1917
28 November 1917
Mudgee - The Glorious Lucerne Flats
IT will do your heart good to look at it." In Mudgee a day or two ago a Sydney man was having a look round the town. There was little doing, the main street had temporarily lost its general air of activity. The visitor came across an old acquaintance, and, as the greeting was not too cheerful, the townsman replied in the words recorded in the opening line of this article. "Yes," he said, "come and look at some of our lucerne patches; it will do your heart good: "When one goes to Mudgee one recalls stories of the old days, when it was a town of seemingly never-ending activity, bustle, and life. There used to be 30,000 men on the fields out in Gulgong, another 10,000 in the Home Rule district. These have all gone, and only the mounds of clay, which in those dead days had been shot out of the holes of the gold hunters remain to remind one of the period of old-time prosperity. It must not be inferred that Mudgee died when the gold hunters left. The agriculturist came, the wool and cattle kings extended their areas, and there is prosperity still, if not the same bustle of thousands of men, heavily laden teams, and the spanking coach outfits. So the visitor went out to gladden his heart as invited.
MIXED FARMING. The farmer in the district goes in more largely now for close culture. There is a greater quantity. of wheat under cultivation than before. There is evidence, too, of the scientific method. Not long ago land quite outside the rich soil area was taken up, and some of the old brigade were sceptical as to the result. Indeed, not a few laughed the idea to scorn, but let us see what the result was. My authority is a member of one of the oldest firms in the district, and he told the story in the following words' viz., "In Mudgee, just as there were men in other parts of the country, we had some of the old-fashioned farmers, who would not get out of the old groove. Well, some South Australians came along, scientific dry-farming experts. They took up the land on the slopes, the rocky, hungry-looking places. They treated their land, built it up, while the other fellows looked on, expressing their sympathy with men who had the temerity to break new ground. Now, what was the result? The rain came, and flattened out the Crops on the low and rich ground; the "poor chap," who went scientifically to work, had a yield of 30 bushels to the other fellow's 12 or 13. This bears out my contention, that if land will grow scrub it will grow wheat. The argument applies to all parts as well as Mudgee. You've only got to clear it, treat it, and look after it."
THE WIND BREAK. Years ago some of the farmers along the flats in the district planted row after row of quince trees, the intention being to grow substantial hedges that would serve as a wind break for the crops. These trees grew and grew, and now serve a dual purpose. Without any care or systematic pruning, they have become prolific bearers, and a profitable investment. Last season the crop was sold by the ton - not by the case. There are people in the town now who are waking up to the fact that if unattended quince trees can be such a fine money-maker how much more profitable will it be to establish orchards as well as wind breaks? The vineyards a short distance out of town are a sight to behold. These are scientifically grown, and wine-making is an established industry. Wine producers in Australia are striving for Imperial Federation, as they are satisfied that this is the only policy which will enable them to expand the industry. Results have proved that Australian wines can hold their own with the Continental products, but they are not able to send the wine in sufficiently large quantities to meet the demands, and less than ever at present, owing to the shortage of shipping space. A prominent New South Wales wine-maker told the writer that his firm could double its output, for England and the Continent if there was some reciprocal policy on the lines of Imperial Federation. In that case, the Mudgee vineyards would also enjoy increased prosperity1
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1922
6 July 1922
Cudgegong have Municipal sale yards, from which they collect a fairly large revenue - the yards are just on the western outskirts of the town and some big sales of stock take place there. Lucerne is cultivated largely around Mudgee and the land available would allow the area to be considerably extended. The hay itself is noted for the way it is put up, mostly in small bales, which are easily handled. In addition, the color of the hay is second to none in the world, rather a big word to say, but when in Durban some years ago I saw Mudgee lucerne hay there and was told by the inspectors there was no hay like it, beating the Afalfa (or lucerne hay of the Argentine). Wellington flour was on the wharf there too. But to get back to Mudgee not half the hay is grown there that ought to be, a £1,000,000 a year should be made in hay alone in that district. Many of the most progressive farmers of Mud gee are of German extraction and their farms and vineyards are models of high class cultivation. For many years the great horse studs of the State were in and around Mudgee. The Rouses I have already spoken of, then there were the Blackman's, Cox's, Dowling's, Lowe's and many others with both thoroughbred and draughts. Unfortunately some of those great names have left the district but still their good work is left and Mudgee still cherishes their memory. The present Mayor, Mr. V. D. Cox, is a member of the old family of that name, and is one of the most progressive and patriotic natives in the State. It is marvellous he has not been appointed to the Legislative Council years ago. Mudgee is said to be a great dairying district. It is said that the co-operative system was started there and it may have been. I found butter just as dear there as anywhere else in my travels. To the unknown stranger Mudgee folk are apt to be cold and reserved, once vouched for however, they cannot do too much for you. The townspeople are inclined to be slightly conservative. I suppose this is only natural with their old time surroundings. They are proud of the fact that most of the politicians that have left their names in the annals of the State had their first political birth in the old town or else represented the electorate. The brilliant Taylor, Sir John Robertson, the patriot Innes, Buchanan, and many others. I leave my comfortable hotel with regret, it's name withheld because all are comfortable, and leaving the town at my back make to the old Sydney road, which if it could only write its history, what a tale would be unfolded of broken hearts, broken hopes of those who travelled it when men went mad hearing of the wonderful discoveries of gold in the early seventies when one got up in the morning not knowing where to get his breakfast, at night worth hundreds and at times thousands of pounds worth of gold. No wonder that the road was one constant stream of those whose one idea was to get rich quick. In those days Mudgee was daily convulsed with the reports of the fresh gold discoveries within very few miles, and in my mind's eye can see as the poet says: -
"That long procession,
Passing to and fro,
The young heart hot and restless
The old subdued and slow"2
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31 August 1922
Mudgee's Gods Acre is passed where sleep in quietness many of those who opened up the district and made good in years gone by. I pass the racecourse, scene of many a fine equine battle over the Cudgegong by means of the old Holyoake Bridge, and once more in comfort, in one of Mudgee's fine hotels my trip of many miles is ended, in imperfectly penning the many incidents of fact, I hope that the Wellington "Times" readers have not wearied in reading3
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1937
3 July 1937
MOTORING TOPICS of TODAY
Conducted By G. S. Williams
TOURIST TOWN OF THE WEEK
Pastoral Beauty Of Mudgee
One hundred and fifteen years ago George and Henry Cox started a settlement near the present site of the town of Mudgee.
That settlement has progressed, until today it is the centre of one of the most prosperous areas in New South Wales.
A delightful drive of 171 miles from Sydney, across the Blue Mountains, and through countryside rich in scenic splendor takes the motorist to Mudgee, the centre of a picturesque district, so full of interest as to justify a protracted visit by anyone who has the time and car at his disposal.
Cradled in the valley of the Cudgegong River, which wends its way through grassy flats, rich lucerne fields and fertile pastoral country, Mudgee is a great wool-growing centre.
There are many large sheep stations in this district, some of which are available for inspection by special arrangement.
With a height of 1536 feet above sea level, Mudgee has a moderate climate, without extremes of heat or cold.
The weir in Lawson Park is built to Olympic standards, with diving tower, springboards, and a special pool for children, and there are facilities in the town for most other sports.
Gold was discovered in 1851 at Hargraves, a short run from Mudgee. Gulgong, about 18 miles from Mudgee, became a famous goldfield in 1870, and at one period had a population of 40,000. A couple of miles from town, at Eurunderee, is a cottage where Henry Lawson, the poet, spent his boyhood.
The trip to Havilah, Lue, and Bylong, leading through wonderful pastoral and agricultural country, and the famous Dabee Estate, is especially interesting. Rugged mountain gorge and canyon scenery alternates with stretches of pretty native bush. The old goldfields at Hargraves, Hill End, and Sofala are worth a visit.
With Mudgee as a starting point, there are several interesting trips which may be taken through the surrounding country. One such tour of 38 miles is from Mudgee to Kaludabah, then to Gulgong, once a very important gold mining centre. Continue to Home Rule and Eurunderee, passing on the way the old home of Henry Lawson, through rich grazing properties.
A second trip of 95 miles is through pastoral and agricultural country to the Dabee Estate, then through mountain scenery to Wollar. The return trip is through beautiful bush over the Munghorn and Cooyal Gaps to Mudgee.
A little more than 100 miles is covered on a tour to Hill End, an old gold mining centre of the eighties, over the Turon River at Sofala, and on to Ilford, returning to Mudgee through Burrundulla.
The run from Sydney to Mudgee is in itself an interesting experience, according to the N.R.M.A. touring department. The main western highway is followed over the Blue Mountains to Marrangaroo, where a turn-off is made on to the Mudgee road. Between Cullen-Bullen and Capertee, crossing the Capertee Range, some splendid scenery is enjoyed. From high places on the range magnificent views over the Capertee Valley open out.
An enjoyable round trip may be made by returning to Sydney through Ilford and Sofala, and joining the main western highway near Bathurst4
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