The View Across Oolong Creek

The first bridge over the Oolong Creek at Dalton village a few years after its official opening in 1896
[Photo: Lisa Wiseman, Gunning Landcare Blog/CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 AU]

By Guest Blogger, Garry Norman Smith

My family history research – working title: "The View Across Oolong Creek" – focusses on the Alchin family which came to the colony of New South Wales aboard the Palmyra in 1838. Ambrose Alchin (1800-1877) brought most of his family to the area towards the confluence of Jerrawa and Oolong Creeks in the early 1850s.

Ambrose and his sons John Alchin (1821-1901) and William James Alchin (1827-1913) were land holders on Oolong Creek from the 1850s. The site for the town of Dalton was not yet fixed. The announcement of the town was made in 1862.

Notice of Town of Dalton, NSW Government Gazette,
27 June 1862 (No.109), p. 1143

Given the preponderance of Wesleyans in the area – including the Alchins -, the name “Wesley Vale” was suggested for the town but the name Dalton was preferred. Oolong Creek, flowing through the town, was a life-source for the settlers and townsfolk alike. Once a town was planned, a bridge, not just a causeway, was needed as a crossing place at the creek.

The Dalton Progress Association, with Mr Henry Zellner in the chair, decided to petition the Government to build a bridge across Oolong Creek at the town and at the crossing further to the north commonly called Starr’s crossing. This was in August 1891 and by September 1893 the Government stated that it would the matters attention in due course. By October 1894 the Member for Yass, William Affleck MLA, had received correspondence indicating that attention to the bridge issue was still under way. 

The year 1895 brought more delay, with the Government informing the local member that the matter would have to wait, given other priorities. Then suddenly tenders were announced late in 1895 for a bridge over Oolong Creek. Tenders for a timber beam bridge were open until 15 January 1896. Four tenders were received and the lowest at £621 1s was accepted. Mr R. Hughes was to build the bridge over Oolong Creek.

Tenders Announced, Goulburn Herald, 29 November 1895, p. 5

The official opening of the new bridge at Dalton across Oolong Creek took place on Monday 2 August 1896. Both the Goulburn Herald and the Goulburn Evening Penny Post carried comprehensive reports of the opening, performed by William Affleck MLA, Member for Yass.

“The event was one of great local importance, inasmuch as it affected the interests of a large portion of the district” (Goulburn Herald, 5 August 1896, 2).

Both newspapers mentioned above emphasised the large crowd of 300 people and the presence of school children from the local school and Felled Timber school. There was a picnic atmosphere and a ribbon cutting ceremony at one of two arches erected at either end of the bridge.

Garry Norman Smith is a regular guest contributor to the Gunning & District Historical Society's blog. If you have an idea for an article or photographs you are willing to share, please contact us at gunninghistory@gmail.com.