History of Windellama
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The modern history of Windellama began when a group headed by James Meehan (including Hamilton Hume) was tasked with the exploration of a communication route from Sydney to Jervis Bay[1]. The date of the European discovery of Windellama is commonly held to be the 2nd of April 1818 as the group had stopped there for the night after crossing Windellama Creek. Although it had been discovered by Europeans some years prior, it was not until the 1820's that the surrounding areas became a home to European settlers. The 1832 Postal Directory lists the earliest known landholder (although not a resident), Joseph Inch[2].
Windellama and its surrounding areas enjoyed a steady growth in population from then onward, this was enforced by the variety of inns, churches and schools that were established during the 19th century [1]. The second half of the 19th century saw a further increase of settlers to the area as miners discovered the variety and richness of resources that could be extracted in the region including gold, silver, copper, lead and more recently silica and marble[3][4].
Over the decades, a sense of community and a Windellama culture has been established through the creation of societies and clubs such as the Mutual Improvement Society est. 1882, the Progress Association est.1903, the Windellama Country Women’s Association est. 1951, as well as various sporting clubs etc. In order to house these clubs and societies, the 20th century saw the construction of the Windellama Hall which opened in 1926. 'The Hall' remains a central part of the community and, its grounds also contain the Windellama community first response (the State Emergency Service) unit base and the Windellama Museum. It was also historically the site of the Windellama Country Fair & Community Auction, the Windellama Small Farms Field Day, the Windellama School Auction and Fireworks and many other notable events that aimed to raise funds and foster comradery within the community.
The 20th and 21st centuries have also seen the establishment of various institutions which are still in operation. The Windellama Bush Fire Brigade was established in 1940 and is now part of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. The Windellama News[5], a newspaper which disseminates information of local goings-on, and a site for small holders to advertise at reasonable prices, published its first article in 1997 and The Windellama Historical Society[6] was established in 1999 and its museum in 2000. On Sunday 18th of March 2018 Windellama celebrated its 200th birthday with the erection of a map of Meehan's journey. In attendance were key members of the Windellama community, inter-state visitors and the local member for the Goulburn District, Pru Goward[7].
19th Century History
En Route to Jervis Bay
In 1814 the county of Argyle, encompassing the Goulburn and Lake Bathurst areas was discovered. Four years later in 1818, a group headed by the surveyor James Meehan was contracted to find a cross-land route to Jervis Bay. The group consisted of Meehan, Charles Throsby, who brought with him Joseph Wild, John Glynn, John Thomas, Charles Gilliver, prisoners and natives as well as Hamilton Hume, after which the Hume Highway is named. As the surveyors pushed South East, Meehan split the group in two, deciding that the terrain would be better surveyed by smaller teams. When Meehan was to discover Windellama, it was only Hume, and four other men that accompanied him. On the 2nd of April 1818 Meehan and Hume camped overnight at Windellama. This is now commonly attributed as the date that Windellama was first discovered by Europeans. Although it is likely that the Shoalhaven River was of importance to the Dharawal, Dhurga, Gundungurra and Ngununawal groups of native Australians who may all have passed through the area before European contact[1].
Early Settlement
Up until the 1860's, when farmers discovered area, The land was mostly held or settled by notable and well-to-do Sydneysiders. The earliest known land holder can be seen listed in the postal directory of 1832[2] and the NSW census of 1828[8]. Joseph Inch started his life in Australia in 1790 after travelling here on the surprize (ship), as a convict for having stolen cotton. After having married Ann Grant in 1801, they were granted 100 acres of land in the Argyle county. After his death, His daughter Ann and her husband James Richard Styles oversaw the maintenance of this land. Another notable landholder at Windellama is Thomas Braidwood Wilson who was a surgeon on 9 convict ships to New South Wales. Although he is most known for the land he was granted at Braidwood (named after him), he was also granted land in Windellama named 'Windellama Farm', that was used as an outpost for Braidwood from 1837 onward.
Some of today's residents of Windellama find their descendants in the early settlers of the region. One of which is the Hockey family who were brought to the area in 1878 by Samuel Hockey, a gold miner come farmer[1]. Another notable, long standing family is the Muffet family that found their home in Windellama thanks to another convict, Charles Robert Muffet who was convicted of stealing from a residence and sentenced to life in prison which he had served 10 years of in Australia when his life sentence was reduced. After becoming a free man, he married Louisa Green and moved to a property called Rose Vale in Windellama where they had 17 children and many more grandchildren[9].
Community Buildings
St. Bartholomew’s church began its life as a church school in 1859 on dedicated burial ground which was assisted by the donation of 40 pounds by the Sydney Church Society[10]. On the 27th of October 1859, the foundation stone was laid but it was not until 1862 that the church was opened. In 1871, Another church opened for the community of Windellama, St. Mark’s, Bronte which was funded mostly through the Goulburn church society as well as auctions[10]. The opening ceremony drew large crowds with most attendees being forced to stand through the ceremony as there was a lack of seating. The service was followed by a luncheon and sporting activities as well as a meeting concerning the continued financing of church operations. Both St Bartholomew's and St Mark's, Bronte still hold services in alternating locations every second Sunday and hold extra services for Christmas and Easter.
To date, here have been many schools operating in the Windellama area including public, private and subsidised institutions. The first school at Windellama held classes in a bark hut at the back of St Bartholomew's church and held classes on and off from its conception. For a long time, the communities wish for a permanent site for a school was withheld as the inspector for schools argued that a single school would not accommodate for all children in Windellama as it would be too far for some to travel. The problem was settled by the creation of two half-time schools; Windellama East and Windellama West which both opened in 1880. Windellama East was closed in 1893 as there were not enough students to warrant two schools. Windellama West now enjoyed the same relationship with Cullulla (a nearby school) as it did with the old Windellama east school. In the 20th century Windellama school endured a shaky existence until after World War Two when it became a public school (a status which it still holds)[11].
Windellama's first postmaster was Richard Bull and was established in 1863. After Mr Bull's Death Mrs Elizabeth Ann Cartwright took over the position of Postmistress. The service was conducted at Mrs. Cartwright's home called 'Windellama View'. After Windellama View had been sold, Mrs. Cartwright and the post office moved into her niece's property at Rose View. By 1891, demand for a more central location for a post office was growing and in 1893, just three months before her death, Mrs. Cartwright tendered her resignation. The Post office was then taken over by Postmistress Miss. Sarah Maria Moore whose brother set up a general store in the same building, still at Rose Hill. The Post office remained in Windellama passing through different ownership until 1952 when the Rural Automatic Exchange was installed and the Postmistress (Daphne Bryant) resigned in order to take over the position of switchboard operator[12].
Near Today's location of the Rural Fire Service Windellama division lies the historical site of Mr. and Mrs Brook's general store and later, a wine bar which they called Brooklyn. The Goulburn Herald 1886 references an article written by a passer-by who detailed their experience at Brooklyn. describing it as one of the most picturesque places in Argyle County, also mentioning Mrs. Cartwright, the postmistress[13]. Multiple sources cite that throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, there have been both licensed and unlicensed Inns Some set up as resting places for travelers and others, specifically set for miners. An account of many Inns can be found in Rural Inns of the Goulburn District 1830-1900[14].
Mining
The Yarralaw Creek area holds fertile land that has been utilised by farmers to this day. Indeed, there are Award winning wineries in operation today that specialise in cooler climate wines. But not only is the area rich in the nutrients needed for small holding farmers, it has historically been rich in mining resources especially where Yarralaw Creek meets the Shoalhaven river. The earliest accounts of mining activities that had taken place in the area were for gold mostly but also silver lead cooper, silica and marble. Early in the 1890's the 'Spa Proprietary Hydraulic Sluicing and Gold Mining Company' built a damn to accommodate mining in the Nadgigomar/ Windellama area[15]. Another example of the result of mining in Windellama can be seen in the Great Hall at The University of Sydney which showcases a black and white marble floor, The black marble having found its origins in Windellama[16][1]</ref>.
20th Century History
Clubs and Associations
In an article found in the 'Goulburn Evening Penny Post'[17], mention is made of a meeting to be held with the purpose of forming a Windellama Progress Association and Debating Society. The first meeting was held on the 30th of May 1903. One of the earliest tasks on the agenda for Windellama's Progress association was to have telephone services installed. In order to do this, they requested the advice of the Goulburn Progress Association who suggested asking The local MP to represent their case in parliament. Between 1903 and 1945 the association had ceased to operate which is evidenced by an article in the Goulburn Evening Post in 1945[18] suggesting that a meeting to form a Progress Association had taken place. In 1951 the association gathered to discuss the installation of electricity at Windellama which was approved in 1951 but did not occur until 1959. This event was celebrated by some 200 people from the local area and surrounds at the 'Switching on of the Lights Ball'. 1950 saw the formation of Windellama's Country Women’s Association (CWA). The 'Progress Association" is still in operation today However the CWA Windellama branch has disbanded. More recently Windellama women attended the Bungonia CWA which was also disbanded with its members having now dispersed into the surrounding CWA branches of Marulan CWA and Tarago CWA.
Windellama Hall
The land on which the Windellama hall stands was purchased by the Hall Committee (a version of the Progress Association) from Ernest and John McGaw. The funds for the building were raised by some residents of the area who acted as guarantors on a bank loan. It took only nine months to build and on the 22nd of September 1926 at 8:00 PM the Windellama Hall was opened. The opening of the hall was no small event, with over 300 attendees[19]. From then on, 'The Hall' has been renovated and added to. Its grounds are now home to a cricket oval, tennis courts, The Windellama Museum and the Windellama unit State Emergency Service base. It has been the heart of the community being a venue for hire and historically the venue of the Windellama Country Fair & Community Auction, the Windellama Small Farms Field Day, the Windellama School Auction and Fireworks and many other events. The Hall currently holds the status of a 'Neighbourhood Safer Place' for use as a refuge during bush fire crisis.
Sporting Activities
There have been many sporting activities enjoyed by residents and visitors to Windellama over the years. Indeed, in the first half of the Twentieth Century Spa Road housed a racecourse on which spectators could enjoy watching both horse racing and cricket matches. One sport that had endured through most of the Twentieth Century (from the 20s to the 80s) was tennis, which had its own club and three courts, the ruins of which can still be seen off of Sandy Point Road[20].
A notable sporting event that was held in Windellama was the first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix (1924). Starting in Windellama/ Bungonia and tracing a 52 mile course through Goulburn, the event was held on the 23rd of June and drew crowds of over 1000 people as well as riders from both New South Wales and Victoria[1].
21st Century History
Windellama Historical Society
By 1998, interest in the History of Windellama had gathered enough momentum to warrant the creation of the Windellama Historical Society which started in October of that year. The Century of Federation Fund granted the society $14,415 to build its own museum which would encompass history from the larger Parish Yarralaw area. The third tennis court on the grounds of the Windellama Hall would become the location for the new museum which was erected thanks to donations of timber slab and concrete blocks as well as labour from volunteers[1]. The museum was designed as a replica of the 1880's school house. On the 25th of November 2000 the museum officially opened[21].
Windellama News
The Windellama News is the local newspaper for the Windellama area which was first established in 1997. The Newspaper can be subscribed to for an annual fee of $30 and provides its subscribers with information on major news, upcoming events, church information, historical articles, advertising and the like...
Windellama Literature
A list of some contributors to literature and a description of their works in the 20th and 21st century:
- Tom Bryant
- A History of the Windellama Post Office, 1863-1952
- Gone but not forgotten, A Biographical Register of Burials in the Windellama District
- Joseph Peters, His Woolpack Inn & The Marian Vale Myth
- Some Windellama History
- The Diary of a Bush School Teacher, George Samuel Moore 1880-1881
- Rex Hockey
- Ballads and other verses from here and beyond
- Carina Clarke
- Wild Windellama Vol. 1-2.
- Joy Maguire
- A look at some of the History of Windellama
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Bryant, Tom (2018). Some Windellama History. Goulburn, NSW: Tom Bryant. ISBN 9780957815681. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Public Library of New South Wales, The New South Wales Calendar and General Post Office Directory 1832, Facsmile edition, Public Library of New South Wales, Sydney, 1966.
- ↑ McGowan, Barry. & Australian Mining Industry Council. 1994, Lost mines : historic mining sites in the Monaro-Southern tablelands districts of New South Wales / Barry Mc Gowan Barry McGowan Canberra, A.C T
- ↑ McGowan, Barry 1996, Bungonia to Braidwood : an historical and archaeological account of the Shoalhaven and Mongarlowe goldfields, B. McGowan, Canberra
- ↑ "The Windellama News". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Windellama Museum and Heritage Centre". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Gayle Stanton, Ros Woods & Ray Plant (April 3 2018). "Windellama Celebrates ts 200th Birthday" (PDF). The Windellama News. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ↑ Sainty, M & Johnson, K, (1980), 'Census of New South Wales', November 1828, Library of Australian History Sydney.
- ↑ Muffet, Anthony Clifton, 'A Bit of Ronnie's Family History': Muffet Family at Rosevale, Unpublished (n.d). In: Bryant, T, 'Some Windellama History'.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Wyatt, Ransome T. (Ransome Tovey) & Norris, Brian 1998, The history of the Diocese of Goulburn, Rev. ed. / introduction by Tom Frame, Anglican Parish of Binda, Binda, N.S.W
- ↑ Bryant, Tom, 1949- & Windellama Public School (N.S.W.) 2005, Windellama Public School : 125 years, 1880-2005, T. Bryant, Goulburn, NSW
- ↑ Bryant, Tom, 2003, ‘A history of the Windellama post office’, 1863-1952 . Bryant, T Goulburn, NSW.
- ↑ Citizen, Syd (21 August 1886). "From Brooklyn to Lake Bathurst". Goulburn Herald. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Gilbert, W. S. (William Schwenck) & Wilson, L. W 1989, Rural inns of the Goulburn district : 1830-1900, W.S. Gilbert, Goulburn, N.S.W
- ↑ McGOWAN, B. (1992). 'Aspects of Gold Mining and Mining Communities in the Shoalhaven Area of New South Wales: An Archaeological and Historical Study', Australasian Historical Archaeology, 10, 43-54.
- ↑ Branagan, David, 2009, ‘Australia's First Marble Quarry’. Journal of Australasian Mining History, Vol. 7.
- ↑ 'Goulburn Evening Penny Post', (1903), 21 May, Pg. 4.
- ↑ 'Goulburn Evening Post', (1945), 11 December, Pg.1.
- ↑ 'Goulburn Evening Penny Post', (1926), 1st October.
- ↑ Rex Hockey in: Bryant, Tom (2018). Some Windellama History. Goulburn, NSW: Tom Bryant. ISBN 9780957815681.
- ↑ 'Goulburn Post' (2000) 24 November.
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