These are my favourite latest acquisition. I found them in a terrific garage sale two weeks ago. The hen and rooster and made of ceramic and each holds four eggs. I use it for storing the eggs - its perfect as you can manually turn them in it whilst storing.
Gotta Luv them!!!!!!!! - they were just a dollar each

My incubator is a 72 egg auto turn - set it and forget it. I choose not to candle, unless I have too many to go in then I will make space in it by candling.

Here is a new little chick just hatched - it is a Minorca.

My three year old gets very excited going out each morning to find a new chick or two.
I never transfer a chicken from the bator to the brooder after noon.

I use a large capacity double dor fridge freezer with the door removed that I purchased for $10 from the local recycling centre. The fridge is hygenic, easy cleaned with rounded corners and insulated too.
Two light window screens are used across the top, these were $3 each, I have taken them off in this photo.

This is the very first stage of the brooding process it is in the right hand side of the fridge. The floor is deeply covered, first with 5 inches of shavings and then 3 inches of lucerne chaff with 20% protein

This side of my fridge is for the second stage so about two weeks old until about 5 weeks old, only one light is used and is only turned on at night and is 60 watt. All food and water is suspended - this is good to keep food off the floor and uncontaminated.

Here is my little chicken helper once again showing you the third step - close up of the inside next shot. My son will enter junior sections and get involved in showing -he already helps prepare the birds and asks to go to the show.

This is the third step, a coop for teenage chickens - those on grower crumbles. They stay here until they then go into the seperated breeds.
I have a Minorca Pen, a Ancona pen, and a Barnevelder pen. They stay there until they get choosen to either remain here to breed and to be shown.
The excess chickens will be taken to an abbattior to be professionaly dressed for our freezer

NINETEENTH CENTURY:

Given our previous description of agricultural land use, we should not neglect other activities on the land.

Whereas the earliest settlers were engaged in agricultural pursuits, entrepreneurs in what we would today call the service industries followed rapidly in their footsteps.

Reports of one of the earliest large landholders suggest he employed: maids and domestic servants, stockmen, blacksmiths, carpenters, builders, timber-fellers, butchers and cooks.

Most of these would have been assigned convicts, but freemen and women were also employed.

The first indication of industry after declaration of a village was usually an inn or tavern.
This is because they had to be licensed, although there is indication there were plenty of shanty sly grog shops before the law enforcers came.

The inns served as way-stations and refreshment stops for visitors to, and passing through, the Highlands.


Commercial Inn Berrima 1845
Now a restaurant.


It must have been either a lucrative or precarious existence for the owners, because records show that inns in the Mittagong and Bong Bong areas changed hands rather frequently in the early days.

Some of these formerly licensed buildings remain to this day, though they have not received the attention of the heritage trustees that lesser buildings in other places have.

Little evidence is obvious of other earlier enterprises - hardware and generalstores; blacksmiths; carpenters; builders; barbers; lodgings; seamstresses and tailors; butchers; bakers: though they must clearly have existed.

The first churches, elementary schools, "schools of arts", agricultural and other cultural societies, are reasonably well documented, because they came under gubernatorial or other official scrutiny.

Similarly, the lives of the elite (the "bunyip aristocracy", as critics of W.C. Wentworth would have called them) are well documented, but not the lives of the ordinary people.

Apart from this, what do we know of the early non-agricultural use of the land in the Highlands?

Timber getting and sawmilling was an important occupation. Timber was used for almost everything we use other materials for today. Although convicts were put to this work for public projects, free individuals were able to make a living from it. Especially when thousands of metres of cedar were discovered near Kangaroo Valley. They were also employed clearing scrub, and providing fuel for charcoal production.

Timber mills are reported in Mittagong, and other areas, from the early nineteenth century on. One still exists in Mittagong, not far from, but not related to the earlier ironworks there, and one at Robertson - being in the same family for generations - recently closed.

There was no goldrush in the Highlands (except for a strike near Exeter in the 1890s), but other important minerals were found.
Although established earlier, Mittagong largely grew around the Fitzroy Iron Works established in 1848. Another was established not long after.

The Iron Works had a chequered history for the next 100 years. It closed down and reopened a number of times, before it was finally abandoned in 1886.

In 1941, it was again reopened for some months when14,000 tons of ore were extracted by BHP.


Fitzroy Iron Works c.1911



Erith Coal Mine, Bundanoon 1867-82 Coal was discovered and mined at Black Bobs Creek, Medway, Exeter, Bundanoon (Jordan's Crossing), and north of Mittagong - some of which fueled the blast furnaces at Mittagong.
Other production was used for the railways, although no major contracts were received for the Great Southern Railway, which helped to lead to their early demise.

The photo at left shows how coal was extracted from the side of a cliff and raised to an incline leading up towards Jordan's Crossing (Bundanoon). The remains can stiil be seen today.



Shale oil was discovered near Joadja in the 1840s, but was not exploited - for one reason or another - until the 1870s.
For some 30 years it produced kerosene - a valuable commodity in those days, until it closed down. Parrafin was a byproduct, processed into candles, and petroleum jelly was extracted. Interestingly, in the days before cars, petrol was burned off as waste.

Deposits still remain, but little attempt has been made to mine them in recent times.

Joadja town and shale processing plant.



Quarry, Mt. Gibraltar 1920s Stone has been quarried off and on since the convicts cut the sandstone at Berrima in the 1830s to build the court and gaol. Evidence of this quarrying can be seen if you take the walk above the creek behind the Old Bakehouse.
From the 1880s to the 1920s basalt and gravel were quarried at Mt Gibraltar; this activity produced considerable income for its owners during this time. Sandstone has been quarried at Bundanoon, and marble at Wombeyan Caves for the last quarter of a century - the marble quarry recently being closed.



Brickmakers were in demand from the earliest days of the colonies, and some buildings still stand in the area made from local bricks. Commercial brickmaking was established near Bowral in the 1880s, and is still carried on there today (Bowral Brickworks).

From the earliest times meat has been processed in the area, and there is evidence it was salted for sale in Sydney, and even exported. There was also an early industry tanning hides, but this seems to be of lesser significance.
More unusually, when the great rabbit plague hit the area in the 1880s, hundreds of people were reported to have been involved in trapping, tanning, and processing the meat.

Tannery, Wingecarribee St. Bowral 1886


During this time rabbit carcasses by the millions were exported from Australia, frozen, to England. The mind boggles at the thought of the English eating imported frozen rabbit while their counterparts in Australia ate fresh beef and mutton!

TWENTIETH CENTURY:


The Malt Works, Mittagong.
Built 1898, extended 1907. At the turn of the century a maltworks was established in Mittagong to malt barley for the production of beer.
This plant provided malt for beer making at Tooths Brewery in Sydney up until the 1970s, when it closed.



In the 1920s a cement works was established near Berrima, a new town founded - New Berrima, and a private railway built to serve it. Limestone quarries were re-opened at Marulan for this purpose, and both industries continue until this day.

Meanwhile, the dairying industry supported a number of secondary industries, from butter and cheese factories, to seed and grain suppliers, and agricultural implement suppliers.
The dairy factories were mostly owned by cooperatives of farmers, but aggregation, and the growth of marketing boards saw them all closed by the middle of the century.

A major local abattoir was established in Moss Vale in 1963 which processed meat for the local market and for export, although a smaller killing works existed at Bundanoon, and no doubt other areas before this. It closed down in 1997, a victim of economic rationalism.

Wingecarribee Cheese Factory c.1920


The major non-agricultural industry for almost 80 years - from the 1870s to the 1950s - has been tourism.

Once the railway came to the area (see Climate) weekend and day-trippers flocked to the Highlands for a "holiday" from the city. This trickle became a flood to rival that of the popular Blue Mountains to the north after the Governor at the time decided to establish a "residence" in the Highlands near Sutton Forest.

What was once a sleepy, almost non-existent hamlet, became a magnet for the traveller. Its tiny Anglican church sported the vice-regal flag (on the strength of infrequent visits), and Bowral, Burradoo, and the surrounding countryside, became the favoured country residences of the Sydney gentry.


Day trippers at Bundanoon, c.1912 The common people followed in their wake, and helped to establish a tourist industry which would help to drive the local economy for decades.
Whereas Bowral was the preferred resting place for the gentry, Bundanoon - with its spectacular gorges and views - became the destination for ordinary people ( a bit like Katoomba, but not so grand!)

At one time there were over 50 guesthouses in Bundanoon, which managed to remain a sleepy hamlet despite the foreign incursions.




In the late 1950s steam trains were still delivering their load of tourists on day trips from the city, and people booked regularly into local accomodation for their holidays.

A primitive local festival in honour of the native and unique pink boronia used to greet these tourists in the spring, and grease the local wheels of commerce. (Other small towns also had festivals and parades in honour of one excuse for celebration or other from early in the century - the modern famous one in Bowral is a recent phenomenon.)

There is no indication any locals made a fortune out of this - tourism being a seasonal thing - but the advent of the motor car in the 50s and 60s brought this industry to a standstill, with a corresponding decline in employment and services (not to mention the guesthouses, most of which have disappeared). The boronia itself, once so prolific, has also disappeared, the victim of numerous devastating bushfires.

Thereafter, tourists were mainly day trippers in their new Holdens, often stopping by the road to picnic, zipping around the local sights in minutes where they would have formerly spent leisurely hours, or travelling further on into the hinterland.

One enterprising local business actually flourished in this climate - the legendary "Everything Shop" at Sutton Forest, which was the forerunner of the modern secondhand and antique shop, and which was so famous the gilded political and diplomatic 'aristocracy' used to make a point of diverting to it on their way from Sydney to Canberra.

As rural industries declined in the 1960s, largely due to greater competition and more efficiencies of scale elsewhere in the country, attempts were made to boost the flagging economy of the Highlands. This also coincided with the collapse of the local tourist industry.

Moss Vale, for almost a hundred years, was a town based on the industry of the railways. It was junction of the line to the coast, and had railway workshops.

It had also usurped the role of official Railway Refreshment Rooms after the Governor had decided that he would prefer to be refreshed at Moss Vale, closer to home, rather than Mittagong - where a special building had previously been erected for this purpose.

(This building can still be seen next to the small station building in Mittagong. An enterprising person has also recently reopened the refreshment rooms at Moss Vale.)

In the 1960s Moss Vale was declared an outpost of the City of Wollongong, and received a branch of the steel mills.

This was not taken well by the locals at the time, the Highlands not being a traditional heavy manufacturing area - New Berrima notwithstanding (out of sight, out of mind), and New Sheffield and Joadja a thing of the past - but it was timely for that town, with the downgrading of traditional railway services with the advent of diesel locomotives.

Not long after, the Mittagong Shire Council attracted their own heavy industry - Tyree Industries, which is still in operation.

Various towns have set up "industrial areas" in the years since, which contain mostly tertiary and service industries - not the big employers their originators hoped for.


Tulip Time in Corbett Gardens, Bowral In an attempt to win back the tourist dollar, enterprising people in Bowral inaugurated "Tulip Time", a horticultural festival based on massive displays of that beautiful flower.
Over twenty odd years this has been a great success, now attracting tens of thousands of people to the Highlands.

It has also reinvigorated the tourist accomodation industry, as more people - just as they did in the past - seek to escape the city to a more attractive environment.



Now that the freeway has diverted the main southern highway from Berrima, that town has been revitalised as a preferred tourist destination. Tourist facilities have opened, and a sensitive preservation order has been placed over the town which magnifies its traditional buildings and heritage.

Today, the main industry of the Southern Highlands is again tourism, but now it is more evocative and faithful to the past than it has ever been.

Perhaps challenging it is the ever increasing development of residential, retirement, and dormitory accomodation for people from the city, which is now closer than ever before.

Luckily, the environment of the Highlands bends them to its will, and not vice versa.

Bundanoon History
The history of Bundanoon. Features information on the history of Bundanoon from 1818, up until the mid 1900's.

On the 29th of March 1818 Charles Throsby and his party visited the locality that he recorded in his journal the name of the town as "Bantanoon". In October 1824 Surveyor Harper was ordered to reserve 1200 acres of land in the locality. One of the boundaries of this land was "Boon-doo-noon" Creek, which is where the present spelling of the name was adopted. In the 1830's the country near Bundanoon was known as "Barren Ground".

After the passage of the 1861 Land Act selectors began to take up land in the district. A man by the name of Jordan owned some land, which the railway ran through so a crossing was made to enable him to reach his house and then when a platform was erected it was called "Jordan's Crossing". Residents partitioned for a change of name in 1880 and on the 2nd of April 1881 the post office and station became known as the town of Bundanoon.

In the late 1860's to the early 1870's settlement began in the town of Bundanoon and in 1872 a non-official post office was established with James Cambourn being the first postmaster.

In the 1870's timber getting became an important industry. By September 1881 the town had two sawmills that worked constantly and a sandstone quarry. Bundanoon also had a butcher shop and two stores. The local people made a complaint as they wanted a township laid out but this was not possible as proprietors who would not build for themselves nor sell an allotment held the land on either side of the railway line. In 1882 Bundanoon was described as being "incipient state".

A land sale, situated three quarters of a mile from the station, was held in 1883 with 16 lots selling at prices varying from 6/- per foot to £12 per block. Two more land sales were held in 1884, EA Bakers lots were sold from 25/- to £2/15/- per foot and Grice's 14 blocks averaged 11/- per foot. In 1928 67 business sites were sold from £7/10/- to £13 per foot with 107 residential blocks being disposed of.

An 1891 news reports tell of new buildings in course of erection and more land was cleared. At this stage a blacksmith's store, a store for a man named Martin and a fancy goods and refreshments store were being constructed. In 1911 the first local bakery was established, which meant bread no longer had to be delivered from Moss Vale. In April1904 it was noted that the village was progressing with a boarding house being erected for Mrs Tyler amongst many other structures, which were being built. During 1919 Bundanoon was said to be progressing in many different ways and during the following year the building trade picked up very quickly and in 1925 a building boom was reported with many new houses and additions to boarding houses being carried out.

During the late 1880's tourists began to visit Bundanoon and in early 1891 the boarding houses were doing very well. In July 1901 a tender was let to build a track from Fairy Bower down to the Bundanoon Creek in the recreation reserve. In April 1903 about 300 tourists visited Bundanoon with the boarding houses being taxed to there utmost. In 1906 more tracks were made from the Fairy Bower steps and trout were liberated into the Bundanoon Creek. May 1907 saw a new road being built to access the beauty spots. In December of 1933 a swimming pool was opened with the clearing of the adjoining land being carried out voluntarily.

The Primitive Methodists built the first church in Bundanoon in the 1870's with an appeal in 1877 coming from the members of the Church of England in Bundanoon for services to be established there. In November 1879, a wooden church was built and opened, only to be burnt down in the disastrous bushfires in December 1904. The construction of the new church began in March 1905 with the foundation stone being laid on the 8th of March by Sir Harry Rawson. Whilst the new church was being built services were held at the Methodist Church. The building was a rubble structure built by J. R. W Walker of Kareela at a cost of £530. It was opened in 1905 but was not dedicated until the 18th January 1907 by the Archbishop of Sydney.

Land for the Roman Catholic Church to be built was promised, free of charge by WA Nicholas in 1890 with the owner of the Bundanoon Sawmill H Larkins offering the timber for it. The church was known as St Brigid's with the foundation stone being laid by Cardinal Moran on the 10th March 1891 with £80 being subscribed at the function. The money for the construction of the church was lodged at the E S & A Bank, which closed its doors, so the money could not be withdrawn. As a result there was no work done for many years. Another start was made in September 1894 with the church eventually being completed in March 1895. The Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, Rt Rev Dr Higgins, visited Bundanoon to bless and open the church in March 1895. In November 1935 extensions to St Brigid's were opened and blessed.

In October 1870 a meeting was called at Jordan's Crossing where it was decided to apply for the establishment of a provisional school. S Tooth offered a building free of charge with Mrs D Osborn being nominated as the teacher. A committee was appointed to further the movement and consisted of Messers, Grice, Tooth, Osborn, and Dimmock. The application for a public school in Bundanoon was made in late 1876.

A new building had been established by 1882 with 64 children on the roll. In August 1908 a tender for a new school was accepted with the job being completed in February 1909. The Hon. JA Houge, Minister for Public Instruction, opened the school on the 12th February 1909.

In 1872 the non-official post office opened but was converted into an official establishment in October 1890, Louisa Tobin was postmistress. In March 1958 a new building was opened at a cost of £28,000.

Discussions regarding a War Memorial for Bundanoon began in 1922 with the foundation stone being laid for the Memorial Hall twelve years later by the Hon. JM Dunningham, Minister for Labour. The building was opened on the 22nd February 1935. Brigadier F Galleghan opened a gift of War Memorial Gates from Mr & Mrs C J Ross on the 19th May 1951.

A meeting was held on the 18th January 1945 where it was decided that Bundanoon needed a fire station. The land was resumed by the Shire Council, a loan of £500 at 1% interest was offered by N Catts and the building was erected by N Boag for £335, £100 under the estimated cost. On the 18th January 1945 the new station was opened. The town Fire Brigade was formed in 1959.

The Bundanoon branch of the Country Women's Association was formed in 1927 with a Rest Room for the organization being built in 1930. In March 1930 a younger set was established and in 1934 it was decided to set up a Baby Health Centre.

Cricket was played in Bundanoon in the 1870's. At a meeting in October 1882 the players decided to re-establish the Erith Cricket Club. In August 1921 a race club was formed and named the Bundanoon Jockey Club with a management committee being appointed and a works committee, which inspected the track and decided on improvements. The racetrack on the reserve was ploughed and rolled and a new fence erected in 1922. In 1925 there was headway being made with the golf links at Bundanoon with the Terry's Park Links opened for play on the 21st October 1934. The Golf Club was dormant from 1941 due to the war but play resumed in 1946. In 1951 the clubhouse was burnt down. Bundanoon Park Bowling Club was opened in October 1951 with a bowling green being constructed in 1955 and a clubhouse being erected in 1956.

A welcomed improvement of electricity came to Bundanoon, with the first light being switched on the 28th August 1929.

A hotel had existed in Bundanoon since 1884 when AW Nicholas got a license for the Commercial, which he opened in a house, owned by him. A new hotel was built and opened in 1892.

A dam was constructed on the Bundanoon Creek at a cost of £516,000 and will hold 450,000,000 gallons. The dam will supply water to Bundanoon, Exeter, and Moss Vale.

Bundanoon History
The history of Bundanoon. Features information on the history of Bundanoon from 1818, up until the mid 1900's.

On the 29th of March 1818 Charles Throsby and his party visited the locality that he recorded in his journal the name of the town as "Bantanoon". In October 1824 Surveyor Harper was ordered to reserve 1200 acres of land in the locality. One of the boundaries of this land was "Boon-doo-noon" Creek, which is where the present spelling of the name was adopted. In the 1830's the country near Bundanoon was known as "Barren Ground".

After the passage of the 1861 Land Act selectors began to take up land in the district. A man by the name of Jordan owned some land, which the railway ran through so a crossing was made to enable him to reach his house and then when a platform was erected it was called "Jordan's Crossing". Residents partitioned for a change of name in 1880 and on the 2nd of April 1881 the post office and station became known as the town of Bundanoon.

In the late 1860's to the early 1870's settlement began in the town of Bundanoon and in 1872 a non-official post office was established with James Cambourn being the first postmaster.

In the 1870's timber getting became an important industry. By September 1881 the town had two sawmills that worked constantly and a sandstone quarry. Bundanoon also had a butcher shop and two stores. The local people made a complaint as they wanted a township laid out but this was not possible as proprietors who would not build for themselves nor sell an allotment held the land on either side of the railway line. In 1882 Bundanoon was described as being "incipient state".

A land sale, situated three quarters of a mile from the station, was held in 1883 with 16 lots selling at prices varying from 6/- per foot to £12 per block. Two more land sales were held in 1884, EA Bakers lots were sold from 25/- to £2/15/- per foot and Grice's 14 blocks averaged 11/- per foot. In 1928 67 business sites were sold from £7/10/- to £13 per foot with 107 residential blocks being disposed of.

An 1891 news reports tell of new buildings in course of erection and more land was cleared. At this stage a blacksmith's store, a store for a man named Martin and a fancy goods and refreshments store were being constructed. In 1911 the first local bakery was established, which meant bread no longer had to be delivered from Moss Vale. In April1904 it was noted that the village was progressing with a boarding house being erected for Mrs Tyler amongst many other structures, which were being built. During 1919 Bundanoon was said to be progressing in many different ways and during the following year the building trade picked up very quickly and in 1925 a building boom was reported with many new houses and additions to boarding houses being carried out.

During the late 1880's tourists began to visit Bundanoon and in early 1891 the boarding houses were doing very well. In July 1901 a tender was let to build a track from Fairy Bower down to the Bundanoon Creek in the recreation reserve. In April 1903 about 300 tourists visited Bundanoon with the boarding houses being taxed to there utmost. In 1906 more tracks were made from the Fairy Bower steps and trout were liberated into the Bundanoon Creek. May 1907 saw a new road being built to access the beauty spots. In December of 1933 a swimming pool was opened with the clearing of the adjoining land being carried out voluntarily.

The Primitive Methodists built the first church in Bundanoon in the 1870's with an appeal in 1877 coming from the members of the Church of England in Bundanoon for services to be established there. In November 1879, a wooden church was built and opened, only to be burnt down in the disastrous bushfires in December 1904. The construction of the new church began in March 1905 with the foundation stone being laid on the 8th of March by Sir Harry Rawson. Whilst the new church was being built services were held at the Methodist Church. The building was a rubble structure built by J. R. W Walker of Kareela at a cost of £530. It was opened in 1905 but was not dedicated until the 18th January 1907 by the Archbishop of Sydney.

Land for the Roman Catholic Church to be built was promised, free of charge by WA Nicholas in 1890 with the owner of the Bundanoon Sawmill H Larkins offering the timber for it. The church was known as St Brigid's with the foundation stone being laid by Cardinal Moran on the 10th March 1891 with £80 being subscribed at the function. The money for the construction of the church was lodged at the E S & A Bank, which closed its doors, so the money could not be withdrawn. As a result there was no work done for many years. Another start was made in September 1894 with the church eventually being completed in March 1895. The Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, Rt Rev Dr Higgins, visited Bundanoon to bless and open the church in March 1895. In November 1935 extensions to St Brigid's were opened and blessed.

In October 1870 a meeting was called at Jordan's Crossing where it was decided to apply for the establishment of a provisional school. S Tooth offered a building free of charge with Mrs D Osborn being nominated as the teacher. A committee was appointed to further the movement and consisted of Messers, Grice, Tooth, Osborn, and Dimmock. The application for a public school in Bundanoon was made in late 1876.

A new building had been established by 1882 with 64 children on the roll. In August 1908 a tender for a new school was accepted with the job being completed in February 1909. The Hon. JA Houge, Minister for Public Instruction, opened the school on the 12th February 1909.

In 1872 the non-official post office opened but was converted into an official establishment in October 1890, Louisa Tobin was postmistress. In March 1958 a new building was opened at a cost of £28,000.

Discussions regarding a War Memorial for Bundanoon began in 1922 with the foundation stone being laid for the Memorial Hall twelve years later by the Hon. JM Dunningham, Minister for Labour. The building was opened on the 22nd February 1935. Brigadier F Galleghan opened a gift of War Memorial Gates from Mr & Mrs C J Ross on the 19th May 1951.

A meeting was held on the 18th January 1945 where it was decided that Bundanoon needed a fire station. The land was resumed by the Shire Council, a loan of £500 at 1% interest was offered by N Catts and the building was erected by N Boag for £335, £100 under the estimated cost. On the 18th January 1945 the new station was opened. The town Fire Brigade was formed in 1959.

The Bundanoon branch of the Country Women's Association was formed in 1927 with a Rest Room for the organization being built in 1930. In March 1930 a younger set was established and in 1934 it was decided to set up a Baby Health Centre.

Cricket was played in Bundanoon in the 1870's. At a meeting in October 1882 the players decided to re-establish the Erith Cricket Club. In August 1921 a race club was formed and named the Bundanoon Jockey Club with a management committee being appointed and a works committee, which inspected the track and decided on improvements. The racetrack on the reserve was ploughed and rolled and a new fence erected in 1922. In 1925 there was headway being made with the golf links at Bundanoon with the Terry's Park Links opened for play on the 21st October 1934. The Golf Club was dormant from 1941 due to the war but play resumed in 1946. In 1951 the clubhouse was burnt down. Bundanoon Park Bowling Club was opened in October 1951 with a bowling green being constructed in 1955 and a clubhouse being erected in 1956.

A welcomed improvement of electricity came to Bundanoon, with the first light being switched on the 28th August 1929.

A hotel had existed in Bundanoon since 1884 when AW Nicholas got a license for the Commercial, which he opened in a house, owned by him. A new hotel was built and opened in 1892.

A dam was constructed on the Bundanoon Creek at a cost of £516,000 and will hold 450,000,000 gallons. The dam will supply water to Bundanoon, Exeter, and Moss Vale.

Exeter is the most "English" of all the villages of the Highlands, Its leafy streets and lanes, its clipped hedges and grand rows of trees give the impression of an age old-village in the "old country".
In fact Exeter is one of the newer villages in the Southern Highlands, and owes its existence - as do many others - to the coming of the railway in the late 1860s.

Morvern Valley Guesthouse is located just 15 minutes from Exeter in beautiful Bundanoon.

Settlement, however, preceded the development of the village by almost half a century. When Charles Throsby of Bong Bong fame opened up the area in the 1820s, many settlers prevailed upon the governor of the day for grants in the 'Sutton Forest' area.
Some of these were established landholders closer to Sydney looking for wider spaces to graze their herds.

One such was James Badgery, who had arrived in Sydney in 1799, and for 20 years had successfully farmed in the Bringelly region. His farm here was called 'Exeter', after the town in England near where he grew up. This name was later to be given over half a century later to the new village.

Original store - now homestead, east of station


Badgery was granted land between the present Sutton Forest and Exeter villages, and he and his family were later to consolidate holdings of several thousands of acres, centred on the main holding, which was called Vine Lodge.

Today a reminder of this past can be seen on the right hand side of the road as you enter Exeter from Sutton Forest - the horse stud farm of the same name. Descendants of the Badgery family still live in the area.
St. Aidans Anglican Church 1896 Other landholders also took up grants in the area, and the actual village today sits mostly on land previously owned by the Badgerys.
Exeter owes its existence largely to the coming of the railway. Sutton Forest, an established village, was like Berrima bypassed further to the east by the new rail line. The new line in fact cut through the middle of the Badgery properties, and probably had the effect here and elsewhere of breaking up these older landholdings.

There is evidence that some land in the area had been alienated to the railways, and this - in conjunction with the encampment of hundreds of railroad workers from time to time no doubt stimulated ideas of settlement.




However it seems almost 20 years passed before moves were made to establish a town. In 1891 a large section of 'Vine Lodge' was subdivided and sold; the first school was also opened, and a post office. Some houses already existed for staff at the station and new lots were snapped up. By 1894 there was a new store (thought to be the house "Elouera" on the eastern side of the railway), and a bakery.
The foundation stone of St. Aidans was also laid in 1894, and after a a public subscription the church was opened in 1896. As it was too small for the local congregation, extensions were added in 1903.

By this stage the population was large enough to warrant the establishment of a School of Arts. These places were a cross between meeting hall, library, and educational institution. Exeter's distinctive mock-Tudor building was opened in 1902 on land apparently donated by Dalgety & Co., the pastoral company.


School of Arts. 1902


Old Blacksmith's Cottage. 1890 The old cottage seen today near the railway was originally a blacksmith's shop, and dates from 1890. The two main shops at the crossroads were built c.1900 (the current general store) and c.1920 (for many years the general store, now an antique shop). There does not seem to have been an inn or hotel in Exeter, which makes it different from most settlements in the Highlands.
A gold mine operated east of Exeter at the headwaters of Stonequarry Creek in the 1880s, and a mining lease was taken out again for the area in 1904.



But it was not gold which led to the boom in Exeter. Rather it was the availability of subdivided farming land, and the establishment of a seed raising venture by Arthur Yates in 1891. The Yates nursery, and Searl's, who joined them later, once provided all the seed stock for nurseries in the state.

Yates had nurseries on both sides of the railway line (around about where Invergowrie is today), and Searl's also on the western side. It is no doubt due to the influence of these two great businesses that the appearance of Exeter is what it is today. The gardens at the nurseries provided inspiration for others, and the wide range of European deciduous trees they propagated were planted profusely around the village.
These gardens, trees and hedges have now matured, and give Exeter the very English appearance it has today.


Morvern Valley Guesthouse - Southern Highlands accommodation we are nice and close to Exeter so make sure you visit whilst staying.


Exeter continued to prosper into the 20th century. Like most towns its sons went away to war in 1914-18, and a Soldier's Memorial Hall was erected in memory of the fallen behind St. Aidan's in 1922.

From 1918 and for some years later, the former Searl's nursery was used as a convalescent home for returned soldiers by the Red Cross - the result of a generous bequest by those who had previously purchased it.

Electricity came to Exeter in 1929. By this time, so had the motor car, and from this time onwards development of the village retracted as it became easier for people to travel to the larger towns for their basic supplies. By the middle of this century the main industry was beef and dairy cattle, and village services shrank to the basic general store, post office, church, and school. Even railway trafiic suffered the onslaught of the motor car, and the station became just a whistle-stop on the main south line. (In comparison, a photo of the station in the 1920s shows the station full of people - compare our picture of today!)
There are several reminders in Exeter today of the past and present. The extravagant School of Arts testifies to a past in which the community prided itself on its social cohesion and intelligent outlook on life.

Exeter Park has always been a beautifully kept and maintained village green and cricket ground (established 1911, half the cost by public subscription.). The fiercely proud little white building of the Country Women's Association next to it (1955) attests to the solidarity of its country women. And a bit further down the road, a non-descript little portable building houses the modern automatic telephone exchange - one of the first in the Highlands.
In recent years residential subdivisions have opened up in Exeter, but they do not as yet threaten the beauty and tranquility of the area.


General Store. c.1900


Today Exeter is still a magnet for tourists who find their way here off the beaten track. There is not a lot here to do: except perhaps to wonder at and soak up the atmosphere of the very English streets and lanes; gaze in awe at the hedges and gardens of 'Invergowrie', one of the grandest homes in the Highlands; or browse around the antique, or the rare book shop.

But if you are looking for peace and tranquility, there are a couple of places here where you can stay...perhaps walk around the village lanes, enjoy the quiet, and go out to visit the other attractions of the Highlands.
However long you spend in Exeter, you will not forget your visit to this very beautiful corner of the Highlands

How did Morvern Valley Guesthouse perform at the Picton Show?

Went to the Picton show and we got
First prize for waterfowl Pair with my Welsh Harlequins
First prize for a.o.v. duck with a Welsh Harlequin duck.
First prize for Ancona Hen
Second for Minorcan hen
Third for aov rooster with my Barnie Rooster

There were many Displays, trade stands, sideshows, rides, horses, cattle, poultry and sheep. A pavillion filled with arts and crafts, cooking and produce.


time of event Saturday 14 October 2006 to
Sunday 15 October 2006

When you visit Morvern valley Guesthouse you will be able to visit historic Mittagaong as part of the attractiona around this Southern Highlands Accommodation.

Here is a little information about Mittagong in the Southern Highalnds. Mittagong township from early 1800 to the early 1900's.

Settlement in Mittagong developed early in the history of the area. In 1816 Macquarie referred to Mittagong as "Marragan or Minnikin and than James Meehan spelt it Mittagong in March 1818. James Oxley also spelt it this way two years earlier. In its early application Mittagong referred to the range, which ends in the Gib but in March 1818, Meehan mentioned "Mittagong Flat". A village was formed at the Iron Works called "Nattai" and than known as "New Sheffield". In 1867 the railway was completed and called "Mittagong". In 1848 Thomas Moore gave evidence before the Select Committee on Railways that the neighborhood of Chalkers Flat was a place where a station could be formed. This area is now known as Lower Mittagong where William Chalker had his property in 1821. A permit was granted to him in 1821 that allowed him to go through the cow pastures with 93 head of cattle with 2 stock keepers to graze his stock on the Mittagong Range. William Chalker was the Principal Overseer of Government Stock at the Cow Pastures and for his services received 200 acres of land but he died before the grant was surveyed. This land was later granted to Elizabeth Sheckell, his widow, who remarried after his death. William Chalker is regarded as a pioneer of the district of Mittagong and his land climbed over the Mittagong Ranges that is now known as Old South Rd.

In 1827 George Cutler built a building to be used as an inn, which was originally granted to Robert Plumb. This land is known as Portion 73, Parish of Mittagong.

Cutler ended up being fined as he anticipated the issue of a license and began selling alcohol. In July 1830 a free license was issued for 1 year and the inn was named The Kangaroo.

For some years Charles Sturt resided on a property on Old South Road. In 1836, Sturt as a dairyman employed the notorious bushranger Martin Cash. He began milking two cows, which later increased to eight. Cash said Sturt was a quiet man and was rarely seen.

On Rowe's Hill in the 1850's the first church was built which was also used as a school. The building was a slab and barks structure, which was replaced by a better building with the foundation stone being, laid on the 28th August 1861. In 1873 services ceased and the building demolished with two of the stones being built into the extensions of St Stephens Church, Mittagong in 1928.

From 1820 to 1835 traffic to the south used the old road that went through Lower Mittagong. When the new line through Berrima opened, the highway over the Mittagong Range and to Bong Bong was deserted. Lower Mittagong was the first pioneer settlement of the district.

In 1869 a visitor to the area describes passing through a number of farms and homesteads with cleared pasture country and fertile lands in a more or less satisfactory state of cultivation.

The Government leased 100 acres in 1895 to supply the cottage homes with wood and vegetables. The Southwood Estate was later leased with these properties covering an area of 540 acres being purchased. Twenty-two men from an asylum cleared and cultivated the land. Some of these men were then employed in boot repairing and making clothes for the Homes.

This property was then used as a home for wayward boys with a building for 50 –60 boys being built in 1906. Since then many more buildings have been erected. A modern school was built in 1959 with 12 houses, which can accommodate 250 boys now standing on the property.

The Marist Brothers with the idea of building a sanatorium purchased Dr Chisholm Ross' Rowes Hill farm with 400 acres. In 1917 The Australian Juniorate of the Order was moved to Lower Mittagong and additions were made to the building in July 1923. In April 1930 new buildings for the Juniorate were opened and blessed.

Major Mitchell's new road was constructed through Mittagong and to cater for travelers Edward Chalker got a license for the King Arms on the 27th June 1836 and than George Cutler got a license "on the new line of road" for the Kangaroo Inn on the 13th August 1836. In 1837 Chalker renewed his license and than on the 26th June 1832 John Chalker got a license for the Woodpack In at the Nattai Bridge. William McGrath held the license for the Kangaroo Inn in 1838 but in 1839 the licensee was Ann Cutler and she continued to hold the license, as did John Chalker for the Woodpack Inn. The Kangaroo Inn was situated at the southern end of Mittagong with the Woodpack Inn at the northern end. Ann Cutler employed Alexander Brand in 1845 to build a new inn, which was named the Fitzroy Inn. This building became known as "Oaklands" and still standing and is used as a guesthouse.

A subdivision of land known as "Town of Gainsbrough" had an attempt at being sold in February 1841, and than a subdivision called "Livingstone Township" was also offered for sale but both appeared to have failed. No land was then subdivided until the iron works began with company using some of its land as housing.

In 1865 the iron works were situated on the right hand side going south with the workers housing located on the opposite side. The houses were on the side of a gently sloping hill and were either slab or bark huts.

In August 1861 it was suggested by Surveyor Campbell that a portion of land close to the mine be reserved for village purposes as he thought that in time the position might become the center of a large manufacturing district. The reserve was made in 1862 and named "Village of Fitzroy".

In 1863 the Government intended to form a principal station on the southern line near the iron works. A subdivision with 245 blocks in the township of "New Sheffield" was offered for sale in May 1865. Many attended the sale with £3000 worth of land sold. Morvern Valley Guesthouse still wasnt opened yet in 1861 but from the early 1900's offered quality Southern Highland accommodation for tourists of Bundanoon in the Southern Highlands.

In January 1866 a news report stated that during the previous months the importance of the "New Sheffield" had increased with many dwellings made out of slab, bark or corrugated iron the township would know have at least two hotels, stores, a Wesleyan Church and some weatherboard cottages. Many structures were erected with not a week passing were a building being started or finished. In March 1867 the station in Mittagong came into use and adjoined the town on a small flat with bush all around it.

The prosperity of the town relied on the iron works and when it periodically closed it stagnated.

John McCullum, a native of Argylshire arrived in New South Wales in 1860 founded the coach building in Mittagong that was very prosperous for many years. He worked on a Government contract and than ASN Co employed him to fit up a steamer. He worked on railway construction for five years and than entered into a partnership with a man by the name of Stobo at the blacksmiths and general wheelwrights in 1866. After the dissolution of the partnership McCallum continued the business till he died in 1882. McCallums two sons Hector and Archibald Duncan continued the business for many years. The business manufactured all descriptions of vehicles as well as ploughs and ironwork. The brothers erected a building in Bowral between 1903/1904 where business was conducted until 1908 when it was sold.

There was a demand for building sites in the 1880's with the land required not being available. The Mittagong Land Company had acquired1500 acres of iron works land and in 1883 they subdivided 140 acres. In April 1884 they put the land up for auction and sold 120 acres for £13809. Business site sold from £1/15/- to £10/10/- per foot with housing sites varying from £8/- to £1/6/- per foot. Houses began to be erected later in the year.

In 1890 many splendid buildings were erected and in 1910 the building trade was reported to be busy with cottages being built. In 1921 there was a large building boom with Horton's and WH Jones' new stores built, the Roman Catholic Church was built at a cost of almost £2000 and number of cottages were erected. In 1926 84 building applications were approved with a new convent and wing being added at Frensham.

So come and stay at Morvern - Southern Highlands accommodation at its finest.