Binalong

 

 

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The General Store with the old style lamps in the foreground at the historic town square
 

Binalong
Small and interesting historic village once the home of 'Banjo' Paterson
Binalong is a quiet and historic little village of some 250 people set amidst wooded hills on Burley Griffin Way. It is 320 km south-west of Sydney and 37 km north-west of Yass, at an elevation of 480 metres.

Prior to European occupation there was a large Aboriginal population in the area, mostly Ngunnawal people. Indeed the town's name derives either from an Aboriginal word said to mean 'towards a high place' or from 'Bennelong', the name of a noted Aborigine.

In 1821 the exploratory party of Hamilton Hume became the first known group of Europeans in the area. Hume returned with William Hovell in 1824 during their ground-breaking expedition to Port Phillip Bay (i.e., Melbourne). Settlers followed them, bringing flocks of sheep which represented the start of the local wool industry.

In its early days the township was a major stopping place for Cobb & Co coaches. When the railway arrived in 1876 it became a departure point for gold shipments from Lambing Flat (see entry on Young).

Ben Hall's bushranging gang harried the district around Binalong throughout 1863 and 1864, robbing travellers, stores and mail coaches. Johnny Gilbert, a former compatriot of Frank Gardiner and a member of Hall's gang, was killed in 1865 during a gunfight on the Boorowa Rd, near Binalong. His grave can be seen on the outskirts of town.

One of Australia's best-known poets, A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson, moved to nearby 'Illalong' station (opposite the Illalong Quarry on the Yass Rd) at the age of five, when his father bought the property in 1869. The bank foreclosed but Paterson Snr stayed on as the manager of 'Illalong' and of two adjoining properties.

'Banjo' attended school at Binalong but, in 1874, was sent to a grammar school in Sydney, returning to the station in the summer holidays. The township featured in and influenced a number of his poems (e.g., 'The Bush Christening'). His father is buried in the local cemetery.

An antique auction is held on the third Sunday of the month in the old mechanics' institute in Wellington St, tel: (018) 650 258.

Things to see:   

Tourist Information
The nearest information centre is at Yass, tel: (02) 6226 2557.

 

Historic Buildings and Park
The town square is quite fascinating boasting an old general store (originally built as the Australian Joint Stock Bank), a fountain and old style lamps.

The old Cobb & Co Inn (1847) on the Yass Rd is now the Black Swan Restaurant while the original Patterson Pub (1840s), built of pise and bricks, now houses a real estate office. The old two-storey courthouse in Queen St dates from 1883. Adjacent is a single-storey brick policeman's residence with gambrel roof. The old railway station, erected in 1876 and closed in 1915, is now a private residence.

Pioneer Park has toilets, picnic facilities and free electric barbecues in the centre of town.

 

Binalong Motor Museum
The Binalong Motor Museum incorporates a restoration workshop. The vehicles, including Bugatti, Ducati, Lotus Elite, Delage and Norton motorcycles, are usually in working order and the display changes regularly. The restoration workshop is part of the display. There are picnic-barbecue facilities, refreshments and sales of books, posters and models. It is open Friday to Monday and Wednesdays from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at a cost of $5 for adults and $2 for children ($4 for coach groups), tel: (02) 6227 4406.

 

Southern Cross Glass
At Southern Cross Glass in Queen St you can observe Peter Minson creating both functional and art objects. While individual entry is free, coach groups are charged a small fee for a demonstration and talk. He is open weekends, public holidays and most weekdays, tel: (02) 6227 4312.

 

Kuriong Sheep Station
1 km from the village is Kuriong Sheep Station which offers coach groups a chance to see shearing, working sheep dogs, whipcracking, drenching, branding, spinning, antiquated machinery and other processes,. Hand-knitted jumpers and handicrafts are for sale and morning teas, afternoon teas and lunches can be arranged. For details ring (02) 6227 4222. The station is only open for group bookings.

 

 

The grave of Johnny Gilbert near Binalong
 

Gilbert's Grave
Flamboyant Canadian-born bushranger Johnny Gilbert, a member of Ben Hall's gang, was killed in 1865 during a gunfight on the Boorowa Rd. If you head out of town along the Harden Rd for 1 km his grave is to the left at the town outskirts.

The sign at his grave notes:

John Gilbert - Bushranger. Was shot by Constable John Bright in a battle with police near Binalong on Saturday 13 May 1865. Only 25 years old at the time of his death he had followed a life of crime for 10 years and was the most reckless villian (sic) of the Gardiner-Hall gangs of bushrangers. On the credit side it can be said he was a splendid horseman, a deadly shot, game with fists or gun. Always polite to women and of irrepressible good humour and witty speech. On Tuesday 16th May 1865 the body of "Flash" Johnny Gilbert was buried in the police paddock near Binalong township.¹

The shoot-out occurred just eight days after Hall was killed near Forbes . Gilbert and his comrade John Dunn were hiding out in a hut owned by Dunn's grandfather, John Kelly. Kelly informed the police of their whereabouts and when the sun arose on May 13 they had the hut surrounded. As the troopers rushed the hut the pair fled for the bush firing but Kelly had wetted Gilbert's cartridges and the bushranger was struck fatally in the chest. Dunn was caught at the end of the year and hung in 1866.

 

 

 

Broadwalk Business Brokers

Broadwalk Business Brokers

Broadwalk Business Brokers specialise in General Businesses for Sale, Caravan Parks for Sale, Motels for Sale, Management Rights & Resorts for Sale, Farms for Sale, Hotels for sale,Commercial & Industrial Properties for Sale.

 

Phone: 1300 136 559

Email: enquiries@broadwalkbusinessbrokers.com.au

 

 

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We advise prospective purchasers that we take no responsibility for the accuracy of any information in the business provided by vendors or their professional advisers and that they should make their own enquiries as to the accuracy of this information, including obtaining independent legal and/or accounting advice

 

 

 

Binalong