Historical Tumut Stories
By
1903
1903 -
The Federal Capital Site. (See illustrations on pages 20 and 21.)
A long stretch of dusty road, up one hill and down another, through overlasting gum tree and stringybark, now and again passing Little "cockatoo" homesteads with occasional glimpses of a river away to tho right. The horse lumbers on at a steady jog, the horses knowing to a foot how far it is up each hill, aud pulling doggedly till they got to the top, and then letting her run down the other side.
The air is bright, rarifled, intoxicating, for we are a few thousand feet above tho sea, and there is a dry, sweet scent from the gum trees. Here and there, in the grounds of the farm houses, one notices that the plants are all cold-country species-gooseberries and cherries making a considerable show. But there is nothing also about the road from Gundagai to Tumut that is much different from any other Australian road, until suddenly the coach tops a rise, and there, far away up a vast green flat there is a little white town nestled in under the shelter of a big range. Poplars, willows, maize fields, tobacco plantations, all make up a' green setting for this little white town, that contrasts oddly with the staring, glaring nakedness of the usual Australian township; and as the coach drives up to the town, through the hedges of raspberries and across a river, whose banks are smothered in green herbage, lt scorns as if one had left Australia altogether, and had arrived in some new country.
HOW FOLK LIVE IN TUMUT.
The climate of the town is variable. It can be hot enough in Tumut to suit the most thin blooded Queenslander, and it can be cold enough to nip a Nova Scotian; but, as a rule, the days are crisp and bright, with cool nights, and at tho worst a fairly coal night can always be got by Map Showing Situation of the Federal Capital Site. going a little way up the range. The main attractions of the town as a residence are the river and the hills.
The valley of the Tumut River is one of the richest pieces of land in Australia. It is about two miles broad near the town, and every foot of it is good lucerne land. Tobacco does well shorn, too, but the mainstay of tho town is the fact that it is a distributing centre for a lot of little settlements hidden away in the mountains. There is a little mining done, and occasionally a few fossickers that have struck a patch will come in and wake the town up a bit; but the great standby of Tumut is the money brought in by the "cocky," the small settler who has his 100 acres away up in the mountains, in some parts is rough that pack-horses are not unite extinct yet in the district. All land in the district is very good or very bad, and most of the settlers have a little bit of good river or creek flat, and make it out with pasturage on thc mountains.
THE MOUNTAINEERS. -
Sturdy pioneers those mountaineers are, too. They drive into Tumut at the weekend in weird conveyances that have come down mountain sidings and across fathomless Bullies unharmed; while their horses, with the true swing and action of the mountain horse, pace up and down the streets. They are different from any other Australian settlers, the isolation, the cold climate, and the constant mountain climbing making them a wiry, hard featured lot, more are live and enterprising than the ordinary Australian. It ls said that for its size Tumut sent more men to tho war than any other part of the world.
FURTHER ATTRACTIONS.
Those who know Australia from end to end say that, apart from the attractions of Sydney or Melbourne, they would as soon live in Tumut as in any part of the continent that could be selected. The river is a great standby for rowing, mid trout should do well in its upper waters. A few miles up the mountain are the Yarrangobilly Caves. All round the town are the mountains, at present rapidly being populated by millions of trout; and down the river, are thousands of acres of splendid land, for farms or gardens; so that the legislator who makes his home in Tumut can find sport, sight-seeing, and recreation ready lo lils band, and, judging from tho old men, and the look of the children, there is no more healthy place in Australia.
DRAW DRAWBACK.
There is only one real drawback, and that the distance from everywhere, The Labour members who live on their l'afllainentary pay will probably live Tumut is suitable a place for a capital ii3 could be hit upon. The barrister, who has to attend consultations, and the merchant, who has to conduct his business, will find it an awful strain, dragging up and down the miles of railway to the little mountain, town, It is said that a dírect line from Tumut to Wagga will yet be made, and this would slow the trip for Melbourne folk a great deal; but the line to Yass, which is the most direct way to Sydney, is almost impossible, the country being very mountainous.
The principal drawback to life in Tumut will be the lack of theatres, amusements, the shopping, and the communication with the outside world, which goes to make life worth living to the busy man.
VIEWS IN THE TUMUT DISTRICT.
The Buddong Falls ck Team on the Road.
The Tumut Rivern Bridge on the Road from Tumut to Gundagai.
1890 - Tumut. April 26. THE WEATHER, - Rain. repeatedly threatens here,; but the clouds pass away without discharging their contents. This afternoon a storm seemed pending, but only a few drops fell. Ploughing is retarded for want of the much-needed moisture, the ground being all too hard. Town street crossings which have not yet been macadamised are ankle-deep in dust.
ROAD CONTRACTS.-Mr. E. Whitley, the contract for for clearing the road from the town to the new Jones's bridge across the Tumut River, has nearly completed his work. The road for a greater part of the distance was covered with stumps and trees. Those have been removed, and when the forming is finished, and one or two bad places which are sad boga in winter, repaired, another pleasant drivo will be afforded to Tumut residents, to Hay nothing of the advantages to the traflic on the Kiandra-road. Mr. G. Goodman, who has the contract for the formidable cutting at Talbingo Hill, was in town this week dispatching his plant and workmen to the scene of operations, and next week a large body of men will begin the cutting.
WATER SCITEÎTE.-At a meeting of the Municipal Council held on Tuesday evening last, Alderman Blakeney proposed that the works committee should bring up a report as to the best plan for a water scheme for the town of Tumut, and the probablo cost of same. The subject was warmly discussed, and the resolution was adopted. Mr. Travers Jones, member for the district, has promised to urge the Minister for Public Works to aid the council in this important matter, and we hope ero long to soe the scheme un accomplished fact.
POLITICAL.- Mr. Travers Jones, M.L.A., has been travelling about his electorate holding meetings in various places. This evening he gave an account of his stewardship to a large body of electors assembled in the Tumut Oddfellow's Hall. The Mayor occupied the chair. Mr. Jones, who was well received, and was surrounded on the platform by some of his chief supporters, spoke on political matters generally, and more particularly in reference to the good things he has managed to secure for his constituents. Mr. Jones believed in fedoration and intercolonial frcotrado, with protection against the outside world. But he pledges himself to support the Government in all useful legislation, and would be one to pass the Local Government Bill and Public Works Bill before meddling with the fiscal polioy of the country. The meeting closed with a vote of confidence accorded to Mr. Jones. - (Ref- Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW : 1870 - 1907)(about) Previous issue Saturday 3 May 1890).
1903 -
The Federal Capital Site. (See illustrations on pages 20 and 21.)
A long stretch of dusty road, up one hill and down another, through overlasting gum tree and stringybark, now and again passing Little "cockatoo" homesteads with occasional glimpses of a river away to tho right. The horse lumbers on at a steady jog, the horses knowing to a foot how far it is up each hill, aud pulling doggedly till they got to the top, and then letting her run down the other side.
The air is bright, rarifled, intoxicating, for we are a few thousand feet above tho sea, and there is a dry, sweet scent from the gum trees. Here and there, in the grounds of the farm houses, one notices that the plants are all cold-country species-gooseberries and cherries making a considerable show. But there is nothing also about the road from Gundagai to Tumut that is much different from any other Australian road, until suddenly the coach tops a rise, and there, far away up a vast green flat there is a little white town nestled in under the shelter of a big range. Poplars, willows, maize fields, tobacco plantations, all make up a' green setting for this little white town, that contrasts oddly with the staring, glaring nakedness of the usual Australian township; and as the coach drives up to the town, through the hedges of raspberries and across a river, whose banks are smothered in green herbage, lt scorns as if one had left Australia altogether, and had arrived in some new country.
HOW FOLK LIVE IN TUMUT.
The climate of the town is variable. It can be hot enough in Tumut to suit the most thin blooded Queenslander, and it can be cold enough to nip a Nova Scotian; but, as a rule, the days are crisp and bright, with cool nights, and at tho worst a fairly coal night can always be got by Map Showing Situation of the Federal Capital Site. going a little way up the range. The main attractions of the town as a residence are the river and the hills.
The valley of the Tumut River is one of the richest pieces of land in Australia. It is about two miles broad near the town, and every foot of it is good lucerne land. Tobacco does well shorn, too, but the mainstay of tho town is the fact that it is a distributing centre for a lot of little settlements hidden away in the mountains. There is a little mining done, and occasionally a few fossickers that have struck a patch will come in and wake the town up a bit; but the great standby of Tumut is the money brought in by the "cocky," the small settler who has his 100 acres away up in the mountains, in some parts is rough that pack-horses are not unite extinct yet in the district. All land in the district is very good or very bad, and most of the settlers have a little bit of good river or creek flat, and make it out with pasturage on thc mountains.
THE MOUNTAINEERS. -
Sturdy pioneers those mountaineers are, too. They drive into Tumut at the weekend in weird conveyances that have come down mountain sidings and across fathomless Bullies unharmed; while their horses, with the true swing and action of the mountain horse, pace up and down the streets. They are different from any other Australian settlers, the isolation, the cold climate, and the constant mountain climbing making them a wiry, hard featured lot, more are live and enterprising than the ordinary Australian. It ls said that for its size Tumut sent more men to tho war than any other part of the world.
FURTHER ATTRACTIONS.
Those who know Australia from end to end say that, apart from the attractions of Sydney or Melbourne, they would as soon live in Tumut as in any part of the continent that could be selected. The river is a great standby for rowing, mid trout should do well in its upper waters. A few miles up the mountain are the Yarrangobilly Caves. All round the town are the mountains, at present rapidly being populated by millions of trout; and down the river, are thousands of acres of splendid land, for farms or gardens; so that the legislator who makes his home in Tumut can find sport, sight-seeing, and recreation ready lo lils band, and, judging from tho old men, and the look of the children, there is no more healthy place in Australia.
DRAW DRAWBACK.
There is only one real drawback, and that the distance from everywhere, The Labour members who live on their l'afllainentary pay will probably live Tumut is suitable a place for a capital ii3 could be hit upon. The barrister, who has to attend consultations, and the merchant, who has to conduct his business, will find it an awful strain, dragging up and down the miles of railway to the little mountain, town, It is said that a dírect line from Tumut to Wagga will yet be made, and this would slow the trip for Melbourne folk a great deal; but the line to Yass, which is the most direct way to Sydney, is almost impossible, the country being very mountainous.
The principal drawback to life in Tumut will be the lack of theatres, amusements, the shopping, and the communication with the outside world, which goes to make life worth living to the busy man.
VIEWS IN THE TUMUT DISTRICT.
The Buddong Falls ck Team on the Road.
The Tumut Rivern Bridge on the Road from Tumut to Gundagai.
1890 - Tumut. April 26. THE WEATHER, - Rain. repeatedly threatens here,; but the clouds pass away without discharging their contents. This afternoon a storm seemed pending, but only a few drops fell. Ploughing is retarded for want of the much-needed moisture, the ground being all too hard. Town street crossings which have not yet been macadamised are ankle-deep in dust.
ROAD CONTRACTS.-Mr. E. Whitley, the contract for for clearing the road from the town to the new Jones's bridge across the Tumut River, has nearly completed his work. The road for a greater part of the distance was covered with stumps and trees. Those have been removed, and when the forming is finished, and one or two bad places which are sad boga in winter, repaired, another pleasant drivo will be afforded to Tumut residents, to Hay nothing of the advantages to the traflic on the Kiandra-road. Mr. G. Goodman, who has the contract for the formidable cutting at Talbingo Hill, was in town this week dispatching his plant and workmen to the scene of operations, and next week a large body of men will begin the cutting.
WATER SCITEÎTE.-At a meeting of the Municipal Council held on Tuesday evening last, Alderman Blakeney proposed that the works committee should bring up a report as to the best plan for a water scheme for the town of Tumut, and the probablo cost of same. The subject was warmly discussed, and the resolution was adopted. Mr. Travers Jones, member for the district, has promised to urge the Minister for Public Works to aid the council in this important matter, and we hope ero long to soe the scheme un accomplished fact.
POLITICAL.- Mr. Travers Jones, M.L.A., has been travelling about his electorate holding meetings in various places. This evening he gave an account of his stewardship to a large body of electors assembled in the Tumut Oddfellow's Hall. The Mayor occupied the chair. Mr. Jones, who was well received, and was surrounded on the platform by some of his chief supporters, spoke on political matters generally, and more particularly in reference to the good things he has managed to secure for his constituents. Mr. Jones believed in fedoration and intercolonial frcotrado, with protection against the outside world. But he pledges himself to support the Government in all useful legislation, and would be one to pass the Local Government Bill and Public Works Bill before meddling with the fiscal polioy of the country. The meeting closed with a vote of confidence accorded to Mr. Jones. - (Ref- Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW : 1870 - 1907)(about) Previous issue Saturday 3 May 1890).
1903 -
The Federal Capital Site. (See illustrations on pages 20 and 21.)
A long stretch of dusty road, up one hill and down another, through overlasting gum tree and stringybark, now and again passing Little "cockatoo" homesteads with occasional glimpses of a river away to tho right. The horse lumbers on at a steady jog, the horses knowing to a foot how far it is up each hill, aud pulling doggedly till they got to the top, and then letting her run down the other side.
The air is bright, rarifled, intoxicating, for we are a few thousand feet above tho sea, and there is a dry, sweet scent from the gum trees. Here and there, in the grounds of the farm houses, one notices that the plants are all cold-country species-gooseberries and cherries making a considerable show. But there is nothing also about the road from Gundagai to Tumut that is much different from any other Australian road, until suddenly the coach tops a rise, and there, far away up a vast green flat there is a little white town nestled in under the shelter of a big range. Poplars, willows, maize fields, tobacco plantations, all make up a' green setting for this little white town, that contrasts oddly with the staring, glaring nakedness of the usual Australian township; and as the coach drives up to the town, through the hedges of raspberries and across a river, whose banks are smothered in green herbage, lt scorns as if one had left Australia altogether, and had arrived in some new country.
HOW FOLK LIVE IN TUMUT.
The climate of the town is variable. It can be hot enough in Tumut to suit the most thin blooded Queenslander, and it can be cold enough to nip a Nova Scotian; but, as a rule, the days are crisp and bright, with cool nights, and at tho worst a fairly coal night can always be got by Map Showing Situation of the Federal Capital Site. going a little way up the range. The main attractions of the town as a residence are the river and the hills.
The valley of the Tumut River is one of the richest pieces of land in Australia. It is about two miles broad near the town, and every foot of it is good lucerne land. Tobacco does well shorn, too, but the mainstay of tho town is the fact that it is a distributing centre for a lot of little settlements hidden away in the mountains. There is a little mining done, and occasionally a few fossickers that have struck a patch will come in and wake the town up a bit; but the great standby of Tumut is the money brought in by the "cocky," the small settler who has his 100 acres away up in the mountains, in some parts is rough that pack-horses are not unite extinct yet in the district. All land in the district is very good or very bad, and most of the settlers have a little bit of good river or creek flat, and make it out with pasturage on thc mountains.
THE MOUNTAINEERS. -
Sturdy pioneers those mountaineers are, too. They drive into Tumut at the weekend in weird conveyances that have come down mountain sidings and across fathomless Bullies unharmed; while their horses, with the true swing and action of the mountain horse, pace up and down the streets. They are different from any other Australian settlers, the isolation, the cold climate, and the constant mountain climbing making them a wiry, hard featured lot, more are live and enterprising than the ordinary Australian. It ls said that for its size Tumut sent more men to tho war than any other part of the world.
FURTHER ATTRACTIONS.
Those who know Australia from end to end say that, apart from the attractions of Sydney or Melbourne, they would as soon live in Tumut as in any part of the continent that could be selected. The river is a great standby for rowing, mid trout should do well in its upper waters. A few miles up the mountain are the Yarrangobilly Caves. All round the town are the mountains, at present rapidly being populated by millions of trout; and down the river, are thousands of acres of splendid land, for farms or gardens; so that the legislator who makes his home in Tumut can find sport, sight-seeing, and recreation ready lo lils band, and, judging from tho old men, and the look of the children, there is no more healthy place in Australia.
DRAW DRAWBACK.
There is only one real drawback, and that the distance from everywhere, The Labour members who live on their l'afllainentary pay will probably live Tumut is suitable a place for a capital ii3 could be hit upon. The barrister, who has to attend consultations, and the merchant, who has to conduct his business, will find it an awful strain, dragging up and down the miles of railway to the little mountain, town, It is said that a dírect line from Tumut to Wagga will yet be made, and this would slow the trip for Melbourne folk a great deal; but the line to Yass, which is the most direct way to Sydney, is almost impossible, the country being very mountainous.
The principal drawback to life in Tumut will be the lack of theatres, amusements, the shopping, and the communication with the outside world, which goes to make life worth living to the busy man.
VIEWS IN THE TUMUT DISTRICT.
The Buddong Falls ck Team on the Road.
The Tumut Rivern Bridge on the Road from Tumut to Gundagai.