Early Explorations of Goulburn
A summary of the early explorations of the Goulburn district. Extracted from Wyatt's History of Goulburn, available for purchase from the Goulburn City Council.
The site of Goulburn appears to have been originally sighted in 1798. This was an exploration party led by Lieutenant Henry Hacking. The small party, convict James Wilson, Collins and John Price, the personal servant to Governor Hunter. Price, quiet literate, was instructed by the Governor to write an accurate account of all his observations.
It is unfortunate John Price has been written up in the past as ?the lad Barracks' and indeed has had a water fall, in the course of his travels on his trip names after him. This would indeed be a strange state of affairs to be named after a man who never was. Even the doyen of our local history, the late RT Wyatt was also led into the same trap in his ?History of Goulburn'. This error has been corrected in his third edition by myself after having proven the error with the late AH Chisholm who obtained the correct information when in London. It was also found that Price returned to England on the Buffalo in the company of Governor Hunter.
Still credited to Barracks, the account of the journey is preserved in the Mitchell Library written in neat hand. It gives a well detailed account of the whole journey.
This expedition viewed the future site of Goulburn from the Mount Toongabidya, today known as Mount Towrang. Mount Towrang is 2849 feet above sea level- the highest vantage point and landmark in the area.
The view extended over a vast area, the Goulburn Plains, Lake Bathurst and near the Braidwood area. John Price describes it: ?to the south it runs to open country to great distance.'
He of course was referring to the vast Goulburn Plains. Despite this fine discovery of grazing lands it was not sighted by white man again for 20 years! On an expedition in 1818 Hamilton Hume and Surveyor Meehan discovered Lake Bathurst. Meehan, on his own, proceeded westwards and from about the present site of our Brisbane Grove discovered at closer hand the Goulburn downs for which Hume for which Hume gives him full credit. This again was not followed up as Meehan then turned back eastwards to join Hume at Bungonia.
Much has been written as to who really discovered Goulburn Plains. Hume, Meehan and Oxley have all been credited with the honour. Hume himself states" ?Mr Meehan discovered the beautiful lake now called Lake Bathurst and the Goulburn downs.'
John Oxley was the first white man to set foot on the present site of Goulburn on the 25th October, 1820. Governor Macquarie and party passed by on the eastern bank of the Mulwaree three days earlier on the 22nd October, 1820 on their way to view the newly discovered lake Bathurst. Meehan is credited with the naming of the Goulburn Plains often credited to Governor Macquarie. This is incorrect. Governor Macquarie merely ratified the name in honour of Henry Goulburn, secretary of the Colonies.
Probably the first white settler of any consequence in the immediate town area of Goulburn was Andrew Allan who took up a holding on the Wollondilly, now site of the Police Academy. Allan called his property Strathallen and was settled there as early as 1825. Most settlement followed the visit of Macquarie and Oxley, mainly as graziers around the surrounding plains and district. Cultivation was not as widely followed as the soils and climate were not wholly productive.
In 1825 Surveyor Robert Dixon laid out the township of Goulburn Plains at this time it was proposed to call the township ?Lorne' this was rejected by the Executive Council in favour of Goulburn. We have a reminder of this in a street name of Lorne.
The old township of Goulburn, today known as North Goulburn, was built around the confluence of the Wollondilly and Mulwaree Rivers. Dixon's plan was submitted to the Surveyor-General in 1829 and accepted. The old town was visited by Governor Bourke in 1832. Owing to the repeated flooding of the area the Governor ordered the survey of an area on higher ground to the south-west of the area.
The present city was surveyed in 1833 by Surveyor Hoddle and was soon known as the ?new town'. Due to the large swamp and lagoon the old and the new towns were virtually separated for many years when finally they were untied by Lagoon Street which as the name implies provided access.
Why Goulburn is located where it is?
This most logical question is probably the most asked in regard to the locality of nearly all towns and cities.
In early settlement there is in general opinion, a marked set of necessities that seem to be dominant requirements in nearly every case. In the case of Goulburn they would have enumerated them as follows:
- Some settlements of graziers and squatters in the locality who sooner or later would require a business centre.
- The availability of water.
- A sheltered valley away from severe winds etc.
- The possibility of growth, ie cultivation, industries and the like.
One must also call to mind that after the successful expedition of Hume and Hovell in 1824 to Port Phillip Bay, Goulburn found itself practically on the direct route which in no small way must have contributed considerably to its early growth as a port of call so to speak.
It is certain Surveyor Dixon made a fine plan of the old town with back lanes of entrances etc. Surveyor Hoddle's plan of the new town is considered crude by comparison. After laying out the square block sections each divided into 20 allotments 10 aside. No provision was made for access. The east west streets were given no frontages and for reason we find properties in the east west streets consist of portions or sometimes three or more of the original allotments and subdividers have had to take portions off their allotments to provide the essential access.
In some respects it is evident this for many years restricted the city's progress. It was not until around 1838 that the township began to flourish in the Auburn street areas. Possibly the earliest digest of Goulburn's progress is in a brief chronology of leading events which have helped shape the city.
Contact details
Goulburn Mulwaree Council
02 4823 4444 (ph)
02 4823 4456 (fax)
council@goulburn.nsw.gov.au
