Gulgong, New South Wales

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Gulgong
state = nsw


caption =
lga = Mid-Western Regional Council
postcode = 2852
est =
pop = 2,021
elevation= 475
maxtemp = 23.0
mintemp = 9.5
rainfall = 647.8
stategov = Orange
fedgov = Gwydir
dist1 = 299
dir1 = NW
location1= Sydney
dist2 = 110
dir2 = E
location2= Dubbo
dist3 = 174
dir3 = N
location3= Orange
dist4 = 30
dir4 = N
location4= Mudgee

Location map
New South Wales
label=Gulgong
lon_dir=E
lat_dir=S
lat_deg=32
lat_min=21
lat_sec=45
lon_deg=149
lon_min=32
lon_sec=0
caption = Location of Gulgong in NSW
float=right
width=200

Gulgong is a 19th century gold rush town in the Central-West of the Australian state of New South Wales.

The town is located about 300km (180 miles) north west of Sydney, and about 30km north of Mudgee along the Castlereagh Highway. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of 2,021cite web
url = ?
title = ?
work = 2001 Census QuickStats
publisher = Australian Bureau of Statistics
accessdate = ] It is situated within the Mid-Western Regional Council local government area.

The name 'Gulgong' is derived from the name used by the traditional inhabitants, the Wiradjuri, for 'deep waterhole'. Like several towns in this area, it began as a gold mining centre. However, being founded in the 1870s, it was one of the last to be dominated by 'poor man's diggings', that is by individuals without substantial capital investment.

Today much of the 19th century character of the town remains, contributing to its appeal as a tourist destination. Of especial interest is the Prince of Wales Opera House, a survivor with a rich history. [ [http://gulgong.net/OperaHouse.htm Prince of Wales Opera House, Gulgong ] ]

Another attraction of note is the "Gulgong Pioneer Museum", which has a huge collection of thematically-displayed exhibits, ranging from kitchen utensils to complete buildings that have been relocated to a 'street' on the site.

Apart from tourism and hospitality, local industries include wine production, wool, wheat growing and coal mining.

Literary associations

Famous Australian novelist and bush poet Henry Lawson lived briefly in Gulgong as a child in the early 1870s, while his father sought instant wealth as a miner. Much to the pride of the townspeople, a montage of goldrush-era Gulgong street scenes was used as a backdrop to the portrait of Lawson on the first Australian ten dollar note (which was in use from 1966 until replaced by a polymer banknote in 1993). [ [http://www.rba.gov.au/Museum/Displays/1960_1988_rba_and_reform_of_the_currency/australias_first_decimal_currency_notes.html Museum of Australian Currency Notes: Australia's First Decimal Currency Notes ] ]

Gulgong is believed to be one of the primary locations in Thomas Alexander Browne's "Robbery under Arms". Australia's first novelist of note, Browne was police magistrate in the period 1871-81. He once hosted English author Anthony Trollope, who later recorded his impressions of Australia and New Zealand (1875). [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/New-South-Wales/Gulgong/2005/02/17/1108500193668.html Gulgong - New South Wales - Australia - Travel - smh.com.au ] ]

The original Jimmy Governor, on whom Thomas Kenneally based his character for "The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith", grew up in the Gulgong district and married there in 1898.

Railways

Gulgong is at the junction of the Sandy Hollow line (which runs west from Muswellbrook), and the Gwabegar line, (which runs north-south from Gwabegar to Wallerawang).

Gallery

The streets of Gulgong seem to have changed very little since the 19th century

Famous Prince of Wales Opera House to left

View from balcony above mechanics workshop

Mayne St Gulgong

Typical old commercial buildings in Gulgong

Prince of Wales Opera House

Vintage tractor, Gulgong heritage museum

Original Gulgong district smithy's house and workshop relocated to 'street' in Gulgong museum

Local inn, from the 1840s, relocated to museum 'street'

Interior of the inn

Guest bedroom, 1840s inn

Horse drawn and motor vehicles in Gulgong museum

References

External links

* [http://www.gulgong.net/ About Gulgong]
* [http://www.gulgong.rfsa.org.au/ Gulgong DC Rural Fire Brigade]

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