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| Croote Cottage, one of
the oldest buildings west of the Blue Mountains.
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Gooloogong
Small friendly village near the Lachlan River
Gooloogong is a small village of 250 people near the Lachlan
River on the Lachlan Valley Way, between Forbes (57 km
north-west) and Cowra (34 km south-east). 358 km west of
Sydney it has a friendly pub, a pleasant park with barbecue
facilities and a variety of specialty shops.
A cattle station named 'Gool-a-gong' was established in
the district in the 1820s by a Dr William Redfern, the
personal physician to Governor Macquarie. The original
village developed on the banks of the Lachlan. All that
remains of that settlement is a headstone on the site of the
original Anglican church. The village later moved to higher
ground due to flooding.
Things to see:
Tourist Information
The nearest information centre is at Cowra, tel: (02) 6342
4333.
Town Tour
As you enter the town from the south, on the Lachlan Valley
Way, the Craft Shoppe is to the immediate right. Opposite
are the hotel, the Paint Pot Gallery (open Friday to Sunday)
and the Historical Society (open on the second and fourth
Sundays of the month or by appointment - tel: 02 6344 8272).
Memorial Park is a little further on, just past the Eugowra
turnoff. Second Hand Ro's (open on Sundays only) is also on
the main street.
Turn left into Stephen St. To the right are the remains
of the original Catholic Church, the stone for which was
handcut and ferried across the river by barge. Take the
first right into Forbes St. To the left is St Malachy's, the
new Catholic Church. Next, turn right into Bank St then take
the first left into Cowra St. Continue over Stephen St and
to the left is St Andrew's Presbyterian Church.
Turn right into King St. To the left is the town's public
school, reputedly one of the first west of the Blue
Mountains, being established in 1869 and still operating
today. Opposite is St Paul's Anglican Church.
Turn left into Binda St. The first right leads to the
Country Club and the second to Croote Cottage.
Croote Cottage
5 km along the Kangarooby Rd is Croote Cottage, a truly
historic pioneer homestead of pise construction which was
built by convicts c. 1827. The homestead was occupied by
John Dowd and his wife from 1837 and it is still owned by
their descendants.
It is believed, presumably on John Dowd's word, that
bushranger Ben Hall raided the cottage at one point.
Apparently he found Dowd ill in bed and offered money for a
doctor but Dowd declined and urged Hall to mend his ways.
The bushranger allegedly replied: 'Too late now old chap'
and rode off. Another historic visitor was Australia's first
Catholic bishop, John Polding, who said mass at the cottage
for local Catholics.
The building originally had shutters instead of windows
and a shingle roof. There are wooden plugs in the 20-cm
walls. These fill holes which were made to shoot through in
case of attack by Aborigines or marauders. This fear is also
responsible for the trapdoor which leads to a subterranean
excavation where women and children were to be hidden. Today
the cottage has authentic period furnishings and can be
viewed by appointment only and for a small charge, tel: (02)
6344 8381. Devonshire teas can be organised in advance for a
small fee.
Lavender Farm
Nanami Lane Lavender Farm is located north of Gooloogong. To
get there head along the road to Eugowra for 11 km and
Nanami Lane runs off to the right.
The lavender gardens flower from November to February
with some varieties flowering until winter. The plants are
hand-harvested with a sickle and used for fresh flowers and
potpourri. There are also rose gardens and the whole is
situated in a pleasant bush setting. There are morning and
afternoon teas and all manner of lavender products and
plants for sale, as well as workshops on lavender growing.
Broadwalk
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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
Gooloogong
