TUMUT, NSW
AUSTRALIA
TO THIS at 2% Full 1983 !!!!!!! (sad)
Tumut - is a town and local government area approximately four hours drive south-west of Sydney. Tumut is geographically the same distance from both Sydney and Melbourne and was once considered a possible site for the nation's capital.
Tumut is the gateway to the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Its name is derived from an aboriginal name for 'resting place by the river'. (Ref - http://www.rootsweb.com/~ausnsw/regions/southeast.htm)
From Town Bridge leading away
Green to changing colour - 
Further change in colour
One of the town's most distinctive features is the double row of "Lombardy" poplar trees which lie across the Tumut River from the Anglican Church. The trees were planted in 1861 and form a distinctive wall which is particularly impressive in summer and autumn.
POPLARS OF TUMUT Landscape Makers. - By "Waratah."
There are some towns which call us back again and again. The call may come from the people, the scenic beauty, or pleasure resorts. Sometimes it is from the parks and gardens, Tumut's call is that of the trees. Its splendid poplars have no superior in this State, and there are also Its elms, oaks, and willows.
Go where you will in search of landscape beauty-the rugged grandeur of the Blue Mountains, the soft, rolling plains of Bathurst, or the silver-lined and green-bordered sea- scapes of the south coast,' where the blue of the ocean is so intense-there is nothing to surpass the panorama from Hospital Hill. Tumut. It is not merely the ever-changing play of colour along the hillsides which makes this picture so enchanting. Alternating shadow patches of purple and gold are thrown on the landscape screen when the sky is flecked with fleecy clouds. On bright, sunny days in springtime it is all shining green, with mauve and grey shadings along the ridges. There is beauty, too, in the gentle contour of the tree-topped slopes, which is balm to the heart of an artist.
Away to the south lhere is another note of majestic splendour, where the frowning blue cliffs of Talbingo Range look down. In the middle foreground runs the willow-lined river, snow-fed and gushing over rapids until it spreads out below the township into a silver stream.
But through all is the dominant note of the poplars. They divide the landscape into a series of splendid pictures, each complete in Itself and suitably framed. First, the poplars of Bombowlee, just over the bridge, known and discussed wherever tree-lovers gather-for their height and girth. Like giant sentinels they stand, and their scintillating leaves can be seen far and wide.
More poplars are seen to right and left, some in groups, singles, and long files of them dividing paddocks. Poplars harmonise with the slender church steeple, giving an English setting, poplars along the hills and flats until they meit into a hazy blue distance, way out towards Brungle and Gundagai.
There is an old-world atmosphere about it all, and both the green of the springtime or the burning lights of autumn seem to belong to older climes. Certainly, it is something alien to the rest of the State. Softness and colour blending are the keynotes. But it is the poplars which are Indelibly imprinted on the mind. Their call will not remain unanswered. - (Ref- The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954) Saturday 10 December 1938).
Tumut Trees at Show ground
Beautiful town nestled in the Tumut Valley at the foothills of the Snowy Mountains. By any measure Tumut is an exceptionally pretty country town. The Tumut River, which runs for 145 km before joining the Murrumbidgee River at Gundagai, flows along the edge of the town; the plains spread out on either side of the river; and the foothills of the Snowy Mountains rise on all sides. The rainfall ensures that, apart from times of drought, the valley is characteristically green and fertile.
Tumut is located 423 km from Sydney and 180 km from Canberra via the Hume Highway. The main access to the town is via Gundagai (34 km) with roads going through both Gocup and Brungle. The town itself has an elevation of 280 m above sea level which means that it is located so that it has four distinct seasons. There is some confusion about the origins of the town's name. One popular version is that 'doomut' was an Aboriginal word for 'camping ground' or 'quiet resting place by the river' and that over the years this evolved to 'toomut', 'tumat' and eventually Tumut.
The Wiradjuri Aboriginal people lived in the valley for thousands of years prior to European settlement. A small number still live in the tiny village of Brungle some kilometres from the town.
Photo of H & H
The first Europeans into the area were the explorers Hume and Hovell who, travelling down the Murrumbidgee River in 1824, came across the Tumut River. They subsequently entered the Tumut Valley.
Four years later settlers arrived in the valley. One of the first settlers was an Irishman, Thomas Boyd, who had travelled with Hume and Hovell (he is buried in the town's historic cemetery on Adelong Road). He settled at 'Rosebank' near Gilmore and is honoured by the region of the town known simply as 'Boyd', it was previously known by the more pedestrian 'Railway End'.
Map Darbalara
Another was a Mr Warby who settled at 'Darbalara' "Darbalara" on the Murrumbidgee and Tumut Rivers. It is known that on 27 November, 1828 the explorer Charles Sturt Captain Charles STURT (on one of his many unsuccessful missions to find Australia's 'inland sea') stopped at Warby's house. It was here that Elizabeth Warby was born on 10 May, 1830 - probably the first European to be born in the valley.
The township grew slowly. Squatters were well established in the valley but by 1856 the town was nothing more than a single school building, a few mud and slab huts and three hotels. The town had been surveyed, and laid out in a classic grid pattern, as early as 1848 but it was only a major flood in 1852 which finally persuaded the locals to form some kind of a town.
By 1860 the town had grown to a point where it a local newspaper which eagerly reported that the local cricket club was holding annual meetings and the cricket played on the town's racecourse was so popular that three publicans' booths were provided (the publicans had to pay a guinea for the priviledge) to quench the thirst of the players and spectators. After the game the players headed for the Woolpack Hotel for more drinking.
The goldrush era saw the rapid development of the town. At one stage in 1860 there was a report of over 1200 men passing through Tumut in the space of four days as they headed to the Kiandra goldfields. With gold came the bushrangers. The town's one bushranger was William Brookman, a carpenter by trade, who joined the infamous 'Blue Cap' gang. But the the most famous bushranger to work in the area was James Kelly (brother of Ned) who, in 1877, stole some horses in Wagga which they later tried to sell in Tumut.
The post-goldrush period, which had seen people moving through the area to the Adelong and Kiandra goldfields, saw a small boom in the town's fortunes. By 1866 the number of pubs had grown to eleven and this had expanded to 18 pubs by 1880. Today the town has only six pubs. It became a municipality in 1887 and the Tumut Shire, including Batlow and Adelong was created in 1928.
Around this time the major activity in the valley was dairy farming on the rich river flats. This was hampered by the lack of good transportation. It wasn't until 1867 that there was a bridge, one of the longest in New South Wales, over the Murrumbidgee River at Gundagai (prior to that a ferry service had operated) and the branch railway line from Gundagai to Tumut was authorised as early as 1884 but wasn't completed until 1903.
A typical and elegant country town centre of law and order the Court House and Police Station (just up Wynyard Street from All Saints) are characterised by a hip roof and timber verandah posts. The Police Station was completed in 1874, the Court House in 1878 and the Stables in 1879. The Court House was designed by the notable Colonial Architect, James Barnet.
The Oriental Hotel was originally known as the Queens Arms. It is a typical goldrush era building showing off its affluence. There was a pub on this site as early as 1850 and the first publican was a man named Madigan. This new hotel was designed and built by Frederick Kinred about 1876. He took up Madigan's license. It has a beautiful cast iron verandah.
The corner of Wynyard and Russell Streets is bank corner with the old Bank of New South Wales (now Westpac), which was built in 1891, on the south west corner. A managers residence was built on the first floor.
CBC Bank (now the National) built in 1889 on the north eastern corner. It also had a managers residence built above. The old Bank of New South Wales is a late Victorian Free Classical building characterised by a two-storey arcaded verandah and Ionic pilasters. The hipped corrugated iron roof is topped by three large chimneys. The old CBC bank is a Victorian Classical Revival designed by the Mansfield brothers. The verandah is supported by fluted cast-iron columns and there are attractive French windows on the first floor.
Continue up Wynyard Street. At the top there is an excellent view across the town and the Tumut River to Bombowlee.
photo
PLace photo
Located in Capper St, the Tumut Museum holds a good display of memorabilia about the local area. It is open Saturdays and Wednesdays from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. and at other times by arrangement, tel: (02) 6947 2183, (02) 6947 6731 or (02) 6947 1380.
C/E Church Front view
C/E Church from Tumut River
All Saints Anglican Church was built in 1875 in River Road, Tumut. Like all churches in Tumut it has witnessed hundreds of births, marriages and deaths celebrations. There is a wonderful archive record filed for reference.
Hall photo
In the 1950's a hall was built across the road, it also has been the venue for many wonderful gatherings.
The town's large Irish population built one of rural New South Wales's most impressive Roman Catholic Churches out of blue granite. It stands impressively on the corner of Capper and Carey Streets.
Place photo
Beyond the Roman Catholic Church, cross over the Highway (Adelong Road), following Gocup Rd for a short distance then turn left into a driveway that leads directly to the town's Pioneer Cemetery. The most notable gravestones are those of Thomas Boyd who travelled from Sydney to the present day site of Melbourne with the explorers Hume and Hovell. Also of interest is the grave of the talented Aboriginal cricketer Johnny Taylor who died of measles in 1875. He worked as a stockman at Blowering and was known as the best cricketer in the district before his untimely death. He was in his 20s when he died.
Place photo
Located opposite the town's swimming pool, and adjacent the Tumut River, this is a beautiful rural retreat with fine displays of European deciduous trees which are shady in the summer months and spectacular during autumn. There are plenty of park benches for picnics and a pleasant stream winds through the centre of the park.
Situated around the intersection of Richmond and Russell Streets, the trees have botanical name plates in this award-winning garden.
TheVisitors' centre has a book available outlining a tree walk. It focuses on the trees from Bungle Rd, along the river to Pioneer Park, taking in Stockwell Gardens.
Sometimes referred to as the 'Avenue of Elms' this is a spectacular and pleasant walk in any season but is most impressive in spring and autumn when the trees are thick with leaves. It leads down to the old racecourse and further on is the original site of the township which was destroyed by a flood in 1852.
Place photo
Millet brooms are still handmade at the Tumut Broom Factory which is located on Adelong Road (ask at the Visitor Centre for directions) and is open from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on weekdays (closed for lunch). There is no entry fee and no bookings are necessary, except for coaches tel: (02) 6947 2804.
With over 950 named varieties it is reputedly the largest African violet farm in Australia. Located in the grounds of the 120-year-old Tumut Plains School House. It is located 7 km from Tumut on Tumut Plains Rd and offers morning and afternoon teas at the Garden Cafe. In summer, and on school and public holidays, it is open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., closing at 4.00 p.m. in winter. There is no entry fee and no bookings are necessary, except for coaches. For more information contact the owners on (02) 6947 2432.
Place photo
Situated on Boonderoo Road (off the Snowy Mountain Highway to the south of town), this small winery is open for tastings and cellar door sales most weekends and at other times by arrangement, tel: (02) 6947 2060.
Place photo
This eccentric collection of over 3000 salt and pepper shakers can be seen by groups or coach groups for an individual entry fee of $2. Located 2.5 km from the main street via the Snowy Mountains Highway (just across Currawong Rd) they are open most days from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., tel: (02) 6947 2060.
Take the Snowy Mountains Highway out of town, heading towards Cooma and follow the signs to the Blowering Dam. The journey is 12 km. The dam is impressive with the wall being over 120 metres high. It has the second largest storage capacity in the whole Snowy Mountains project. The dam was the site where the world's longest water-ski run occurred when someone kept going for 1673 km. It also became the location of the world water-ski record when Ken Warby travelled across it on skis at 510.45 km/hour in 1978.
Situated on the Old West Blowering Road, just south from Oddy's Bridge
Located below the Blowering Dam wall, the trout farm, touted as NSW's largest, is open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. for fish sales. Self-guided tours are available on weekends for a small fee, tel: (02) 6947 3612.
It could have been The Road to Tumut !!
The fastest way from Tumut to Canberra is via Gundagai and the Hume Highway. The most interesting route is across the mountains via Brindabella. While this road is perfectly adequate for conventional vehicles in dry weather it is not advised in wet weather or after an extended period of wet weather. There is a fairly substantial stretch of dirt road characterised by clay soil which can become difficult. Otherwise the journey is characterised by beautiful scenery and it is an opportunity to experience the isolation which was such a feature of Miles Franklin's 'My Brilliant Career'.
Fishing and relaxing !!!!
The Tumut River and its tributaries, particularly the Goobragandra, are known throughout Australia as some of the best trout fishing in the country. The brown and rainbow trout are regarded as the great challenges and fly fishermen come to the area to try their luck. The Blowering Dam is now well stocked with cod, yellowbelly and trout but it is the small streams which present the greatest challenge.
Camp site - during a Long Bush Walk.
There are a large number of tracks in the area many of which are now part of the Hume and Hovell Walking Track. The most impressive is the 18 km Thomas Boyd Track which crosses valleys on swing bridges. Information about the tracks, including detailed topographical maps, can be obtained from the Tumut Visitors Centre, tel: (02) 6947 7025.
Jones's Bridge Blowering Road - looking south
Davis view looking north from West Blowering Road
Place photo
Have you ever seen a Rotary Diary working before? Visitors can view one working at the 3 p.m. milking at this dairy on Tumut Plains Rd, Tumut - just telephone (02) 6947 1905 to make arrangements.
Blowering - view from a Glider "Air Escape" offer powered hang glider flights from Tumut Aerodrome on Brungle Road. They operate daily and offer a trial introductory half-hour flight,
Tumut Prior to white settlement, Tumut marked the boundary of three separate Aboriginal tribes. To the north lived the Ngunawal, to the south the Walgalu and to the west, the Wiradjuri. During summer tribes came together and journeyed to the highest peaks to feast on the plentiful Bogong moths. The moth?s outline is used today in the Tumut Region Visitor Centre logo.
During the late 1820s settlers pushed down the Murrumbidgee and by 1829 the first pioneers were on the Tumut River.
Land was first settled at Darbalara, close to the junction of the Tumut and Murrumbidgee. During the first 20 years
settlement was scattered along the Tumut River,the original settlement being at Mill Angle, at the end of the present
showground road, where the first inn was kept by Tim O'Mara.
On the opposite bank a Mr Anderson set up his blacksmith's shop, and here he and a Mr Foord built the first bridge over the river about 1850.
This was the earliest Tumut - wattle and daub and slab-built huts in which dwelt the blacksmiths and teamsters, until a flood in 1852 consolidated the scattered hamlets into one village, and Tumut as it is today, was born.
By 1887 Tumut (a name derived from an Aboriginal word meaning "a quiet resting place by the river") was a municipality; by 1928 it had become the headquarters of the thriving Tumut Shire, which also embraced Adelong and Batlow.
Today the explorers and the pioneers have long gone, but the haunting beauty of the valley remains. People from the original three tribes still live across the Tumut region and perform rituals and ceremonies at important sites to maintain their relationship with the land. Tumutis the hub of a beautiful valley at the foothills of the Snowy Mountains.
With a population of over 6000 the town boasts a modern cosmopolitan shopping centre equal to the best in any town of the same size, excellent social facilities and a large range of fine caravan parks, motels and holiday flats, bed and breakfast establishments, licensed clubs, restaurants and cafes, and a first class Visitor Information Centre to handle all your enquiries on all the things to see and do in the TumutRegion.
Beauty is everywhere - incredibly beautiful parks, famous trees, Adelong's picturesque pastoral scenes, Batlow's glorious
orchard country, Yarrangobilly Caves, awe inspiring power stations and lakes of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, enormous
stands of pine and hardwood plantations, and the vast Kosciuszko National Park with its abundance of wildlife and flora,
unique landscape and snow.
The township provides a wide variety of quality accommodation optionsto make your stay memorable while the wide
selection of outlets in the modern shopping centre will be able to meet all your needs.
Historically, there's plenty to reflect Tumut's heritage: magnificent old buildings including the town's churches, courthouse and hotels, its pioneer cemetery on Adelong Road which includes the grave of ThomasBoyd, a member of the Hume and Hovell expedition which passed throughTumut in 1824.
The Tumut Historical Society's museum has fascinating information about farm and domestic items charting the town's pioneering history, superb photos of the region's development and a special display featuring memorabilia of famous Talbingo author, Miles Franklin.
The magnificent mountainuous terrain of the Tumut region has attracted a large field of international female cyclists competing in the Tour De Snowy. This world class event has gained a reputation equal to the Tour De France.
The Festival of the Falling Leaf is celebrated annually in April. Formore up-to-date information, drop in to the Tumut Region Visitor Centre.
(Ref- http://www.smh.com.au/news/New-South-Wales/Tumut/2005/02/17/1108500199641.html).
Note: In Grevilles Directory.
Tumut
Page 511
Distance 259 miles South of Sydney
Mail closes at General Post Office daily 4 pm.
Mail arrives at Post Town daily (Tuesday excepted) 4 pm.
Mail leaves for Sydney daily (Friday excepted) 4 pm.
Mail arrives at Sydney daily 7.15 am.
Route - Rail Goulburn, and coach Adelong, 10m. Tumut.
Ref - http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hcastle/grevilles/lists/stu/tum.html#tumut
This page is under construction, any assistance with information would be appreciated.
Please send to John Stephenson at: johnstephenson@acnrep.com
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