Gundagai, New South Wales: a Historic Town Along the River

Gundagai is a town in the Australian state of New South Wales located along the big Murrumbidgee River at the foot of Mt Parnassus. Just a stone’s throw away from the Muniong and Yambla Mountain ranges, Gundagai is popular for its old bridges, monuments, and memorials.

The town’s colourful history has made it a favourite topic of a number of poets, musicians, and writers. Some believe that one reason for this is because the Five Mile Creek north of Gundagai used to be a popular point of rendezvous among teamsters, drovers, shearers, and bush travellers.

Gundagai was first discovered by Australian-born Hamilton Hume and Briton William Hovell in 1824, when the Wiradjuri Aborigines dominated the area. Europeans first arrived two years later. In the 1830s, a village was formed until the Gundagau was gazetted as a town in 1840.

The town was ravaged by a flood in 1844 resulting in the deaths of around 83 people. A local Aborigine, Yarri, was commended for his heroism during the incident. He was among those who saved stranded residents using his bark canoe. A marble headstone was erected in his memory at the Gundagai cemetery where he was buried in 1880.

A 15-year gold rush swept the town in the 1850s before another “gold fever” resurfaced in 1894. The most famous historical mines include the Robinson and Rice’s Mine southwest of Gundagain and the Prince of Wales Mine a few mile west of the town.

Some of the most popular historical tales in Gundagai were of bushrangers who killed two policemen. The Ben Hall bushranging gang killed Sgt Edmund Parry while holding up a mail coach near Jugiong in the 1860s. Another gang led by “Captain Moonlite” killed Senior Constable Webb-Bowen during a hostage incident at a farm in 1879. The remains of the two policemen are interred at the Gundagai cemetery.

Must-See Places:

? The Dog on the Tuckerbox bronze sculpture is perhaps the icon most closely associated with the town. It is situated across a restaurant and gift shop complex 8km north of the town on the Hume Highway. Opposite the Dog on the Tuckerbox, which is part of Australian folklore, is the Snake Gully Tourist Centre.

? The Marble Masterpiece was completed by mason Frank Rusconi for 28 years. It is a miniature Baroque Italian palace standing 1.2 metres high within a formal square. Each of the 20,948 pieces of marble gathered throughout New South Wales was cut, turned, and polished by hand. The centre also featured a replica of St Marie’s Cathedral located in the outskirts of Paris.

? The Gundagai Historical Museum displays old coins and crockery retrieved from the original townsite, which was ravaged by the flood. A T-model Ford, wagons, machinery and equipment, clothing, gold scales, and a sundial are among the collection.

? The Gundagai Courthouse is one of the town’s oldest buildings. It was where “Captain Moonlite” was tried.

? The Niagara Café is an old Greek restaurant established in 1942. It was once visited and commended by former Prime Minister John Curtin.

? The Mt Parnassus peak has fine views of the town and river beds. Magnificent lookout spots also include the Rotary Lookout, Mt Kimo, and Reno.

Gundagai Bridges:

? Prince Alfred Bridge – believed to be the first truss bridge in Australia

? The Sheahan Bridge – Australia’s second-longest bridge after the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is made of concrete and steel

? The Railway Bridge was completed in 1869. It has sections made of timber and sections made of iron. It used to be part of the old Hume Highway but at present, it is only open to pedestrian traffic.