Uralla - Thunderbolt Country

After leaving the Tamworth Country Music Festival we decided to spend a few days in Uralla. Uralla is situated approximately half way between Sydney and Brisbane on the New England Highway. The area consists of rich fertile soils that have been marred by recent bushfires. It is believed the name Uralla was the name given to the district by the local Anaiwan Aborigines, as a ceremonial meeting place. It refers specifically to a hill top on the north-west of town.

The first white settlers in the area were squatters in the 1830's. They were attracted by the lush grazing fields and many sheep stations were established. One of the first settlers was Edward Gostwyck Cory, who established a station south-east of Uralla. He sold it to William Dangar in 1834. Dangar surveyed much of the Hunter Valley and Liverpool Plains. The beautiful Gostwyck Chapel, located 12km south-east of Uralla, is worth a visit. It is at the end of an avenue of elms, planted in the 1860's and was built in 1921 in memory of Major Clive Collingwood Dangar, who died in WWI. It stands on private land and can not be entered. A beautiful chapel.

A site for the township of Uralla was declared in 1849 and Uralla became a town in 1855 after a gold rush at Rocky River in 1852. There are over 50 buildings of historical significance in and around the town, and an interesting heritage walking trail brochure can be picked up at the information centre. The walk starts at McCrossins Mill, established in 1870, was purchased by the community in the 1980's and restored to a museum. It is run by volunteers. Samuel McCrossin, an Irishman, came to the area in 1839 with his wife and his 7 children and camped by the creek. They returned to their home in Morpeth, but returned in 1841 to settle in Urala.

Uralla celebrates Captain Thunderbolt. He is buried in the local cemetery. There is a life size statue of Thunderbolt on his horse in the main street.

There is a pub, a motel, and roads named after him, and 7km south of town is Thunderbolts Rock. Thunderbolts rock is a large granite outcrop that has sadly been heavily graffitied. The rock is believed to be a lookout position for the Thunderbolt gang. Close by,a little south of the rock on the other side of the road was Blanch's Inn. All that can be seen now is a depression where the cellars were.

 

Captain Thunderbolt, Frederick Ward. Born in Windsor 1835, and sent to Cockatoo Island gaol in 1856 for 10 years for horse stealing. He received a ticket of leave in 1860, and continued to steal horses. He was sent back to Cockatoo Island with an extra five years added to his sentence. He and Fred Britten made an escape by swimming to shore in September 1863. Thunderbolt continued to steal horses and rob coaches all through the Hunter Valley and New England areas. He was regarded as very polite and in some reports a 'real' gentleman. On May 25, 1870 as Thunderbolt was robbing a hawker at Blanch's Inn, the police were alerted and after a chase, Captain Thunderbolt was shot at Kentucky Creek by constable Alexander Walker. There is a photograph in the information centre taken the day after the shooting that depicts what happened - interesting photo. The story of Thunderbolt can be found at the McCrossins Mill Museum. We were fortunate to attend talks on Thunderbolt and his life by Carol Baxter while we were on the Bounty Cruise. Her website is full of great information.

Thunderbolts grave is left of the cemetery gate, and surrounded by a white fence.

The dump point is also located at the cemetery. We stayed at the Golf club - see wikicamps - for a donation. There are only 4 spots but the area is large and quiet. Meals are available Friday nights. Our view from the window -

The town itself is full of charm and little surprises. To add to our 'big things' the south of town has a big soldier.

 The railway station and adjacent Station Masters house in Duke St was built in 1882 and both are now privately owned.

 The town has many cafes and Peter tried a few. While he was getting his coffee I had a chance to wander around the main street. This building in Bridge St, was built in 1872 as the Daughters of Temperance Lodge, in 1887 it became a Salvation Army house and is now privately owned and for sale!

Trickett's General Store, built in 1910, was purchased in 1920 by Fred Trickett, son of Ned Trickett - Australia's first international sporting champion (Trickett's Cup can be seen at McCrossins Mill). 

While exploring the town I found a market in a hanger just around the corner from the main street. It is a market that runs all week and has new crafts and old wares - all inside a hanger. A really interesting place.

Across the road is a basalt retaining wall, with a heart stone laid by the stone mason.

While in town we heard about 180 hay trucks travelling through to Armidale to help the farmers in the drought. Burrumbuttock Hay Runners started in 2014, and to see 180 trucks loaded with hay and water covered with Aussie flags brought tears to my eyes. Aussies helping Aussies.

See Peters travel vlog.- Uralla & the Hay Run.