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1909
21 April 1909
OPENING OF THE GULG0NG RAILWAY.
The early morning clouds, relics of the previous evening's rain, had cleared away, and the sun ushered in a typically clear, bright Australian day. In the quaint little town of Gulgong where, 40 years ago, 17,000 miners delved for gold, all was bustle and activity on April 14, the occasion being the opening of the rail way to Mudgee. From the country for 20 miles around, visitors poured into the town for the celebration. No such crowd had been seen since the seventies. The town was nicely decorated, and looked very attractive.
The first (ordinary) passenger train, connecting Sydney with Gulgong arrived at 8.20 a.m., and the passengers adjourned to the various, hotels for breakfast. At 10 o'clock 350 children from the Gulgong Superior Public School and the All Hallows Convent School assembled to welcome the Ministerial party. They were drawn up in the railway station yard, where already a large and good-humored crowd was gathered. By 10.30 a.m. standing room could not be found on the platform, and all points of vantage were occupied. At 11 o'clock the Ministerial train steamed into the station, and crossed the blue ribbon held by the Misses Grace Brigden and Sybil Scott, amidst, cheers. The party consisted of Mr. C. A. Lee (Minister for Works), and Messrs. H. Willis (M.P.), R. E. Patten, M.L.C., R. Jones, Horne, J. C. L. Fitzpatrick, C. Barton, Owen Gilbert, Levy, and John Nobbs, Ms.L.A. Mr. Lee was welcomed by the Mayor (Alderman Brigden), and presented with an address, thanks for which was duly returned. Then the party was driven half a mile along the line of extension of the railway to Dunedoo, where Councillor E. J. Lowe, president of the Wyaldra Shire Council, tendered another address of welcome to the Minister, which was followed by the presentation of a silver spade, by Mr. R. Jones, M.L.A. (on behalf of the contractor, Mr. M'Clure), with which the orthodox "first sod" of the second section was duly turned. Mr. Lee returned thanks, the school children adjourned to a picnic arranged for them by the demonstration committee, and the Minister and party were driven to the town. Deputations from Coonabarabran and Dapper waited upon the Minister, the former to request that the railway be carried on to that town, and the latter to urge that a junction line to connect the northern and western system, from Wellington or Dubbo to Werris Creek, be constructed.
Then followed a banquet, in the Gulgong Town Hall, at which one hundred guests sat down. Two toasts only were drunk; viz., the Federal and State Parliaments, coupled with the name of the Hon. O. A. Lee, which was proposed by Mr. E. J. Lowe; and "Prosperity to the District." To the former Mr. Lee suitably responded, laying particular stress upon the necessity for better using the land along the route of the railway, and to the toast of the district Mr. J. Lonergan responded. The new Gulgong railway is a continuation of the Mudgee line, leaving that station in a westerly direction, and circling round to the north at a little distance from the town, so as to avoid low-lying land. The first platform and siding (Munna) is at six miles from Mud-gee, about a quarter of a mile from which the Cudgegong River is crossed by a truss bridge, which is the only work of importance on the line. Here the low-lying soil is intensely rich, and some irrigation is carried on. A little farther on Pipeclay Creek is crossed, and the line rises rapidly, the grade reaching 1 in 60. In this neighbourhood there are deposits of iron ore, said to be extremely valuable, which are now being opened out. Following this the country intersected by the railway is hilly and suitable only for grazing, until nearing the gap in the hills through which the line passes at Wilbetree, this locality being long well known for its grain, fruit, and wine producing capabilities. Following round through the old gold-bearing country at Canadian Lead, the second platform and siding, called Warrobil, is reached, the distance from Mudgee being 14 miles. The country hereabouts is very productive, and a large portion is cultivated. Home Rule lies some little distance to the right of the line. Further on the Combandry paddocks, now used only for stock, but eminently suitable for mixed farming are passed, shortly after which the conical hill, close to Gulgong, and surmounted by a trig station, comes into sight. The Gulgong station, 20 miles from Mudgee, is situated about three-quarters of a mile from the centre of the town1
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28 April 1909
Opening of the Mudgee-Gulgong Railway.
Mr. C. A. Lee, Minister for Works, on April 14 opened the first section of the Mudgee-Dunedoo railway - to Gulgong - and encompassed the start of the second section - to Dunedoo - by turning the first sod.
In performing the latter ceremony, the Minister said that when they first waited on him to influence him to construct the line to Dunedoo, they entered into pledges whereby they agreed to bring land under wheat production. They had the land, and this was the right sea son to put in the plough. He would, therefore, now ask them to redeem their promise, and to have their wheat ready for this line to carry in July, 1910. With regard to this extension, it was only a short one - 29 miles 34 chains - and the contract had been let to Mr. M'Clure for £64,956, and it had to be completed in 78 weeks, or by the end of July, 1910. That would fit it nicely for the crop, and the present was the time for them to get to work and thus redeem the promise they had made him. If they did so he was satisfied that the estimated loss on the line for the first year would be considerably reduced.
Advantage was taken of the presence of the Minister to urge the extension of the line from Dunedoo to Coonabarabran. Mr. Lee had stated that his intention was, as soon as he could, to extend the line to Coonabarabran, but he was not there to make any pledge on the subject, and the deputation had consequently a sympathetic ear. A second deputation urged the construction of a line to connect the northern and western systems. They were organised by the Coonabarabran and Dapper Railway Leagues, and introduced by Mr. H. E. Horne, M.L.A.
Replying to the first, Mr. Lee said he believed the line ought to be carried on to Coonabarabran, as it would enable the land to be brought under cultivation. His policy was to extend the line to Coonabarabran, and one of the considerations he had in view was the tapping of the Pilliga Scrub. His intention was to ask the consent of the Cabinet to submit an extension from Dunedoo to Coonabarabran, but not beyond that point at the present time. He thought his reply might be accepted as a reasonable one, and he would ask Parliament to submit this section to the Public Works Committee.
With regard to the cross-country line, the Minister said that the time had now arrived for them to consider the question of linking the two railway systems - and perhaps the third, the southern, as well. The question was one which was not born of today, and the fact that the Chief Commissioner, had only recently gone over the district for the purpose of inspection and inquiry was evidence that the Government had seriously taken the matter in hand. It was a hard matter to handle stock on the long distances they had to travel at present, and a larger amount of rolling stock had to be procured, but even then the department was unable to compete properly with the demand on such occasions. He was in formed by the Railway Commissioners that the trucks were too long in occupation at such times, and that was the rea son there were so many complaints regarding the delays. If there was a cross-country line stock could be moved without difficulty, and the trucks released. It was the opinion of the Government, and the opinion of the Commissioners, that there ought to be a cross country line, and the only question now was the route that the line, would take. This would have to be decided by the Public Works Committee. There was a strong necessity indeed that this important line should be built, and in his scheme of development this was one of the questions he had been thinking hard about. The line from Wellington to Werris Creek had been, of course, referred to the Works Committee years ago, and was rejected. But there had been a great change in the condition of affairs. There was more settlement. People were taking up the lands, and honestly taking them up to make homes for themselves - homes in which they would re main if they had proper facilities for getting their produce to market. Speaking in reference to the route, Mr. Lee said it would be a calamity if a mistake were made in the route, so that they must go carefully.
One of the deputation advocating the Coonabarabran line, it may be added, travelled over 100 miles from Baradine, and, having heard the Ministers reply, went home satisfied.
The particulars given above are supplementary of those which appeared in last week's issue2
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