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1892
13 February 1892
Gulgong and its New Town Hall.
The foundation-stone of the new Town Hall, Gulgong, was laid by the Mayoress of Gulgong (Mrs. R. W. Heard) on Anniversary Day, 26th January, 1892. The Mayor gave some interesting details respecting the proposed building and other relevant matters; and Alderman George Smith, one of the oldest members of the council, presented the Mayoress with a handsome silver trowel and silver-mounted myall mallet. The gift was made by the council, Alderman Smith being deputed to make the presentation. The site of the hall consists of nearly half an acre of land, situate in an eligible position in the town, adjoining the courthouse and post office, and opposite the Australian Joint Stock Bank. The council had previously received a grant of land from the Government, but considered both the nature of the site and its position to be unsuitable for the erection of a town hall. The present grant, which was a portion of the police reserve, was made by the late Parkes Government at the request of the municipal council, aided by the untiring exertions of the members for the district - Messrs. Haynes, Wall, and R. J. Black. Mr. R. Jones also helped to complete the matter.
The building is to be of brick, with stone projections, &c, and will have a frontage of over 30ft. to Herbert-street, and a depth of 60ft. On the right of the corridor there will be a committee-room and mayor's-room combined: council clerk's office, with a strong room adjoining; on the left a large library and reading-room; at the rear, across the building the council chamber for the aldermen to meet in with accommodation for the public. The first-floor is to consist of one large room or hall, which will be rented for balls, reunions, and theatrical performances, for which latter purpose a proscenium and scenery will doubtless be added in due course. The cost of the building, exclusive of the clock-tower, fittings, or furniture, will be £1700, and some £200 or £300 will probably be expended at a later date in order to its thorough completion. The contractor for the building is Mr. G. G. Payne, who is to finish the work by 17th September next1
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13 February 1892
The township has a very interesting history, as will be gathered from the following: -
The township of Gulgong was brought into existence through the discovery of gold by Saunders and party, who in the year 1870, obtained some 60oz. of gold on Old Surface Hill, and subsequently found gold on the famous Red Hill, supposed to be the fountain-head of the goldfield. This caused a rush of miners to the field, who shortly discovered the famous Black Lead, Happy Valley, and Standard leads. This was followed by a rush of 20,000 people to the field, who opened up no less than 25 payable leads, some of the claims yielding more than £10,000 per share per man. It is estimated that the total yield for the first five years of the field was 18 tons of gold, and up to the present 25 tons have been raised, a really magnificent yield. A large township sprung up as if by magic, and for years business of all descriptions flourished, until the claims began to get worked out. The fortunate ones then decamped, leaving the less fortunate ones to pick up the remnants, such as is left on all declining goldfields. And who is the miner that was on the field some 18 years ago who will not heave a sigh over the memory of the good old times when the grand washing of a 1lb. weight of gold to the load was echoed, and the thoughts of life on a new goldfield, such as Gulgong was in its palmy days.
Like many of our old goldfields, there is, however, much in Gulgong at the present time that is of interest. The old leads were most of them very rich - viz., the Black Lead, the Standard, the Happy Valley, the Caledonian, Rouse's Paddock, and the various leads at Home Rule, Stott's Paddock, and Canadian (the last mentioned with its great dykes of pug in the limestone), and were left by the miners on account of the gold running out, as it seemed, in some, and in some because the lead ran into deep and wet ground. Although it may be that this deep and wet ground is as good or better than the shallow and dry, it takes money to open up such claims, and the individual miner could not cope with it without capital. Of late, however, Mr. Frame Fletcher, a mining engineer and practical miner, impressed with the great probability of there being large deposits of gold left in these old leads, has been to England twice, and induced London capitalists to invest to give the far-famed deep leads of Gulgong a thorough practical trial. He formed three, different companies, and all registered in London with ample working funds. Mr. F. Fletcher, who is now the lessee and managing director, is to be congratulated on the success achieved. Great interest is now being manifested in the work, as on the successful issue or otherwise of the venture the mining future of the deep leads of Gulgong may be said to depend for at least this generation.
The township of Gulgong is situated on high ground, a continuation or graduating spur of the Red Hill, with a gradual slope bearing to the surrounding, gold-bearing and fertile flats. It is notably a clean town, and is considered to be the healthiest place in the district. Viewing the surrounding mountains from the hill, it appears like one grand amphitheatre. The business places comprise two banks, eight hotels, six general stores, two produce stores, two bakers, three butchers, two saddlers, two barbers, two chemists, one doctor, two stationers, one watchmaker, one tailor, four blacksmiths, one cordial manufacturer, one printer, one draper, one billiard saloon, two Flower mills (one roller and one stone), and several minor places. The. resorts for amusements comprise a theatre, Star Hall, and Oddfellows Hall. Places of worship - Church of England, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and two Salvation Army barracks. Gulgong has a hospital, library, public school, and Convent school. Societies - Agricultural, building, Oddfellows, and Orange2
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1895
20 December 1895
The Town Hall is a splendid structure, built upon lines which promise to supply the requirements of the town in this direction for many years yet4
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1897
13 February 1897