Museums in Cabonne

The Canowindra Museum was established in a former school building which was transported from the outlying center of Murga in 1970. Several other small buildings and two machinery sheds have since been added. The adjacent Railway Cottage, formerly the Stationmasters residence, built in 1910, was purchased by the Historical Society in 1988 with a Bi-Centennial grant.

The Museum is situated in the main street next to the Memorial Park and the Age of Fishes Museum.

Highlights of the Museum are the shepherd’s hut circa 1828, Harold Boyd’s complete dental surgery, a wedding gown collection from 1881-1982, a reconstructed wool shed, wheat harvesters collection from 1843, photo collection and the Pioneers Wall.

The Canowindra Museum is operated by the Canowindra Historical Society. 

For more information visit the link: Canowindra Historical Museum - MGNSW or call 0433 130 859

The Eugowra Museum and Bushranger Centre was opened by Cabonne Council Mayor John Farr on the 25 – 26 October 2003. And a new extension has recently been completed but is not yet open.

This building was formerly a stock and station agent’s shop, but with government grants, gifts and lots of volunteer labour, it was refurbished into a great little building holding a huge variety of antiques and old wares from Eugowra’s past.

Robert Ellis first started the museum years before at his home in Norton Street, and this was subsequently run by Hilton and Jean Clements, grandchildren of Hanbury Clements, pioneer of the town of Eugowra and of Escort Rock fame.

Much of Robert’s collection was given to the Museum, when the Eugowra Promotion and Progress Association (EPPA) undertook to operate it.

Eugowra’s claim to fame in most Australian history books is as the place where bushrangers held up the gold escort coach on 15 June, 1862, on its way to Bathurst. This turned out to be very worthwhile for the gang, who got away with fourteen thousand pounds worth of gold and banknotes. It was the biggest gold robbery in Australia’s history and in today’s money would be worth about $8 million.

The Museum also has a significant collection of wartime memorabilia and war souvenirs, and a comprehensive catalogue of Eugowra Service Personnel.

TEMPORARILY CLOSED

All the portraits in this unique collection, were painted by artist Anne Marie Ingham. She gave her time to this project in gratitude for the sacrifices of these men and women, representing all from this area who served in our armed forces. She hoped it would enhance public awareness of their efforts.

The first portraits were unveiled in 2007, another six unveiled in 2008, twenty in January 2009 and five in 2012.

All ceremonies were held in conjunction with Molong & Cabonne Council’s Australia Day celebrations.

Anne Marie died in March 2014 and the last incomplete painted portrait, together with three photographs, were unveiled in October, 2014.

For information visit Molong & District Servicemen & Servicewomen's Portrait Gallery   or contact 02 6366 8105

The Molong museum is housed in a delightful stone building on the corner of Riddell & Gidley Streets and was built in 1860 as a hotel.  It was then called “The Golden Fleece”.  It is known that a rubble mason and also his son lived in Molong at that time and were responsible for several other stone buildings in the town.

The building has had a chequered life as after being a hotel it later became home and surgery for several doctors over many years.  Some of the old surgical instruments of one doctor, Doctor Andrew Ross, are in the Museum’s collection.  After the doctor’s exit from there it was turned into flats by the then owners and was this way for many years and in time was sold to the Molong historical Society for the rates owing.

The building is large and accommodating and in 2009 received a Federal Government Jobs Funding Grant of $89.000 which was used to repair and refurbish the building using local tradespeople.  During this time everything needed to be packed up and then replaced. It is still said that we have a “work in progress” as there are still repairs needed but from the structural work carried out it is hoped that it will be sound for many years to come.

Apart from the building itself and displays the one attracting the most interest is the Fairbridge Room.  Fairbridge was a farm and home for children from the United Kingdom from the early 1930’s until 1975 and was located approximately 5 kms on the Mitchell Highway towards Orange.   Research was done by interviewing old identities from Fairbridge and older Molong people who remember the farm and school as a thriving little community.

One of the interesting questions asked, by people in the know is, “have you ever seen the ghost”?-  No we haven’t but several members have had some strange experiences so on leaving the building at lockup time we usually talk it “her” and say goodnight.  There is a lovely atmosphere throughout the building so we think “she” is happy and content as “she” can see us all over the building and care for it.

For information visit Molong Museum  or call 0400 425 015.

Yeoval Historical Museum was once the home of Mr and Mrs O’Halloran, today its home to the local history of the Yeoval region.

The homestead of the O’Halloran’s, aside the now Buckinbah Park contained a store front where Mr O’Halloran worked as saddler, boot maker and gunsmith.

The Museum preserves the oral history and memoribilia in various displays and focuses on family history of the area.

For information visit Yeoval Historical & Family Museum - O’Hallorans Cottage  or call 02 6846 4190. 

Monthly Article September 2025

Written by: Victoria Parkes (Yeoval Historical & Family Museum / O’Hallorans Cottage)

THE GOLDFIELDS OF GOODRICH

(A GOLDEN TRIANGLE)

A CONTINUATION OF THE INDUSTRIES OF YEOVAL

The discovery of gold in New South Wales was the catalyst that exploded population growth in the 1850s, 1860s and 1870s. In 1872 alone, 370,000 new immigrants arrived in New South Wales.

On the 21 February 1851, Edward Hargraves discovered gold and founded the goldfields at Hill-End. Then, in April 1851,  gold was found at Ophir and Mullion/Mulyan Creek (now part of the Cabonne Council Area). “The Ophir Gold……so called after its origin…… is appently especially fine quality” (quote by Professor Benjamin Mazar; Institute of Biblical Archeology- Israel. Ref: Bible Isiah 13:12 Our Lord, a man will be more rare than fine gold. Even more than the pure gold of Ophir).

1860s - New South Wales was in the grips of Gold Fever, new goldfields were being discovered, diggers and their families were walking the roads “I’m a daughter of a digger, who sought the mother lode” (I am Australian - The Seekers 1995). These families moved from one gold digging camp to another, in the vague hope of finding their fortune.. Life for these families was arduous and challenging. The diggers toiled in the open, exposed to the cold, rain and heat, they tunnelled through rock laden, hard terrain. The mining camps were overcrowded, hygiene was poor and diseases spread rapidly. Most of the families lived a sparing existence, crowded into tents, cooking outside on open fires. Life was filled with insecurity and uncertainty.

By 1868, it was apparent that the whole of the southwest NSW along the Lachlan Fold Belt was in effect a massive goldfield (goldftrails.com.au)

On the 29 January 1868, Mr John F Wynne was the first person to drive a pick into the the earth at Goodrich Mine. (The Wellington Times: 30  Nov 15 - THE GOODRICH MINE- short history of the field).

In the 1870s the Goodrich Mine and the whole surrounding area including Buckinbah (now Yeoval and Nth Yeoval) was overrun by ‘Diggers’. These gold miners crossed over the Catombal Ranges from Hill End and Ironbarks(now Stuart Town). Diggers walked from the Gulgong Goldrush Fields. Mining shafts were dug like rabbit warrens holing the Nth Yeoval area.

BONZLE MAP SHOWING OLD MINE SITES AROUND YEOVAL 

The Gold Miners of yesterday-year relied on hard manual labour, to dig their mine shafts, only scratching the surface of what lies deep underground.

MAP OF GOLDOLPHIN RESOURCES GOLD & COPPER PROJECTS IN NSW

In more recent times, exploratory geological surveys and core sampling undertaken by Goldophin Resources (who hold the mining rights for Goodrich Mine) have validated deep underground seams rich in gold and copper. Two seams Interest at Goodrich Mine, one runs east-west and the other runs north-south. There is another deep seam running along the Catombal Ranges in the area of Gunners Dam Mine. These seams roughly create A GOLDEN TRIANGLE.

The machinery and technological advancements enable mining companies to dig deep into the ground to reach these seams (just look at Tomingley and the open-cut mine) - it has nearly annihilated the township!

YEOVALS CHALLENGE

BIG MINING INVESTMENT IS COMING!!

Accept the Yeoval areas mining potential
Seize the opportunities that mining investment will create
Grow and develop our town and community from mining investment
Build a bigger and brighter future for Yeoval’s next generations

(That is what our forebears did - THEY EMBRACED CHANGE & GREW FROM IT)

YEOVAL THE CHOICE IS YOURS

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YEOVAL’S MINING PAST - VISIT THE YEOVAL HISTORICAL & FAMILY MUSEUM (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 11.00am to 4.00pm) or ph: 0409440931 to make an appointment