Lake Cargelligo, a historic town in Central West NSW
Lake Cargelligo, (previously known as Lake Cudgellico and Carjallagong) is a spirited town with welcoming people and a landscape which is both beautiful and harsh. For instance: the recent tumulterous weather patterns that have battered her with drought and flood couldn't subdue her spirit of opportunity and rural splendor.
Lake Cargelligo is a historic Australian township that captures the essence of central west Australia and provides a welcome drink to quench the thirst of those who travel through the red dust ... just as explorer John Oxley discovered in 1817 when he recorded these words in his journal dated 25 July, 1817. "We were most agreeably surprised with the sight of a very fine lake ... the noble lake before me gave a character to the scenery highly picturesque and pleasing."
Wooyeo Woolshed photograph taken at Sunset by J.Loxley
In my websites I wanted to highlight the positive aspects of the town, the history and the fact that the town has inspired an academy award winning director, artists, musicians and everyday people who just want to raise their kids in the area all because Lake Cargelligo is quintessential Australia, an important part of our cultural identity that many Australians fear they are losing. With the increased interest in tracing family trees and heritage there is even more importance placed on making resources readily available to those that are searching. There are many generations of Lake's youth that have scattered across the globe and still hold a flame for this place, and it was said ... "We call it home".
Links to the most popular articles on this lens
- Wooyeo Woolshed - Lake Cargelligo
- Gold in Lake Cargelligo
- Bushranger settled in Lake Cargelligo upon release from gaol.
- Lake Cargelligo Historical Museum
- Lake Cargelligo on Film - Saturday 1979
- Photos of Lake Cargelligo on Flickr
- Inspiring Women of Lake Cargelligo
- Accommodation In Lake Cargelligo
- Where to Eat in Lake Cargelligo
- Transport - How to get to Lake Cargelligo
Wooyeo Woolshed - Lake Cargelligo
Famous for the Wooyeo Ball of the 1880's - early 1890's
A popular tourist site, the Wooyeo Woolshed is located 7.6km from the Lake Cargelligo Post Office along Euabalong Road.In ruins after the sub-division of the original Wooyeo pastoral runs and many decades of neglect, the Wooyeo Woolshed retains a commanding presence and keeps the secrets and memories of many local residents of Lake Cargelligo.
When first built the woolshed was 300 feet long by 30 feet wide in dimension.
The Wooyeo Ball was an annual event that followed a day of racing during the 1880's and early 1890's. The Wooyeo Ball attracted people from districts many miles around as well as being attended by the local people of the village. "It is said that this annual function faded out a year or two after the Bank smash of 1893." B.T.Dowd (Lake Cargelligo - Beginnings of District and Village)
The Wooyeo ball moved on to Euabalong, where the original ballad "The Wooyeo Ball" was shortened and made more roudy for the new "Euabalong Ball" which is an Australian Ballad still sung today.
Warren Fahey recorded the Euabalong Ball on his CD A Panorama Of Bush Songs available to purchase through the
ABC Shop.
There is some further historic information on the Wooyeo Woolshed at the Australian Folk Songs website, just scroll down below the lyrics to the Euabalong Ball.
This piece of history, held in the timbers of the Wooyeo Woolshed, is now privately held as part of the Glenroy North property which is presently for sale. For more information on the sale of the Glenroy North Farm including the Wooyeo Woolshed please Click Here or contact selling agent: Hargrave Rural Traders,
Stock & Station Agents - Real Estate Agents
5 Foster Street, Lake Cargelligo, NSW, 2672
(02) 6898 1066
More about Wooyeo Woolshed
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Wooyeo Woolshed | Lake Cargelligo
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There are few places that command such attention as to have been included in Australian folklore. Places that hold the memories, the myth and the nostalgia of what was and is Australia. Sunburnt in drought one moment and in the next drowning in flood...
Heritage Sign - The Wool Wash & Wooyeo Woolshed
Buy a Wooyeo Woolshed Postcard
The ruins of the Wooyeo Woolshed, Lake Cargelligo at sunset
Gold in Lake Cargelligo
In 1873 gold was discovered in Lake Cargelligo
The historic sign located on the corner of Foster and Reef street says that it was "a call of nature" that led to the discovery of gold in Lake Cargelligo.On the thirteenth of April, 1873 Mrs Charlotte Foster discovered gold. Mrs Foster was employed at burr-cutter's camp as a cook.
The Foster's Reef Gold Mining Company was formed and this sparked the arrival of many gold mad prospectors and increased the population of Lake Cargelligo. As a result Lake Cargelligo became an important town for supplies.
The mine was built on the corner of Foster and Reef Sts on the site which is now Lake Hardware. The deepest shaft was 200ft with drives of 150ft. According to the heritage sign, some of the original mine shafts still remain beneath the Lake Hardware building. Although the mining was discontinued due to poor conditions and poor returns - gold exploration in the Lake Cargelligo region has continued.
Engraver Lee, created April 15, 1878
Foster's Reef Gold Mining Co., Cudgellico, N.S.W.
wood engraving.
Used by permission "La Trobe Picture Collection State Library of Victoria".
Bushranger settled in Lake Cargelligo upon release from gaol.
John Bow, member of the Frank Gardiner Gang
The youngest member of the Frank Gardiner gang which was famous for Australia's biggest gold roberey, John Bow, was arrested and given the death penalty for his part in the Escort Rock robbery at Eugowra 15 June, 1862.Having not commited murder, and as a result of great public support and petition due to his youth, just 20 years, the death sentence was commuted to life.
Upon release from gaol 8 July, 1874, John Bow settled in Lake Cargelligo where he worked as a farmer, became a model citizen and loaned money to the local Catholic Church so that they could buy land. John Bow died aged, 54 on the 5th March,1895. John Bow was buried in the Catholic area of the Lake Cargelligo Cemetary.
More about John Bow
- Ned Kellys World
- A collection of information on Australia's bushrangers, including John Bow.
- Headstone photographs
- Photographs on John Bow's headstone taken at Lake Cargelligo Cemetary.
- Gold Escort Robbery
- The Story of the Gold Escort Robbery is brilliantly told on this website.
Escort Gold Robbery Books on Amazon
Bushrangers - Gold Escort Robbery
THE GOLD ESCORT ROBBERY TRIALS.
Includes the trial of John Bow, a member of the Frank Gardiner Gang who settled in Lake Cargelligo after his release from goal.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/25/2008)
Frank Gardiner: Bushranger to Businessman (1830 to 1904
References John Bow in relation to The Great Escort Robbery.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/25/2008)
Heroes Of Cargelligo
"The end crowns the work"
The Heroes Of Cargelligo was presented by the "GODMOTHERS CIRCLE" 1st Jan 1918. Click here to view the Heroes of Cargelligo Memorial
The Godmothers Circle was a group of women in Lake Cargelligo who sent home comforts to the soldiers and military hospitals during the war, such as socks and mittens.
Visit the Lake Cargelligo Historical Museum
The museum displays a large number of agricultural implements, the town's manual telephone exchange, equipment from the old hospital among others. The museum is open on request. Contact the Visitors Centre on (02) 6898 1501 for more information.
Lake Cargelligo Historical Museum
Farm Equipment used in the early pastoral days of Lake Cargelligo
Photograph and quotation by Trevor Hampel.
"This display included old tractors, ploughs, harvesters and a variety of other old pieces of machinery used in the early settlement days on this farming district."
More Photographs and the full blog post "Old But Not Forgotten", can be viewed at Trevor's travel blog.
Lake Cargelligo on Film - Saturday 1979
Academy Award Winner, Dean Semler Wrote and Directed Saturday 1979
Suzanne Baker - Producer
Dean Semler - Writer/ Director/ DOP
Film Australia
Dean Semler is an Academy Award winner for Dances With Wolves. In 1979 he made a documentary in Lake Cargelligo. This town, Lake Cargelligo must have some magic, some red dust magic.
Dean Semler has created a phenomenal career with a great long list of movies to his credit.
My Highlight: In Saturday 1979, you see the original "Rocky" posters hanging in the foyer of the Civic Theatre in Lake Cargelligo.
Saturday 1979 - More Information
- Saturday 1979 Photo Gallery
- Photographs of Dean Semler meeting with residents of Lake Cargelligo.
- The idea behind Dean Semler's Saturday 1979
- Dean Semler comments on the idea behind "Saturday".
- Shooting Script
- A copy of the shooting script for Saturday 1979.
- Proposal requesting funding to produce Saturday 1979
- The proposal to the Minister for home affairs regarding funding for the film.
- Watch the film
- Watch the film here. Be patient it will start when it has loaded.
Photos of Lake Cargelligo on Flickr
Welcome to Lake Cargelligo
Sunset Lake Cargeligo
Birds at Lake Cargelligo
Sunrise
Inspiring Women of Lake Cargelligo
Australian Story - Ten Thousand Acres - Maree Stockman
The ABC recorded Maree Stockman's inspiring story of resilience in the face of personal tragedy and physical loss for their program Australian Story. The episode, which was produced in 2005 is called Ten Thousand Acres and the DVD is available for sale on the ABC websiteClick Here to read the transcript for Ten Thousand Acres on the ABC's Australian Story.
"I just don't tend to dwell on the
hardships ... I value the past,
but if a disaster happens, I believe in
picking yourself up and getting on with
it. I always look to the future and try to
think what I can do to improve things.
You have to continue moving forward."
Lake Cargelligo Weather
Vote for your best source of weather information in Lake Cargelligo
The Weather Channel
Forecast for Lake Cargelligo3 points
Bureau of Meteorology
Daily weather observations1 point
Weatherzone
Current & historical, temperature and rainfall0 points
Lachlan Shire Council
Lachlan Shire Council - Weather Page0 points
Traditional Aboriginal Art
Visit Kejole Koori Studios at: 98 Grace Street, Lake Cargelligo.
Census Community Profile - Lake Cargelligo - 2001
Australian Bureau Of Statistics
A basic community profile of Lake Cargelligo is available for free download. The profile contains demographic information about the population of Lake Cargelligo as collected in the 2001 census including age, ancestry, income, education, family type and more. Click here to go to the Australian Bureau of Statistics to download the free report. The most recent census was conducted in 2006 with an update to this report expected last August, 2007. As yet, it is not readily found on the ABS website. 
Historic Sign - History of Lake Cargelligo
The sign reads:
Lake Cargelligo
In 1836 gold was found by Mrs. Foster and Lake Cargelligo become a mining centre. In 1879 the town was gazetted.
Lake Cargelligo is 173 metres above sea level and covers an area of 1.500 hectares. storing 36,000 megalitres with a depth of 4.5 metres.
Water from the Lachlan River is fed through Sheet of Water and Lake Curlew to Lake Cargelligo by a system of channels built in 1902.
The district is now a large grain, wool, fat lamb and cattle farming area.
John Oxley on Wikipedia
Explorer John Oxley Discovered Lake Cargelligo in 1817
This wikipedia article outlines the life of John Oxley including his Lachlan River expedition. Where his discovered Lake Cargelligo and named the lake "Regents Lake".
This article is about the person. For the Australian pilot ship, see John Oxley (ship).
Category: Image - :John Oxley.jpg|thumb|right|200px|John Oxley
John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley (1783/1785? ? 26 May 1828) was an explorer and surveyor of Australia in the early period of English colonisation.
October 1802 he was engaged in coastal survey work including an expedition to Western Port in 1804-05. In 1805 Governor King appointed him acting lieutenant in charge of the Buffalo, and in 1806 he commanded the Estramina on a trip to Van Diemen's Land. Next year he returned to England where on November 25, he was commissioned lieutenant. He came back to Sydney in November 1808 to take up an appointment as first lieutenant in H.M.S. Porpoise, having sailed out as agent for the Transport Board in the convict ship Speke, in which he shipped goods worth £800 as an investment. He had obtained an order from the Colonial Office for a grant of near the Nepean River, but Lieutenant-Governor Pater...
The Dusts Of Time, gold dust, red dust and bull dust.
Local History Available At Amazon
The Dusts of time (gold dust, red dust, and bull dust): Lake Cargelligo and district, 1873-1973
Amazon Price: (as of 07/25/2008)
1928 Photographs of Lake Cargelligo
Some of my favorites are:
--> The Annual Show, Lake Cargelligo
--> The town of Lake Cargelligo
Through Picture Australia you are able to utilise the images for your own personal research and are able to use the images in a school project provided you attribute the photographs as detailed on their website. You can also request permission to publish the photographs and the forms enabling you to do this are available at their website.
If you have your own pictures of Lake Cargelligo that you would like to contribute you are able to do so through Picture Australia. Don't let the wealth of local information get lost and forgotten. Contribute for the benefit of future generations of Lake Cargelligo residents.
Lake Cargelligo Train Line
Before the train line became another part of Lake Cargelligo History
Lake Cargelligo Train 1
Lake Cargelligo in the northern Riverina of NSW Australia: at the end of the branch line a wheat train loads then leaves, travelling through Burgooney and Tullibigeal. Filmed in 2004.
Runtime: 4:52
488 views
6 Comments:
Accommodation In Lake Cargelligo
- Lachlan Way Motel
2 Foster St
Lake Cargelligo NSW 2672
Tel: (02) 6898 1201 - Lake Cargelligo Motel
28 Canada St
Lake Cargelligo NSW 2672
Tel: (02) 6898 1303 - The Blacker Family Royal Mail Hotel
14 Foster Lake
Lake Cargelligo NSW 2672
Tel: (02) 6898 1006
Picture available at G'day Pubs - Commercial Hotel
32 Foster Lake
Lake Cargelligo NSW 2672
Tel: (02) 6898 1209
Picture available at G'day Pubs - Lake View Caravan Park
Lake Cargelligo Caravan Park
Maradhan St
Lake Cargelligo NSW 2672
Tel: (02) 6898 1077
Picture available at Caravan Park Finder
Must See:
View the Alf Tyack stone butterfly and rock collection. See it at the Visitor Information Centre 1 Foster Street.
Where to Eat in Lake Cargelligo
- Peter's Kitchen at the Lake Cargelligo Bowling Club.
Chinese, Thai and Australian Kitchen
1 Prior Street, Lake Cargelligo, NSW, 2672
Tel: (02) 6898 2200 - Lake Restaurant at the Lake Sports Club
Chinese, Asian and Australian Meals
Walker Street, Lake Cargelligo, NSW, 2672
Tel: (02) 6898 1253 - Royal Mail Hotel
Counter meals
14 Foster Street, Lake Cargelligo, NSW, 2672
Tel (02) 6898 1006 - Commercial Hotel
Counter meals
32 Foster Street, Lake Cargelligo, NSW, 2672
Tel (02) 6898 1209
Take-Away Food Lake Cargelligo
- Shane & Mary's Hot Bake & Take Away
Open Seven Days a week with fresh bread daily
22 Foster Street, Lake Cargelligo, NSW, 2672
Tel (02) 6898 2393 - Fisho's Take Away
Freshly squeezed juice, salad bar, sandwiches, pizza, etc.
Foster Street, Lake Cargelligo, NSW, 2672
Tel (02) 6898 1752
Cafe in Lake Cargelligo
Winery
Australia's first Aboriginal-owned-and-operated vineyard,
Murrin Bridge Wines is located 10km north of Lake Cargelligo. The current release from the vineyard is the Murrin Bridge 2005 Chardonnay and the Murrin Bridge 2004 Shiraz
Churches in Lake Cargelligo
- Anglican Church
43 Lorne Street - Baptist Church
52 Reef Street - Catholic Church
80 Reef Street - Uniting Church
66 Reef Street
Internet Access
Get online at Lake Cargelligo
- Lake Cargelligo RTC
30 Foster Street
(02) 6898 1151 - Lake Cargelligo Public Library
35A Foster Street
(02) 6898 1722
You may just need to know ...
- Public Toilets
- Public toilets in Lake Cargelligo and their operating times.
"Did you know Gold was discovered in Lake Cargelligo because Mrs Foster needed to make a toilet stop?"
Local Council - Lake Cargelligo
This website contains basic information so if you need answers to your inquiries the old fashioned methods of calling or going in person can't be avoided.
Lachlan Shire Council on Wikipedia
Lachlan Shire Council is a Local Government Area (LGA) in the Central West of New South Wales on the Lachlan River and the Broken Hill railway line.
The largest town and council seat is Condobolin. The Shire also includes the towns and villages of Tottenham, Lake Cargelligo, Tullibigeal, Albert, Burcher and Fifield.
Lake Cargelligo Library
Emergency Services
- Police Station
Tel: (02) 6898 1000 - Hospital
Tel: (02) 6898 1200 - Rural Fire
Tel: (02) 6898 1613 - NRMA
Tel: (02) 6892 4009
This Is Cute and Fabulous!
The Bunyip of Lake Cargelligo
It is not often that I come across something that makes me smile from ear to ear ... but then children have the gift of finding the crack in the most serious of adults. This quilt was made from a drawing of one of "Jiggs" children, while they were living in Lake Cargelligo. Too cute for words.
An applique patch
Books on Amazon that mention Lake Cargelligo
The Road from Coorain
Lake Cargelligo is mentioned in The Road from Coorain by Jill Ker-Conway on page 22
"... by the time she came to run the hospital in Lake Cargelligo, the town nearest the sheep station my father managed ..."
and again on page 126
"Eva McInness had been my mother's partner in her small cottage hospital in Lake Cargelligo, and the witness to her wedding."
Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 07/25/2008)
The Archaeology of Contact in Settler Societies (New Directions in Archaeology)
Lake Cargelligo is mentioned on page 222
"... in 1949 the inhabitants of the Menindee Government Station were moved once again to Murrin Bridge on the Lachlan, near Lake Cargelligo..."
Amazon Price: $41.99 (as of 07/25/2008)
Get Directions to Lake Cargelligo
Transport - How to get to Lake Cargelligo
Sydney to Lake Cargelligo
train and busAustralian Rail Journey
Check your options Click here
plane and hire car
Regional Express flys from Sydney to Griffith. From Griffith it is approximately a 1.5 hour drive to Lake Cargelligo. You can hire a car to be available at the Griffith airport.
take a road trip
From Sydney some people like to travel up over the Blue Mountains through Lithgow, Bathurst, Parkes and Condobalin to Lake Cargelligo.
Others prefer to go south first through Yass, Temora and West Wyalong to Lake Cargelligo.
Personally I like to drive from Sydney down the M5 and head past Suttons Forrest, Yass, Young, Temora, West Wyalong and finally home to Lake Cargelligo.
Travel this way is not about the fastest route. It does provide for many refreshment stops along the way in towns that are large enough to provide some choices.
If leaving in the morning, the Service Centre at Suttons Forest has a McDonalds you can stop for breakfast and fill up with fuel.
Yass Service Centre is a good place to stop for a coffee or a snack, and has a KFC or a McDonalds.
Young is a great place to stop and grab something to eat. You will find McDonalds, Subway, various cafes, Woolworths (large supermarket), Big W (variety store), a car wash to clean away the red dust of the road and more than just a few shops to wander through and pick up a country bargain or two.
There are also a number of cafes at Temora and West Wyalong and fuel is also available at these towns.
From West Wyalong it is about a 1.5 hour drive to Lake Cargelligo. Travel safe and watch out for Kangaroos!
To find the best route for you, visit Where Is for complete directions.
Note: If anyone thinks I mentioned McDonalds too many times in this module - try taking a road trip where there aren't any McDonalds - mmmmm truck stop coffee, yum, yum.
Annual Events In Lake Cargelligo
September
Lake Cargelligo Show
Held at the Lake Cargelligo Showgrounds. This annual agricultural show has a lot of history and nostalgia attached to it.A book was written by the Lake Cargelligo Show Society that contains a breif history of the Lake Cargelligo Show and the Society:
Our Show - Yours and Mine 1925 - 2000
The image of the Lake Cargelligo annual show shown here is from 1928 and is available to view at Picture Australia Click here
Australian Hovercraft Federation, Australian National Rally
All Hovercraft enthusiasts are welcome to attend, so come along and enjoy the fun, and meet a great bunch of hover folk on 27th and 28th September.
For more information please visit:
Australian Hovercraft Federation Inc - Victoria
or
Queensland Sporting Hovercraft Club
October
Fisherama in Lake Cargelligo
Fisherama is an annual event in Lake Cargelligo held over three days. The event attracts fishing enthusiasts from all over.It is a fun way to keep the numbers down of the European introduced carp that live in the lake and in the Lachlan River and with prizes up for grabs it may pay to know a local ...
"If you get the line in the right spot, you'll win" - John Robberds
Watersports in Lake Cargelligo
Australian Hovercraft Rally 2006
Attempt at the FLY BY Hovercraft Rally Australia September 2006 Lake Cargelligo
Runtime: 0:42
1485 views
4 Comments:
Australian Hovercraft Federation National Rally
The Fly By
Suddenly the peaceful tranquility of this idealic paradise was shattered by the ear piercing scream of two stroke engines as a dozen or so hovercraft thundered to life and took to the water.
The invasion had begun." Arthur Stead
Please visit the Queensland Sporting Hovercraft Club for the full article and many more photographs of the Fly By, The Cruise, Team Slalom Relay, Sprint Racing, Cork Scramble and Hovercraft Ski Challenge. Select National Rally 2006 from the menu.
copyright www.qhover.com - used by permission.
Deadman's Point - Lake Cargelligo
The view from Deadmans Point
Lake Cargelligo Central School
"Did you know that Lake Cargelligo Central School has more than 145 members in their Facebook group?"
Recipes from Lake Cargelligo
Beef Lake Cargelligo - Chef: Steve from The Lake
4 sheets puff pastry
4 pieces fillet steak, 150 grams each
4 slices ham
150g pate or liverwurst
1 beaten egg
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
approx 100 grams mushrooms
Method:
Put fillet steak in a hot pan and sear the meat (just brown on the outside, does not need to be cooked through).
Roll puff pastry a little if needed, place a piece of ham and a piece of steak in the middle of each pastry sheet, top with pate and mushrooms, fold pastry around the filling, brush the joins with the egg to ensure parcels stay closed, and ensure the meat is covered well.
Turn parcel over and brush top side with beaten egg, decorate with pastry flowers if you desire, cook in hot oven 230 degrees until golden brown.
Serving Suggestion:
Serve with green vegetables, julienne carrots, and creamed potatoes
From ABC Western Plains NSW
Lake Cargelligo - Photos from the Flood - December 2007
Most would consider a flood to be a curse, however in the case of Lake Cargelligo the flood waters were able to be drained into the Lake and increase the water levels from close to nothing, after years of drought, to over 50% and open up Lake Cargelligo to tourism and watersports again.
The beautiful photographs below show some of the aftermath of the flood at Lake Cargelligo - December, 2007.
Cant get through this way
Near Lake Cargelligo
Lake Cargelligo NSW
Lake Cargelligo In The News
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beachbum_gabby
Australia has a lots of great spots to offer the world. Wonderful place... Posted July 23, 2008 |
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cleansweeping
What a beautiful place! Posted July 21, 2008 |
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PainLizard
Hi, Posted July 05, 2008 |
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hearthealth
Very amazing place.. some friends will go to Australia for the World Youth Day. 5* and faved! Posted June 26, 2008 |
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LeeCS
This is a great lens! Very helpful information! Thanks for bringing it to us! Please feel free to check out my site about cheap auto insurance, how to obtain cheap classic car insurance and car insurance for females 5 stars for your wonderful lens!! Posted June 25, 2008 |
Birding at Lake Cargelligo
Update On My Book Searches:
The Journal of William Budd
Resources Used In Creating This Lens on Lake Cargelligo
Books, Articles, Websites and Journals
The Gold Escort Robbery Trials by Noel Thurgood.
The River People by James Cowan and Photographs by Colin Beard.
The Dusts Of Time (Gold Dust, Red Dust and Bull Dust)Lake Cargelligo and District 1873-1973 Centenary Celebrations.
The First Fifty Years Of Temora by Rob Wester.
The birding photo was thanks to Trevor and his post on his blog here
