Monday 30 January 2023

Walk the Gulgong Symbol Trail

Gulgong Pioneers Museum. Credit: Visit NSW
The secret traveller's language was used internationally by the gypsies of Europe and carried by migrations to the hobos of America and the swaggies of Australia.

During the last Depression and in the Gold Rush Days, people travelling country roads in search of work, food or just a place to sleep the night, used the secret code of symbols via stones, sticks or scratches on the ground, to communicate "the lie of the land" to fellow swaggies.

Local identity and well known potter Chester Nealie was commissioned by the local council to research the symbols and make decorative paving tiles representing the secret language. Wander Gulgong's historic streets and see how many you can find and what they refer to. Tiles appear in Coronation Park and Mayne Street (from White to Herbert Street's). Look around and see if you can find some of the humorous locations like ones that say "dangerous drinking water" (outside the pubs).

The Gulgong Historic Walk booklet is a comprehensive walking guide to the town's historic buildings and includes the Henry Lawson Driving Trail and the Gulgong Cemetery Walk.

The Cemetery is on the southern edge of Gulgong and is accessible by foot. The booklet is available for a small cost at the Mudgee and Gulgong Visitor Information Centres and many outlets in Gulgong, and is an essential touring guide to this unique town.

1.  Historical Church Hill

John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Credit: Facebook
Gulgong has three churches that conduct Sunday services: Saint Luke's Anglican Church circa 1876, Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church circa 1890 and the Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church circa 1909. The Wesleyan Chapel built circa 1871 and the uniting church built in the early 1900s and now private residences. See the Gulgong Historical Walk booklet for more information.

2. Gulgong Pioneers Museum

Established in 1962, the museum is home to one of the finest collections of Australiana in the country and is known as one of the top four folk museums in New South Wales. With over an acre of land and 60,000 items on display, the is sure to be something for everyone.

3. The Henry Lawson Centre Museum

A museum dedicated to Lawson's life and literary works. The Henry Lawson Centre Museum takes visitors through the phases of the writer's life, from his birth in 1867 to his death in 1922.

4. Gulgong Holtermann Museum

This contemporary museum, housed in two state heritage listed buildings, is home to the renowned UNESCO listed Holtermann Collection of Photographs taken during the 1870s of Sydney, Melbourne, Gulgong and its surrounding areas. Photos are available on interactive touch screens and a complimentary interactive street trail is available to take a selection of these photographs onto the streets of Gulgong. 

The Prince of Wales Opera House.
Credit: Facebook

5. The Prince of Wales Opera House

Built in 1871, it is the oldest still operating Opera House in the Southern Hemisphere. Dame Nellie Melba has performed on its stage and several generations have seen their first theatrical production under this historic roof. Open for inspection by arrangement.

6. Milepost & Horse Trough

George and Annis Bills were involved in numerous animal welfare projects and following George's death in 1927 a trust fund was set up for concrete horse troughs to be financed and installed in many country towns on stock routes and main roads in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and WA between 1930 and 1939.

7. Gulgong Gold Experience

Take a walk back in time and visit where it all began. Red Hill was the location where Tom Saunders found gold in Gulgong in 1870. We invite you to visit the replica underground mining tunnel and view the poppet head over an original mine shaft to gain insight into Gulgong's gold rush era.

8. Gulgong Flirtation Hill Lookout

This lookout has 270 degree views over the town of Gulgong and its stunning rural surrounds. Located on the eastern side of the Gulgong township, is a great location to view a sunrise or a sunset.

ANZAC Memorial Rotunda.
Credit: Mid-Western Regional Council

9. ANZAC Memorial Rotunda

This memorial Rotunda in Gulgong's ANZAC Park in the second oldest in Australia. It was built in 1916, two years before World War One ended was officially unveiled in 1918. The top of the memorial represents a soldier's tin hat worn on the battlefield. The eight pillars gives symbolic reference to the six States and two Territories of Australia.

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