The Court House, dating from 1891, Crookwell

 

Crookwell (including Laggan)
Small historic town in the Southern Tablelands
Crookwell is a picturesque town which functions as a service centre to a rich agricultural and pastoral district. With a population of 2100 it is situated at the confluence of the Crookwell River and Kiamma Creek, at the bracing elevation of 914 m. Crookwell is 242 km south-west of Sydney via Goulburn which is 48 km to the south-east.

The district is one of the state's major producers of seed potatoes, while wool, fat lambs, beef cattle, oats, hay, dairy produce and cold-climate fruits are also produced.

Prior to white settlement the area was inhabited by the Gundungura Aborigines. The first Europeans known to be in the area were the exploratory party of surveyor James Meehan which camped 1 km south of present-day Grabben Gullen (12 km south-west of Crookwell). John Oxley passed to the north and east later that same year.

By 1828 settlers were in the district and the Crookwell River had been named (it is thought to be a corruption of Crookhall, the family home of early English settler William Stephenson).

Some wheat and potatoes were grown from 1840 and a couple of inns emerged in the district at road junctions. Binda, 19 km north, was initially the centre of the district. A number of bushrangers were active in the area from the 1830s to the 1860s, notably Ben Hall's gang.

Crookwell, originally known as 'Kiama', was surveyed in 1860 and renamed after the river. The Royal Hotel was built in 1862 and the first school opened in 1864, by which time the population was 130.

A Wesleyan Church was built at Crookwell in 1865, the Anglican Church in 1866 and the first post office opened in 1867. Goulburn St was laid out in 1869. By 1872 the population had surpassed 1000. The first passenger coach was introduced in 1875 to hasten access to Goulburn. By 1878 there were also at least two hotels, a bank, a tannery, a police station, a cordial factory, a flour mill, saddlery, blacksmith's, butcher and five stores. The first town show took place in 1879 and the telegraph was connected in 1881.

Oats and wheat declined in the 1890s but sheep and dairy cattle became important. A butter factory was built at Crookwell in 1890. The railway arrived in 1901. An overabundance of rabbits saw a freezing works set up in the 1900s and potatoes gained prominence in agricultural production at this time. The local shire was established in 1906.

The first grid-connected wind farm in Australia, capable of supplying electricity to 3500 homes, was opened at Crookwell in 1998.

The poet Dame Mary Gilmore was born at Roslyn, 16 km south-east of Crookwell, in 1865. The settlement was, at that time, known as Cotta Walla. Her father, a property manager and building contractor, is said, by his daughter, to have translated the legends and songs of the Wiradjuri people into Gaelic and English.

Two of the world's longest cattle treks departed from Crookwell in the 19th century and the first branch of the CWA (Country Women's Association) was formed here in 1922. The Crookwell Show is held in February, the Crookwell Country Weekend in autumn and the Crookwell Open Gardens Scheme in spring and autumn.

Things to see:  

 

Markdale, an historic and beautiful home in the Crookwell district

 

Tourist Information
Crookwell Information Centre is located at 44 Goulburn St, tel: (02) 4832 1988. It is open weekdays from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

Here you can obtain maps and brochures relating to the Bushranger Trails which outline sites associated with the bushrangers who were active in the area into the 1860s.

 

Historic Buildings
There are a number of historic buildings in town although most have been altered and extended over the years. In the main road (Goulburn St) are the courthouse (1891), the police station (1878), the Royal Hotel (1862), the old Bank of NSW (1875) - now the Westpac Bank - the Crookwell Hotel (1884), the former Methodist Church (now Uniting), and the Commercial Hotel (1874). Behind the latter is the old stone flour mill opened in 1871 by town pioneer William Stephenson (it closed at the turn of the century).

Denison St contains the primary school, the oldest portions of which date back to 1874, the Temperance Hall (1880), now the foyer of the Memorial Hall, and the Masonic Hall (1885). St Mary's Catholic Church (1891) is located in Colyer St.

 

Weaving Mill
Crookwell Weaving Mill and Gallery is a traditional-style weaving mill which displays and sells quality woven fabrics, textiles and tailored garments. The whole process is explained and demonstrated. It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at 72 Denison Lane (turn off the main road into Warne St and Denison Lane is on the right), tel: (02) 4832 2355.

 

Spinning and Knitting Studio
The Marion Price Spinning and Knitting Studio has hand-spun and hand-dyed wool and hand-knitted jumpers for sale, plus a variety of other hand crafts. The studio is located in Smith Rd, off Binda Rd (just past the Boorowa turnoff). It is advisable to ring before visiting, tel: (02) 4832 1430.

 

Crookwell Ceramics
Crookwell Hobby Ceramics at 27 Hall Crescent (off King Rd, past Crookwell High School) have thousands of greenware pieces for sale. You can watch the entire process and have it explained. Lessons can also be given. The studio is usually attended but it is best to ring first, tel: (02) 4832 1935.

 

 

Wind electric generators near Crookwell

 

Picnic Area
A good place for a pleasant walk through a garden area or a picnic is Kiamma Creek Park in Roberts St which has many poplars and willows.

 

Pinelea Ostrich Farm
The Ostrich Farm is located on Old Binda Rd. Visitors are welcome but ring first to arrange a time, tel: (02) 4832 1629.

 

Orchard
Doonkuna Orchard is just out of town on the Binda Rd. A variety of apples are grown, as well as some pears and cherries. They are open in season (March to September).

You are also welcome to have an individual and unguided look (by prior arrangement) at 25 acres of flowers growing at The Gladioli Farm on Kialla Rd from January to early April, tel: (02) 4832 1080.

 

Laggan
Laggan, 7 km north-east, is surrounded by rolling hills given over to farming and grazing. The old Willowvale Mill, built in the 1850s, has been restored and opened as a restaurant, tel: (02) 4837 3319. St Andrew's Church is also of interest.

Laggan, and the surrounding territory, has strong associations with bushrangers. On December 28, 1863, the Tuena mailman was bailed up at Laggan and robbed of gold. James Monks was arrested but acquitted of the charges. Just four months previous horse thief John Cummins was shot dead by sniper fire just to the north of Laggan, while under police escort. It is thought his brother fired the shot in an attempted rescue effort.

23 days later Senior Sergeant James Stephenson stopped by the Limerick Races Inn at Cooksvale Creek also north of Laggan. As it happened bushrangers Fred Lowry and Larry Cummins were occupying a room. Stephenson shouldered open the door. He was wounded, Lowry was shot in the neck and Cummins surrendered. Lowry died en route to Goulburn.

If you are heading north of Laggan there is a fine lookout over the Fullerton Valley, about 12 km north on the Peelwood Rd, just before the Fullerton turnoff

 

 

 

 

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Crookwell