Off into the bush

Nerrigundah

Inland from Bodalla, on the NSW south coast, the (official) discovery of gold in 1861 led to a gold rush with thousands of miners converging on the area. The little township of Nerrigundah soon developed, with three shops, five hotels and a population of about 1200 (depending on the source).

In April 1866, Tom Clarke and his gang of bushrangers rode into Nerrigundah, setting themselves up in a s…  (read more)

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18 Sep 2018

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Off into the bush

Inland from the NSW south coast are ranges, few people, and lots of bushland (forests). Back in the 1800s there were gold rushes in this area, not to mention bushrangers (bandits)... Explored.

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18 Sep 2018

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Going back in time

Along the road from the previous image. Back in the 1860s gold rush, Chinese miners built a Joss House here - long since gone. Between the fence and the tree stumps are the remains of a stone structure, which has a pit where they apparently roasted whole pigs. The PiP shows the pit. HFF, and have a great weekend, everyone. Explored.

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18 Sep 2018

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Gulph Creek

Back in 1861, three prospectors found gold in Gulph Creek (a second image of this spot in the PiP). Soon thousands of miners descended on the area, hoping to make their fortunes, and the nearby village of Nerrigundah sprang up. These images were taken adjacent to my previous (sepia) image.

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18 Sep 2018

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Old letterboxes

Back in 1861, Nerrigundah was a thriving little gold mining town when thousands of miners, seeking fortunes, arrived in the area. The town had five pubs, three shops, a police station and courthouse, etc. The gold is long gone and only about 25 people now live in the area, following various agricultural pursuits. These old letterboxes were in the centre of the town, I doubt they're even in use now. Explored.

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18 Sep 2018

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517 visits

Old letterboxes

Back in 1861, Nerrigundah was a thriving little gold mining town when thousands of miners, seeking fortunes, arrived in the area. The town had five pubs, three shops, a police station and courthouse, etc. The gold is long gone and only about 25 people now live in the area, following various agricultural pursuits. These old letterboxes were in the centre of the town, I doubt they're even in use now.

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18 Sep 2018

35 favorites

33 comments

773 visits

Nerrigundah

Nerrigundah gained a place in history on the night of 9 April 1866, when Tom Clarke and his gang of bushrangers rode into town, leaving their horses at about the position of the letterboxes in my previous images. Then they took over the building central to this image (at that time a store and gold dealership) and a hotel (no longer there) to the right of the image, proceeding to rob the local community. The Sergeant in charge of the police station was away on patrol, leaving only a new recruit and Constable Miles O'Grady who was confined to bed with a fever. Staggering from his bed, Constable O'Grady said "I will do my duty" as he and the recruit went to confront the bushrangers, two of whom were keeping guard at the hotel. Constable O'Grady fired, killing one bushranger, while the recruit missed. With their single shot pistols needing reloading, the police then began a retreat, but the other bushrangers came from the hotel and one shot Constable O'Grady. The bushrangers then left for the mountains inland. More images in PiPs. This memorial to Constable O'Grady (foreground) is believed to be the only memorial in Australia to an individual policeman. I think this is an appropriate musical link. HFF, everyone. Explored.

02 Jun 2021

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248 visits

Poor Nerrigundah

Almost three years ago, I posted a series of images from a little village called Nerrigundah and put them into an Album. The village was built following a gold rush here in 1861. In 1866 while holding up the whole town and making a gold robbery, a gang of bushrangers killed a local policeman here. This is the memorial to him (click on the PiP to read the story) . Sadly, the vast bushfires of late 2019-early 2020 almost destroyed Nerrigundah entirely. Many of the locals sheltered in the Fire Shed (the green building at right) and only a handful of houses survived. The base around the memorial has been replaced, but the historic shops and other buildings have all gone - this was taken from about the same angle as the PiP. I had intended to post this on a Friday, but it really doesn't feel right for HFF.... For the next few days I shall be almost entirely offline due to other commitments (all good). Best wishes all, especially to Andy for your ongoing recovery. Once was ...