Leeton Historical Guide

LEETON
• YANCO •
WHITTON
Historical Guide
Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
Budyaan Baamirra Centre
Leeton’s Aboriginal Heritage
Fivebough & Tuckerbil
Wetlands
Leeton is located in the country of the
Wiradjuri nation. The Wiradjuri people were
known as the people of the three rivers: the
Wambool (now known as the Macquarie
River), the Kalari (the Lachlan River) and the
Murrumbidjeri (the Murrumbidgee River).
Fivebough and Tuckerbil Wetlands have
always been important to the local Wiradjuri
people, particularly due to the abundance
of edible plant and animal species present
throughout the year. The wetlands were
historically used as stopovers when
journeying between the Murrumbidgee
River and the nearby mountains. Travelling
from the river to the mountains each spring,
Wiradjuri people would gather the eggs
and nestlings of swans, ducks and other
waterbirds, along with yabbies, mussels and
various plant species. The return journey
in the autumn months would often see the
addition of emu eggs and young to this diet
of wetland species.
An important aspect of these food gathering
practices was that only enough food for the
next meal was taken at any one time and
breeding stock was usually left unharmed.
Such sustainable practices ensured that
impacts on population numbers of food
species were negligible and loss of a
particular species through over-hunting
was unlikely. Such sustainable practices
are only now being adopted by the wider
community, with modern society learning
from the example of the past.
Historical Guide
Fivebough
Many historical food species, both plant
and animal, still thrive in the wetlands to
this day. Some of the plants used are; Ruby
Salt Bush, Old Man Salt Bush, Spiny Salt
Bush and Hills Indigo just to name a few.
These plants are of spiritual and cultural
significance.
Tuckerbil wetland is part of the Koonadan
Aboriginal Site. Koonadan is a significant
site due to the presence of skeletal material
which establishes the sand hills as an
ancient Wiradjuri burial ground. Evidence
of early occupation can still be found and
includes a thin scatter of stone tools with
pieces of grinding dishes over the whole
area, and ground ovens.
Fivebough
Due to the need to preserve the area,
Tuckerbil and Koonadan are generally not
open to the public, however Fivebough
Wetland is open all year round. It is a
RAMSAR accredited bird watching area and
can be found only 2km from the Leeton
CBD.
For more information about the historical and cultural significance of Fivebough, Tuckerbil
and Koonadan, please contact the Leeton and District Local Aboriginal Land Council or see
their website ldlalc.com.au.
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Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
Leeton
Leeton, unlike most country towns, did not
develop around a local pub, supply store or
railway station. It was purposely built as part of
the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Scheme. The first
buildings to be erected here in 1911/12 were the
offices of the employees of the Murrumbidgee
Irrigation Trust (control was later transferred to
the Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission).
These were followed by other buildings such as
a hospital, accommodation house and Officers
Club. Meanwhile, labourer’s camps were being
established such as Alexander’s Camp and
Crusher Camp.
Channel building
Married Officers’ Quarters
Most early WC & IC staff and labourers lived in
tents, either with bare dirt floors or wooden floor
boards. These tents were arranged in rows or
streets and many had little garden plots around
them. By July 1912 approximately 500 plots of
land were made available for settlement for
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Historical Guide
Leeton from Water Tower 1926
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Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
Accommodation House
which the Trust had received 470 applications.
New businesses quickly emerged such as cafes,
newsagents, horse yards, stables, general stores,
and a boarding house. Mr A T McKay, Builder
and Contractor boasted he “will build a house a
day – a street a week”.
Early planning errors and the onset of WWI
slowed down this fast pace, however the influx
of Soldier Settlers after the war brought a
renewed effort in the development of the town.
Many businesses were created during the 1920’s
and 30’s which has left us with a legacy of many
beautiful Art Deco style buildings.
Crusher Camp
After World War II there was an increase in Italian
immigration to Australia. Many of the newcomers
were experienced farmers so were drawn to the
Leeton area. Those that prospered were able
to sponsor family and friends to migrate so that
Leeton now has a high population of people
with Italian Heritage.
First Bakery, 1912
You can obtain a guide to the Art Deco buildings found in Leeton at the Leeton Visitor’s
Information Centre.
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Historical Guide
WC &IC Manager’s residence completed in 1913 converted to the Leeton Visitor Information Centre in 1997
Leeton Visitor’s Information - 10 Yanco Avenue
Amongst the first buildings to be erected in
Leeton were the residences of the officers
of the Water Conservation and Irrigation
Commission. Completed in 1913, 10 Yanco
Avenue was to become the home of the
Chief Engineer Mr F M Smith but later became
known as the WC & IC Manager’s Residence.
sheeting and corrugated iron roof. In 1991 the Water
Commission proposed that the building should be
sold and it approached Leeton Shire Council as a
potential purchaser. The Council was subsequently
assisted in the purchase of the residence by a
contribution from the Leeton Soldiers Club. In 1992
it was proposed to locate the Visitors Information
Centre within the Managers Residence and the
new centre was opened on 14th September 1997.
It was described as a “large bungalow-type
dwelling” in the Federation style. It is a timber
framed building with weatherboard external
See www.leetontourism.com.au
Visitor Information Centre
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Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
Chief Engineer’s Residence 1912
Next door to the Chief Engineer’s residence was
the home of the Commissioner of the Water
Conservation and Irrigation Commission (WCIC).
It was a large 2 story residence in brick and wood
with a “deep arched portico and a magnificent
balcony”. In 1926 it was leased out as a private
hospital called “Allynbrook”. This hospital was
the birth place of many local residents, however
due to difficulties with moving stretchers up and
down the staircase, it was closed in 1940.
By 1940 the building was acquired by the
Returned Serviceman’s League to be used as the
War Memorial and Soldiers Club. Renovations
and improvements to the building were
completed 2nd June 1945 and the new library
wing was officially opened that afternoon.
During the early hours the next morning the
building was destroyed in a fire. Our current
Leeton Soldiers Club was built on the site in
stages from 1949 to 1964. It contains a memorial
shrine commemorating the service of the 1025
men and women who enlisted from Leeton and
district in World War II.
Allynbrook
For information see leetonsoldiers.com.au.
Corner of Kurrajong and Acacia Avenues
During the construction of residences for the senior officers of the WCIC, there were
concerns that settler’s homes were taking too long to build and were made with poorer
quality materials. To “even the score”, the ornate door which was to be fitted to the
Commissioner’s house disappeared one night, never to be seen again.
6
Historical Guide
Baptist and Methodist Churches
Leeton Methodist Church Baptist Church
- 55 Church Street
(now known as Leeton Uniting Church)
- 42 Church Street
The Baptist Church was the first denomination to
appoint a minister of religion to the settlement.
Pastor Richard Dobbinson commenced duties
in October 1911 and served the interests of
all Protestant denominations until in turn
Methodist, Anglican and other churches became
established. Services were held in a large tent
until a new church building was opened in 1913.
This building was later moved to the corner of
Grevillia Street and Wade Avenue.
The Methodist Church was one of the first
churches established in Leeton. A Mr J R Lee
arrived in Leeton early in 1912 and pitched a tent
in what was then called 2nd Street. Mr Lee held
services in various locations, including Crusher
Camp, Yanco & Brobenah. Due to Mr Lee’s
efforts, the Methodists were the first to open a
church building in Leeton constructed of wood
and fibro. It was situated where the present
Uniting Church building now stands but in 1937,
it was moved on rollers to the rear of the block to
enable the newer brick church to be built.
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Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
St Joseph’s Church
Church of England
Church of England
St Joseph’s Catholic
Church – 38 Church Street
The first services of the Church of England in the
settlement were held in a workshop in Yanco
where an anvil was used as a pulpit. Later they
were also held in the new school building in
Crusher Camp. When the school building was
moved to the Mountford Park area, services
continued to be held there. Nearby on the corner
of Oak and Church Sts the new church building
was being completed. The original building was
made of mud bricks and was officially opened in
May 1913. There were concerns about the safety
of the building from the start and after several
repairs it was decided to erect a new building
in 1973. The older building was eventually
condemned and demolished in 1996.
Mass services in Leeton were first held in
the school building in Crusher Camp in Palm
Avenue from about 1912. A visiting priest
Father Gray of Narrandera would bring a
portable altar with him for this purpose.
Later when the school was moved to what is
now Mountford Park, services would be held
there. Father Gray would often lend his altar
to the visiting Narrandera Church of England
clergyman whose services would always
follow the mass. The foundation stone for
the Catholic Church building was laid in
August of 1914 on the corner of Church
and Ash Streets. It was one of the first
brick buildings in Leeton. In 1951 Council
approved the construction of a larger church
building on the corner of Wade Avenue and
Church Streets. The Wagga Wagga diocese
purchased the Yanco Brickworks which
produced 440,000 for the church alone. The
building was completed in 1955. The old
church building was renovated and is now in
use as classrooms for St Josephs Primary
School.
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Historical Guide
Court House 1927
Water Tower No. 1 in 1915
Leeton Court House
Water Towers
Plans for the Court House were drawn up
by Government Architect Mr George McRae
and the contract was awarded to builder W C
Hanson in 1922. Prior to the official opening
in 1924, Births, Deaths and Marriages for
the Leeton district were all registered at
Narrandera Court House.
The 2 smaller water towers at the northern
end of Chelmsford Place were designed by
Walter Burley Griffin to act as “a high portal
to the new town square”. They were in fact
the first Griffin design to be built in Australia
and include a “perforated Enrichment” on
top of both towers. Griffin had a view of the
Chelmsford Place area being the cultural
and entertainment centre of town. His
design included a fountain and ornamental
pools and native trees were to be a feature
of the new plaza.
– Chelmsford Place
“Perhaps the good old afternoon band concerts of Spanish towns may be revived here where
environment and temperament of the people are so well situated.” W B Griffin.
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Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
Hydro Hotel prior to addition of South Wing
Historic Hydro Hotel
– Chelmsford Place
Hydro Hotel from Water Tower
During the early years of settlement
there was a need for a better style of
accommodation for visitors to the region.
Arguments ensued as to whether a coffee
palace or state hotel would be appropriate.
The MIA was already a designated Prohibition
area, so a state hotel would be run on the
Gothenburg Principle where alcohol could
only be served with a meal. The developing
Sly Grog trade was causing concern and so
the WCIC commenced building the “Hotel
Hydro” in 1917. When it finally opened in
1919 it did not have a liquor license at all.
There was a great deal of criticism of
the WCIC for the amount of money it was
spending on such buildings. The railway
had not yet been built from Yanco to Leeton
and the expense of carting bricks and
other building materials to the building site
inflated the costs.
But as one visiting reporter exclaimed
“The view from the balcony, which runs nearly all round it, is remarkably fine.
One can see countless thousands of fruit trees stretching out as far as the eye can reach,
their green foliage looking remarkably effective against the background of dry, sunburnt hills.”
In February 1924 the Hydro Hotel was sold to
Daniel McLeish who added a bar and south
wing. At the same time the Hydro Public
Bar was erected nearby, on the corner of
Sycamore Street and Chelmsford Place. A
liquor license was applied for and granted
30th April 1924 and covered both the Hydro
Hotel and the new Hydro Public Bar.
On 7th May 1924 headlines read “Drought
Breaks - Irrigation Area Joyful” as the first
pub in Leeton opened and the locals enjoyed
free beer all day and “a general celebration”.
Sadly the public bar, later known as the
Hydro Tavern was destroyed by fire in July
2011. The Historic Hydro Hotel however is
still standing and still provides comfortable
accommodation to visitors to the Leeton
area.
See www.hydromotorinn.com.au
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Historical Guide
The Roxy Theatre
Roxy Theatre – 114 Pine Avenue
for 6 nights
from the 9th
October 1933.
In 1927 Mr George Conson, who was already
running the Enterprise Hall and Globe
Theatre, saw a need for a larger indoor
theatre so purchased the block on the
corner of Pine & Wade Avenues. Tenders
were called and the winning architects were
Kaberry and Chard who were specialists in
theatre design. Building was commenced in
1929 and the 1091 seat theatre was named
“The Roxy” after the largest picture theatre
in the world, The Roxy Theatre in New York.
Mr Conson installed state of the art sound
and projection equipment costing £5,000.
The first movie shown on the 7th April
1930 was “The Black Watch” starring Victor
McLaglen and Myrna Loy.
The Theatre is
one of a very
small number
of two level
cinemas in
the State. The
Theatre
is
listed by the
NSW State
Heritage Office
Poster of the Movie
and has been
The Black Watch
classified by
the National Trust and, in its present role, is
a multi-function centre combining concerts,
live theatre, films and community events
with a capacity of 700 seats. Currently
screening days are Fridays and Saturdays,
with special Matinees held during school
holidays.
In 1931 a fire was deliberately lit in the
Confectionary shop within the Roxy.
Fortunately the building was saved by the
attending fire brigade.
In July 1933 the large red neon lighted
letters on top of the building were switched
on for the first time. In October of that year
a stage was added to enable concerts and
ANZAC day services to be held indoors. To
mark its official opening, soprano singer
Miss Gladys Moncrieff was engaged to sing
The Theatre is available for tours on
request. Further details can be obtained by
contacting Roxy Manager 02 6953 2074.
See www.roxyleeton.com.au
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Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
Early Hospital in the Gralee area
Leeton District Hospital
– Corner Wade and Palm Avenues
of a larger permanent public hospital. The
site chosen for this was a block bounded
by Wade & Palm Avenues and Myall Street.
Due to World War 1, fund raising was slow
and the new hospital was not built until
1918. It was constructed of weatherboard
and fibro-cement sheets.
The first hospital in Leeton was a temporary
structure of wood and canvas, situated in
what is now the Gralee area. A more
substantial structure was built in 1912
on the same site. At the same time a
committee was formed to administer the
hospital and to bring about the construction
The new public hospital was built just in time for the influx of patients suffering from the
world wide epidemic of Spanish Influenza. Even so, tents and volunteer carers were needed
to deal with the high number of people requiring care and isolation.
As Leeton grew, so did the need to build
an even larger public hospital. In 1941 a
foundation stone was laid on the same block
for the construction of a new modern two
storeyed brick building which incorporated
a 28 bed public ward for men and a 30 bed
public ward for women. The new hospital
was opened in 1942 and the old hospital
became a maternity ward and a children’s
ward. In 1952 a third storey was added to the
main hospital to create the familiar building
we see today.
Nurse outside Tent Hospital
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Historical Guide
Beginnings of Leeton District Hospital
Over the years Leeton also had a number of private hospitals which mostly dealt with
obstetric patients. These include:
Allynbrook - which became the Leeton Soldiers Club but was lost to fire in 1945.
Merungle Private Hospital - later the Wade Club and now a private residence.
The Haven – now a private residence.
Leeton District Hospital 1942
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Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
Mountford Park School Buildings
Leeton Public School/Mountford Park Avenues
Leeton’s first school was a single room, one
teacher school built at Crusher Camp and
located on Palm Avenue. The first teacher
was Mr C Bagust who started on 7th May
1912. In 1913 a new school site was chosen
on the corner of Church Street and Wade
Avenue. New Classrooms were built there
and the original building from Crusher
Camp was moved to the new site. Not long
after, this same building was blown down in
a wind storm but was re-erected.
In November 1924, disaster struck when
2 boys trespassing on the school grounds,
set fire to one of the buildings, destroying 4
classrooms. A result of this was that rather
than rebuild on the same site, a large block
of land consisting of over 22 acres was
obtained and the school was moved there.
This included the original building which had
been moved from Crusher Camp. In 1926
the new school was opened which included
a double storey brick building. Over time this
public school has become the Leeton Public
School and Leeton High School.
First school
Leeton Public School
In September 1928 it was suggested that the former school grounds be converted to a public
park. This was approved by council and during the 1930’s thanks to the work of numerous
volunteers the pathways and garden beds were established and the area officially became
“Mountford Park”. A WWII memorial Rose Garden was constructed in 1946 and playground
equipment added in the 1950’s. In 1956 the large water reservoir was added which increased
the water storage capacity for the town.
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Historical Guide
Leeton Town
We lie at rest when the day is late
On stretchers set on verandahs wide,
With a clear canal at our garden gate
And fruit trees growing on either side.
With native saplings that seem to look
To a future grand with a faith that’s blind,
Where a channel runs like an English brook
With a rustic bridge to the lane behind,
And the pine trees run by a long red road
Straight to the rim where the sun goes down
And we, for a season, have dropped each load
Of care and sorrow by Leeton town
Henry Lawson
Henry Lawson’s Cottage – Daalbata Road
Henry Lawson was one of Australia’s most
famous poets and story writers. He began
writing around 1887 and by the early 1900’s
was considered a celebrity in Australia.
Unfortunately Lawson suffered from
depression and alcoholism and spent many
years in and out of prison and asylums. His
wife Bertha applied for legal separation in
1903 and took their children with her. From
then Lawson spent much of his time in
poverty, relying on the generosity of friends
and supporters to survive.
years cared for Lawson, ensuring he had
both food and shelter. They were provided
with a cottage at Farm 418, Daalbata Road.
Henry informed “The Irrigator” newspaper
at the time that due to ill health “he was
sentenced to six months on the area. His
first impressions were that he would be
pleased to extend the sentence to life and
settle down on a little farm”.
Despite the availability of liquor, Lawson’s
health did improve a little and his time in
Leeton was quite productive. He was able to
renew his friendship with poet Jim Grahame
and meet again with writer Dame Mary
Gilmore with whom he had once been close.
He produced around 30 poems and 10 prose
sketches and also revised his earlier works
for an important “Selected Works” which
was published in 1918. “A Letter From
Leeton” was credited by a government report
as having “inestimable value” in attracting
settlers to the M.I.A after World War I.
In about 1915 those same friends assisted
him to obtain a position of Publicist for the
Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, with a view to
attracting settlers to the area. Leeton was
well chosen as it was a Prohibition area. It
should have been difficult for Henry to obtain
any type of liquor in town but of course
the reality was that sly grog was readily
available and with regular train services
to Narrandera, locals would often catch
the train on Saturday afternoon and return
drunk on Sunday. Lawson made friends
easily and his new friends would assist him
to travel to Whitton or Narrandera which
remained outside the prohibition zone.
Lawson’s position as publicist was to have
been for 6 months but stretched to 18
months. He returned to Sydney in August 1917
and died at Mrs Byers home in Abbotsford
in 1922. Henry Lawson’s former home in
Daalbata Road has now been restored and
is used to house medical students working
in the area.
Henry Lawson arrived in Leeton in January
1916 with his friend and housekeeper Mrs
Byers. She was also a poet and had for many
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Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
Main Street Yanco
Yanco
The purpose of the station was to service
the North Yanko Sheep Station which at that
time was owned by the Douglas family. The
station master and a few railway fettlers
were the only inhabitants.
Although part of NSW, the Riverina area
had closer trading ties to Melbourne during
the 1800s. Sydney politicians realised that
they needed to improve access to Sydney
markets for local goods, so the idea of
extending the New South Wales railway
system to the Riverina was born. The town
of Yanco came into being when this railway
line was extended from Narrandera to Hay.
The railway arrived in the area in 1881 and
on the 3rd of March the “Yanko Siding”
railway station was opened.
It wasn’t until the Murrumbidgee Irrigation
Scheme was proposed that the town began
to take shape. The Yanco Experiment farm
was developed in 1908 to show settlers what
could be grown in the area. Government
workshops were established in 1910
consisting of a sawmill, timber yard, joinery,
tank making workshop and a Government
Store.
Yanco Post Office
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Historical Guide
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Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
Yanco Government Workshop 1913
Yanco School
An application was received in 1908 for a
school to be built but nothing was done until
Sir Samuel McCaughey endorsed the plan
and offered the use of a shed for a temporary
school house. He then donated the school
building which was transported from Gobba
Goula school near Narrandera to Yanco.
Furniture came from the disused Uroly
school. In the early years of settlement, life
for the teachers was difficult because no
accommodation was provided and they had
to live in tents. The boarding house at Yanco
was too expensive for a teacher’s salary.
With the increase in population came the
need for a larger school and the Gobba
Goula building was again moved to the new
school site and converted to a weather shed.
A new 2 room building was erected and
opened as a school in 1913.
In 1936 a new Principal was about to take
over the school when disaster struck
and the school building including the old
weather shed were destroyed by fire and
three room brick building was built in its
place. Further buildings have been added
over the years including the old “Morundah”
school building which was transported to
the site in 1979.
First School Building Yanco 1913
18
Historical Guide
Sir Samuel McCaughey
Sir Samuel McCaughey’s Homestead
Yanco Agricultural High School
– Sir Samuel McCaughey’s Homestead
the Murrumbidgee, he went ahead and
purchased the property North Yanko in 1899.
When Samuel McCaughey arrived in Australia
in the 1850’s, the son of an Irish linen
merchant, he already had some business
experience. Nevertheless, at his uncle
Charles Wilson’s property near Horsham
Victoria, he started working as a station
hand to learn the business from the bottom
up. With assistance from his relatives, he
acquired the property Coonong near Urana
N.S.W. in 1860 and by 1864 was the sole
owner. He improved the property by building
dams and deepening the Yanko Creek. This
brought him an increase in wealth which
enabled him to purchase further properties
of Singorimba, Goolgumbla, Coree, Toorale
and Dunlop. At various times McCaughey
owned or shared in twelve stations in New
South Wales and three in Queensland with a
total area of about 3,250,000 acres (1,315,242
ha). His successful experiments in sheep
breeding brought him great renown here
and overseas.
As with his other properties he started
making improvements to water access.
A complex series of channels were built,
using 2 steam engines to pump water from
the Murrumbidgee. McCaughey used the
success of this system and his political
connections as a member of the Legislative
Council to convince the government that
widespread irrigation was vital to the
success of the country.
The government agreed and the
Murrumbidgee Irrigation Scheme was
born. Building of Burrinjuck (Barren Jack)
dam commenced and 70,000 acres of the
North Yanko property were resumed by
the government, leaving Sir Samuel a life
tenancy in the remaining portion. This portion
included the North Yanko homestead, which
had been built in 1899 by Sir Samuel.
McCaughey lived at Coonong for almost 40
years and at various times had been involved
in disputes with his downstream neighbours
over his dam building. He was an astute
business man and when plans were put
forward for building irrigation canals off
Although he was a bachelor, North Yanco
homestead was a grand double storey brick
building, suitable for entertaining visiting
dignitaries and their wives in style. He
lived in the homestead until his death in
19
Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
Yanco Agricultural High School Opening 1922
1919. Due to a new land tax law introduced
in 1910, Sir Samuel had sold off all his
properties. So at the time of his death, he
owned no land whatsoever but his estate
was worth £1,600,000. After personal
bequests to his family, much of his funds
went to orphanages, schools, universities,
hospitals and charities to assist the families
of deceased soldiers.
Many improvements have been made
including a dairy, stable, new class blocks,
sportsground, dormitories, hall and hospital
block. In 1959 a swimming pool was added
which meant students no longer had to
swim in the Murrumbidgee river.
Sir Samuel McCaughey’s former home can
be visited during school hours.
Phone 02 6951 1500.
www.yancoag-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
After McCaughey’s death, the building was
resumed by the Water Conservation and
Irrigation Commission and was offered to
the NSW Education Department as a school
to train future farmers.
McCaughey Park
The first principal of the Yanco Agricultural
High School arrived 18th January 1922. The
building and grounds had been deserted
for 3 years and there was no power or
water connected. A bush fire had recently
raged through the area which now looked
barren and uninviting. On a 45°C day the
first students, teachers and staff arrived.
Hurricane lamps were used at night and
the boys had to bathe in the river until
McCaughey’s old water pump was fixed.
Sadly a student drowned in the river a month
after the school opened.
McCaughey Park is the site of a natural
spring-fed waterhole. This waterhole was
used to water sheep as they awaited shearing
at the nearby North
Yanco woolshed. It
is now a haven for
swans, geese, ducks
and other waterbirds.
It is also the site of
a statue erected in
2013 in memory of Sir
Samuel McCaughey
and his contribution
to
creating
the
Murrumbidgee
McCaughey Statue
Irrigation Area.
Over the years the schools fortunes
have varied depending on how the
agricultural industry itself was faring.
20
Historical Guide
Yanco Power Station
Yanco Powerhouse Museum
Yanco Power Station
The Yanco Power Station was built in 1913
to supply power to the Murrumbidgee
Irrigation Area, when power was required
for general lighting and for the Leeton
Butter Factory. The site on which it was
constructed was chosen as it was close to
the Yanco railway line for obtaining coal
and close to a water source which would
be used for condensing water. Initially a
75Kw generator was installed however by
1936 4 further turbines had been installed
giving 4,750Kw capacity. At its peak 800kms
of wires radiated from the power house to
Leeton and Griffith. 10,000 tonnes of coal
were required to run the station each year.
The Power Station ceased operation in 1958
and was purchased from the Electricity
Commission in 1967 by the Yanco & District
Pioneers and Historical Association in 1972
and later turned into the Yanco Powerhouse
Museum.
The museum is open from 10am to 4pm on the last Sunday of the month or by appointment.
Phone 02 6955 7765. When running, the Yanco Miniature Railway Club Inc. will also have
miniature train rides available and the Yanco markets are also held in the Yanco Hall on the
same day.
21
Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
Yanco Experiment Farm Entrance
Murrumbidgee Rural Studies Centre
ostriches, horses and mules. 1922 saw the
introduction of Californian rice varieties
which became the foundation of commercial
rice production in the MIA.
The MRSC complex was established in 1908
as the Yanco Experiment Farm. Its purpose
was to experiment with potential crops for
the recently commissioned Murrumbidgee
Irrigation Scheme as well as provide settlers
with vines and seedlings and agricultural
training. Sir Samuel McCaughey sold a
portion of his North Yanco property to the
Dept of Agriculture and helped with the
supply of equipment and water.
In 1928 financial constraints saw the
Experiment Farm transferred to the Dept of
Education and it was reborn as the Riverina
Welfare Farm. It was to be a training facility
for delinquent boys up to the age of 18.
Along with other buildings a 3 cell gaol was
built plus a solitary confinement cell at the
rear for the worst offenders.
Results from various crops grown at the
Experiment Farm were widely advertised
in journals, pamphlets, magazines and
newspaper articles, although a Royal
Commission in 1915 found that the farm
had been of minimal assistance to the local
settlers.
The first Superintendant was Major
Parsonage. The Major did not believe in
his staff carrying canes to punish boys
but instead introduced a system of awards
rather than punishment. Unfortunately
when punishments did occur they generally
involved boys being forced to take part
in boxing matches with other boys and
resulted in many being severely beaten.
Just some of the produce grown there
were cabbages, silver beet, lucerne, pears,
peaches, apricots, olives and tobacco.
There were also herds of dairy cattle,
22
Historical Guide
POW Camp
POW Italian Workers
Experiment Farm
Another punishment had boys exercising
continuously or they had to complete a
number of laps around a field. Witnesses
claimed that these punishments could go
on for hours. After the death of an inmate
an inquiry was held in 1934 and Major
Parsonage was removed from his position.
cannery which would then feed the overseas
troops. There were also orchards, cereal
crops and livestock.
After the war the farm was returned to
the Department of Agriculture and again
became the Yanco Experiment Farm then
later the Yanco Agricultural College and
Research Station. It is now known as the
Murrumbidgee Rural Studies Centre and
provides a wide range of training courses for
primary producers, owners of small farms,
new entrants to agriculture and horticulture,
and to those thinking of investing in a rural
enterprise.
Mr Harry Saxby became Superintendant
in 1936 and over the following 4 years
was responsible for a series of reforms
and innovations which made the Riverina
Welfare Farm one of the most successful in
the country.
With the onset of World War II, the Riverina
Welfare Farm became the site of a Prisoner
of War camp. It was known as POW Camp 15
and held up to 774 Italian prisoners of war.
As with the Welfare Farm the POW Camp
remained a commercial enterprise. Italian
prisoners were required to work producing
vegetables for processing at the Leeton
Accommodation is available at the centre
including motel style or bunkhouse. Details
can be found at www.mrsc.nsw.edu.au or
phone 1800 628 422.
23
Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
Whitton Post Office
Whitton
In 1883 township blocks were offered for
sale and that year the Railway Department
changed Hulong to Whitton in honour of
the Chief Engineer for railways, Mr John
Whitton. This name was adopted by mid
1883 and the township grew rapidly with
hotels and schools being established.
The township of Whitton was established
as a direct result of the extension of the
South West Railway from Narrandera to
Hay. The railway station became the nucleus
of the town after it opened in 1881. Prior to
this however the area was well known to
bullock teamsters travelling the VictoriaQueensland stock route from the 1850’s
onwards. “Hulong” as it was known then
(for the Hulong Pastoral Holding) became
a campsite for teamsters waiting for the
Murrumbidgee river levels to drop so that
they could cross in safety. Later bullock
teams were used to cart goods from outlying
areas to the railway station. It was common
to see as many as 200 bullock teams
camped out at Whitton, either held up by
bad weather or waiting for supplies to come
by train.
In the 1890’s Whitton was a thriving town, it
boasted 4 hotels, numerous stores, banks,
churches, blacksmith, barber shop, butcher,
coach builders, school and a sawmill.
The new century saw the town devastated
by drought, dust storms and fire. A rabbit
preserving company was forced to close
down due to a lack of rabbits!
A disastrous fire in 1922 saw a number of the
buildings in the main street destroyed which
is why many of the buildings in Benerembah
Street have “Art Deco” style features.
Albion Hotel Whitton
24
Museum
Kooba
Street
25
Street
Benere
Purdon
Gogeld
Re
aira Stre
et
Binyah
Street
Conap
t
et
son
ay
ree
orth Stre
ilw
ll St
Beechw
ne
Street
Ra
Naradh
un St
Bru
Binyah
en
et
ph
aira Stre
un Stree
t
Naradh
Ste
Conap
t
Street
en Stree
Melburg
Bringan
Historical Guide
ser
Stre
ve
et
mbah St
reet
rie Stree
t
Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
McGaw Church
AJS Bank
Former Australian
Joint Stock Bank
McGaw Presbyterian
Church
The AJS bank arrived in Whitton in 1890 with the
construction of the building in Melburgen Street.
The two front rooms were for banking and the
remaining rooms and a detached kitchen were
used as a residence. Trading was suspended for
several months during the Australian banking
crisis of 1893 but the Whitton branch continued
on through various bank amalgamations until
finally closing its doors in 1933.
The McGaw Presbyterian Church was
established in 1895. Mrs Newson and her
daughter donated land towards creation
of a Church while Mrs Sarah McGaw of
“Marinella” and “Kooba” Stations donated
1000 guineas through the Centenary of
Thanksgiving Fund to construct a church in
memory of her late husband William McGaw
(1834-1894) who with his brother owned
Kooba Station. Tenders were called in July
1901 and construction of the uniquely styled
church was undertaken.
(now a private residence)
26
Historical Guide
Whitton Railway Station
St John the Evangelist
Whitton Railway Station
St John the Evangelist
Anglican Church
Former Railway
Station
St John’s Church was established in 1883
and served from Narrandera. The first
resident minister was the Rev GFR Nobbs.
Rev Nobbs was born at Norfolk Island and
was a descendant of Fletcher Christian
of “Mutiny on the Bounty” fame. He was
even more notorious however in his former
parish in Queensland where he was accused
of defrauding a number of his parishioners.
The Whitton parish covered a wide area and
the Reverend sometimes had to conduct
services in places that were more than
100kms away, travelling by horse and cart.
The timber railway station was constructed
in Brunell Street for the Department of
Public Works by Mr A H Scouller and opened
on 1 September 1881. The former railway
station building consisted of Waiting, Station
Masters, Porter’s, Kitchen and Lamp rooms.
In 1892 records show 4,000 bales of wool
were despatched and 200 passengers
conveyed monthly from the Whitton Railway
Station. The present station building was
in use by the Railways up until its closure
in 1974 and it was saved from demolition
by the historical society in 1977. It was
relocated to its current position in 1983 and
the museum was officially opened in 1988.
27
Leeton • Yanco • Whitton
Whitton Courthouse
Whitton Courthouse
Former Courthouse
obtained by the Whitton Historical and
Cultural Society in 1977 with the intention
of creating a museum. A settlers hut, was
received in 1981 and the Railway Station
was moved to the site in 1985. Soon after
the local butcher’s shop was relocated to
the museum as well. The Whitton Museum
is open each Saturday and Sunday between
1pm and 4pm, or by appointment.
Ph: 02 6955 2691.
The first Court of Petty Sessions was held
in 1890 in a lock up that stood to the right
of the Anglican Church in Melbergen Street.
In December 1898 tenders were called for
the erection of a Courthouse and Lock-up in
Gogeldrie Street with living quarters for the
Lock-up keeper.
The Courthouse was last used as a Court
of Petty Sessions in 1974. The courthouse
and surrounding land and buildings were
In 1911 Whitton was involved in a notorious murder. Two boys named Reg Clare and William
Millar murdered Mrs Sarah Warby and Miss Amy Warby at Billenbah Station. After the
murder Reg Clare panicked and ran to a neighbouring property where he reported what
had happened to Miss Jessie Bornhalt. Jessie drove Clare by sulky to Whitton where they
informed Constable Mullins. Jessie later gave evidence at the murder inquest, recounting
what Clare had confessed to her on the journey into town. Jessie was later the inspiration
for the Bryce Courtenay novel “Jessica” although the story varies considerably.
28
Leeton Vistor’s Information
Centre would like to thank
the following for supplying
many of the photos used:
Leeton Family & Local History
Society Inc.
Murrumbidgee Irrigation
Whitton Court House and
Historical Museum
Copyright: Leeton Shire Council 2014
Compiled by Leeton Shire Council in conjunction with the Heritage Committee and the Leeton Family & Local History Society.
Published by Specialty Press, Albury.
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the details appearing in this publication are correct at the time of printing.
The publisher does not accept any responsibility for inaccuracy.