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1904
20 July 1904
From Mudgee to Coolah: The Combandry Rush.
BY THE "MAIL'S" TRAVELLING PHOTOGRAPHER.
DRIVING from Mudgee to Coolah, about a mile after Home Rule is passed, there is a lane which leads through the Guntawang run. Here there were a large number of conveyances of various kinds on each side of the track. Horses were tied up to the fences, and some of the animals had nosebags on, whilst others had managed to untie themselves and were walking about with their harness dragging on the ground. It all reminded one very much of a scene at a country race meeting. The rattle of the windlasses and the cry of "look out below!" however, gave a good indication of the cause of the stir. This is what is known as the Combandry rush near Gulgong. There are about 200 men on the field, which is on Mr. Rouse's property. The sinking is very easy, and is from 30ft to 40ft to the bottom. Most of those who have bottomed are on gold more or less, but, so far, there has been nothing exciting in the way of gold finds.
The gold seekers are a mixed lot of people, many of the real old miners of the roaring days of Gulgong being still to the fore. If not working themselves, their sons are, and some of the colts shape like old hands at the windlass. Things seem to be very quiet about Gulgong, and a good solid gold find would be welcome. As this rush is on maiden land, who knows but things may turn out better than expected. Farmers' prospects are not too promising from Mudgee to Gulgong1
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1922
1 November 1922