954), Thursday 19 April 1945 |
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| FIt./Sgt. D. H. Dougan, R.A.A.F. Four years service in New Guinea and northern operations. Sponsor — Mrs. D. H. Dougan, Chemist, Gulgong.Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954), Thursday 19 April 1945 |
1950s
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| Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954), Thursday 7 September 1950 |
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| Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954), Thursday 17 December 1953 |
1960s
The town of Gulgong was depicted on the Australian $10 note from 1966 to 1993.
1980s
The rail passenger service to Gulgong ceased on 2 December 1985.
2000s
A Gulgong farmer discovered 15-million-year-old fossils in a back paddock in 2022.
Around Gulgong
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| The Gudgeon Cottage, built 1891, on the grounds of the Gulgong Pioneers Museum, Gulgong, NSW. |
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| Gulgong. Old gold mining town, NSW. The Ten Dollar Hotel. This 1904 hotel was featured on the early Australian ten dollar notes. |
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| Gulgong, NSW |
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| The Greatest Wonder of the World – Importers of Men’s Clothing – Colonial Boot and Shoe Depot – existed in Gulgong, NSW, in 1872. This building is now home to the Holtermann Museum. |
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| Gulgong, NSw |
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| Gulgong, NSW |
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| The Prince Of Wales Opera House is the oldest still-operating Opera House in the Southern Hemisphere. It was built in 1871, Gulgong, NSW |
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| The Prince of Wales Hotel, Gulgong, NSW, since 1872 |
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| Cobb & Co. at the Gulgong Museum, NSW |
Things To Do and Places To Go
Gulgong Visitors' Centre, 66 Herbert St, Gulgong, NSW. Th-M 10AM-3PM. Pamphlets can be obtained here outlining the Gulgong Town Trail which takes in the town's heritage sites. edit
Gulgong Pioneers' Museum, 73 Herbert Street
Henry Lawson Centre, 147 Mayne St (the old 1920s Salvation Army Hall)
Gulgong Holtermann Museum, 123-125 Mayne Street, Gulgong NSW 2852
Gulgong Holtermann Museum - Narrated Street Trail
ALONG THE TRACKS OF COBB AND CO. TOURISM TRAIL
The Junction Inn is a Cobb & Co staging Inn built in 1864, between Mudgee and Gulgong,
The Wiradyuri and Other Languages of New South Wales by R. H. Mathews
Hands on Rock: Cassilis Rd, Gulgong, New South Wales 2852, Australia
The Talbragar fossil site, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) north-east of the town of Gulgong