It Happened Nearly 155 Years Ago

Adelaide Street near the corner of Mayne Street.

A short while ago there was a pleasant controversy as to who was the oldest subscriber to what is now the Advocate and which now embraces The Quirindi Gazette, The Quirindi Herald, The Werris Creek Express and the oldest paper, The Murrurundi Times. I think the latter came into being in. 1872, which still can be remembered by what we call the old hands

Before me is an issue of the latter dated August 8, 1874, Reminiscences are interesting, but how often do we forget those pioneers to whom are responsible for our comforts of living to-day.

Theirs was just the foundation, but in their noble minds they looked to those who followed (from their viewpoint) to carry on in building up this new land, which was to form such a important part of our great British Empire, and, be it known, their sons and grandsons, and — yea great grandsons, are in the front line to-day doing yeoman service at this very moment, If their progenitors were alive to-day they would be proud of their accomplishments in defence of home and Empire, and which we all hold dear.

To come back to the subject in question, The Murrurundi Times was some paper of importance in those days. It was started and owned by Mr. Thomas Boyce; I should think, connected with the name of legal calling in Sydney and long and honorably known.

The standing advertisement shows optimism of an exceedingly wide circulation. The agents were as follows:-

Gunnedah: Mr. J. Bridge. Pine Ridge: Mr. J. Cock. Quirindi: Mr, J. Ross, Wallabadah: Mr. E. C. Dettmer, Muswellbrook: Mr. P. S. Luscombe, Singleton: Mr. J. Willis, Maitland: Mr, E. Tipper, Tenterfield: M r E. R. Whereat, Glen Innes: Mr. S. J. Marshall, Sydney: Messrs, Greville & Co., Melbourne: Messrs, Gordon and Gotch, Brisbane: Messrs, Slater & Co. and London: Messrs. Thos. Holloway and Co. 533 Oxford Street.

Merriwa, Scone, and Newcastle: Agents wanted.

The above gentlemen are authorised to receive advertisements, subscriptions and moneys on-my behalf, and their receipt will be sufficient discharge — THOMAS B. BOYCE. Murrurundi Times Office April 11th, 1874.

Murrurundi was the railway terminus and from there was a service over the Range by coaches and horses in relays connected to towns in the north and north-west where agents for the paper were appointed and situated and columns of their local news were printed from Narrabri and Tenterfield down on interesting happenings, such as reports of the District Courts, where every offender of the land however slight, was designated as the prisoner; all impoundings of stock; all land taken up as far as Cassilis; shows at Singleton, and general news also at Muswellbrook; Maitland and Newcastle and telegrams from Sydney and Melbourne. One impounding at Quirindi mentioned was on the 29th July, 1874, by order of Mr. Milner, sum due. to date of notice 4/6; if not released to be sold on 20th August, 1874; H. Ross, poundkeeper.

The surveyed town of Quirindi proper was over Whittaker Street bridge, the main street being Loder Street and where Mr. R. A. Allen opened the first branch of the Commercial Bank.

He used to ride two or three days a week to Wallabadah to collect the mail after arrival of the mail coaches from north and south; remember in 1901 the old Club Hotel existing, which was licensed, and stood behind where Mr. J. D. York’s house is, between the old yards and the creek. The post office was first opened in a small house in Loder' Street, where a Smallwood afterwards lived, and the old verandah room with an opening on the front wall for posting letters was only a few, years ago removed.

On a comer on the other side of the yards in earlier days the Cooks kept another hotel and nearby several headstones are still to be found; and of other well known identities of their day.

Murrurundi was the town of importance. The District Court was only removed from there to Quirindi of late years. For the Quirindi district the Court was always held at Wallabadah, which was the police station. The railway coming through Quirindi altered this condition to Quirindi, and the township moved higher up; the Government assisted by surveying and selling by auction town blocks.

The train carried all mails to Murrurundi from Newcastle and back again and letters went on to Sydney by steamer.

The timetable for mails for Wallabadah, Goonoo Goonoo, Tamworth, etc, closed every day (Monday excepted) at 12:30 p.m. those for Quirindi, Breeza, Pine Ridge and Gunnedah every Tuesday and Saturday at 12.30 p.m. mails for Yarraman and Tambar Springs closed every Sunday at 9.30 p.m. mails going south — Scone, Muscle Brook (as spelt), Singleton, Maitland, Newcastle, Sydney, etc — closed every day (Saturday excepted) at 9.30 p.m.; also every morning (Sunday excepted) at 9:30 mails were despatched for Scone, Musclebrook, East and West Maitland, Singleton and Newcastle and every Tuesday and Friday morning for Sydney at 9.30. Office hours on Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m., Mr J. S Arnott was the postmaster.

This post officer is now a private residence. There was also a branch office in Haydon Street close to where the electric light station is today, and was known as Haydonton.

About 20 years ago these two were closed and the combined businesses went into the new building about half-way between near the bridge, over the Pages River.

A Dr Knowles advertised that he had started practice as from June 5th, 1874. There is a report of his attendance on Mr, J. Rowland at Black Creek, which is rather Irish description: We regret to chronicle that an accident which was at first thought to be attended with a fracture of the leg, happened to Mr. James Rowland of Black Creek on Wednesday last. It appears that Mr. Rowland was walking round a new building which was being erected on his premises at Black Creek he slipped on some shingles which slipped from under him. Having been compelled since the amputation of one of his legs to walk on crutches, he put his hand against a slab' to steady himself, but this being loose, gave way, and he fell, the slab falling at the same time upon the leg which had been amputated, It was thought the limb was again broken and Dr. Knowles was at once sent for, but on arrival he found that a fracture had not taken place, the leg only being badly bruised. Under Dr Knowles' attendance Mr Rowland is progressing favourably.

The old hospital was built in 1860, now occupied by the Bowling Club.

The White Hart Hotel, now owned by Mr. M. J. Frith, rebuilt and now so up-to-date, was a much smaller building, and was kept by John Kickham, and was advertised as opposite the railway station, 'notified that all intending passengers for the early train' for Newcastle' are certain to be called in time.

The two other hotels also in Mayne Street were the Harp of Erin Hotel kept by M. Doherty and the Murrurundi Hotel, kept by James Power. One of these may possibly be what is now the Royal Hotel.

The Brighton Portrait Co. advertised that their gallery was now opened and Alexander Pyke was the manager. This appears to be the same Alex, we knew afterwards as a storekeeper, and sold everything from a needle to an anchor and was known as the King of Yarraman a title he was always pleased to acknowledge and accept.

The only chemist shop which asked for public notice was styled The Murrurundi Dispensary, Berlin Wool and Fancy Repository. It sold besides medicines underclothing of every description, sewing machines, garden seeds, papers, and all periodicals and toys.

There are also two standard advertisements by a Dr. L. L. Smith, 192 to 194 Bourke Street, Melbourne, and Holloway’s pills that cured all ills.

The stores were kept by J. L. Tebbutt, Michael Murray, Brodies, who also had steam flour mills and what was known as Prince Alfred Stores.

The blacksmiths were Thomas Greedy and William Alford, of which the latter’s premises still stand in continuance.

The line of coaches were run by Charlie Morgan, and were known as Who'd-have-thought it line of Express Coaches from Murrurundi to Tamworth. They left every Monday morning and returned on Sunday, and he charged 10/- each way.

Advertisements are printed of many callings and professions from Narrabri and Tenterfield, Tamworth, Singleton, Maitland, Muswellbrook and Sydney, and news from these locations were printed in every Saturday issue.

At Wallabadah J. and J. Gardiner kept The Volunteer Store, and Jonathan Cock notified the public he had again opened the Royal Oak Hotel. Joseph Conlon also kept what was known as Marshall McMahon Hotel; also a produce store attached, and sold corn and chaff and supplied to all camps on the line of railway construction coming north.

The Railway Commissioner was the Hon. John Sutherland and he had just visited Murrurundi by special train.

The local Justices of Peace, who mostly sat on civil cases, were Messrs, A. and G. G. Brodie, and the principal solicitor was a Mr. Abbott, of whom our Federal member is a descendent.

The writing up of news in those days was so different to to-day.

The language is what we would call flowery. I will quote one item of this issue: Sweep, oh, a live sweep, walking the streets of Murrurundi making the usual cries, is a novelty that is startling in its way; yet we have the fact to record that early in the week a genuine sweep covered in soot from head to toes, carrying all the necessary cleaning out flues, walking down Mayne Street. The convenience of a city brought to our very doors should tend to make us a happy community.

May we always revere these Pioneers who put up with all manner of hardships. Their pleasures and comforts were simple compared with ours to-day and they were content. They thought for the betterment of this new land, and, to many, their adopted country. In carrying on to honor ourselves, we honor them. There is a lot in the words Lest we forget. — Murrurundi Times (1872) Quirindi Advocate (1885) Werris Creek Express (1912). Printed Friday, July 4, 1941.