Condobolin & District Historical Museum in Condobolin, New South Wales | Media/news company

Condobolin & District Historical Museum

Locality: Condobolin, New South Wales

Address: 35 Bathurst St ( next to the Post Office ) Condobolin, NSW, Australia

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23.01.2022 BOILING SHEETS IN MELROSE STREET A wonderful image of Boiling the sheets at Melrose Street, Condobolin in 1955. The photograph is from Les Miller’s personal collection. Image Credit: Les Miller.

22.01.2022 Our new online collection site is live! Browse over 130,000 objects from our collection. We’ve got it all - from steam engines, to hot air balloons and 3D-printed clothing. Dive in now: https://collection.maas.museum

18.01.2022 During the tragedy of WWI nearly every family in this district was afflicted. An avenue of peppercorn trees was planted along Diggers Avenue to honour the servicemen and women who died and served in ' the war to end all wars '. Recognising the need for ongoing professional care of these trees The Condobolin and District Historical Society secured a grant from the NSW Community War Memorials Fund. Carey L'Estrange, Simon Carey and Don Goodsell completed the works - and at additional expense to themselves for which we are truly grateful. Lachlan Shire Council Staff and Waste Services contributed to the project. Condobolin Museum exhibits an intriguing collection of WWI memorabilia on loan from local families.

18.01.2022 MEMORIES OF MANNA PARK Hazel Grace Wright, was born Hazel Grace Ramsey on Tuesday the 17th of May 1927, in the St George Hospital, Kogarah NeAw South Wales, to ...parents Jonathan and Bertha May Ramsey. She moved to the local area with Noel Wright (who was to become her husband) in 1949. Her adventure in the Central West began in Parkes, before she moved to ‘Manna Park’, Condobolin to cook and clean for the station hands. Her son, Mark Wright, has generously allowed the Argus, to print his mother’s memories of her time in Condobolin. Mrs Wright who turns 90 on 17 May, celebrated with family and friends at a party in Sydney on 13 May. In the later part of 1949 Mum and Dad decided to go to Parkes New South Wales, to meet dad’s mother and step-father, Sunny Webber. They were cooks in the local hotel, and were renting a house. Mum and dad stayed with his parents for about 4 weeks, before dad heard of more hands and workers needed at a property called Manna Park near Condobolin. The property was owned by J. J Leahy who was well known in the horse racing industry, and kept retired horses and stock on the property. Dad made a telephone call to the property manager and it wasn’t long before a vehicle was sent into Parkes to pick him up, the description begins. Mum’s role on the property was to cook and clean for the station hands earning 3 a week and dad’s role was a Stockman and Farm hand duties working with Cattle and Sheep earning 5 a week. Mum almost scored a job at the family home of Paul Leahy as their cook, cleaner, house keeper but it didn’t come off. At the time the Property Manna Park was managed by Bob Shaw and a foreman lived not far from them called Jim Miller. Mum and dad initially stayed in a one room shack about half a mile from the man house and lived next door to Rolly Ryan and his wife Anne. They had a really nice 2 bedroom fibro shack and it had a fridge and a nice cooking area. Both mum and dad established a close friendship with Rolly and Anne with the Ryan’s keeping mum and dad’s perishables in their fridge. Mum and dad would eventually get the Ryan’s shack when they moved on. On one occasion they joined the Ryan’s fishing in man-made creek that was dug out to provide water for the cattle. Rolly and Dad dragged a net along the creek netting a nice catch of fish. Tuesdays on Manna Park was supply day. One of the worker’s job on Tuesday was to drive around to all the shacks and homes on the property delivering their weekly supplies of tea, coffee, sugar, flower, butter ect, and meat was delivered from the kill house. At the end of the month the cost for these groceries was taking out of the worker’s wages Dad, having grown up with his father’s market garden, knew good looking vegies when he saw it. About 20 or so metres from their shack was a pumpkin vine that came up every year, and dad was looking at the pumpkins and said to mum; they’re not quite ready yet, I’m going to get one of them. Dad must have been overheard by Mrs Miller, another resident on the property, because the old biddy wheeled a wheel barrow down the vine and took the lot. Mum talked a lot about how bad the rabbits were on the property, she said it was alive with them. There were 4 full time teams of rabbit controllers on the property and their sole role was to catch and kill rabbits. In 1930 the Australian Government introduced a rabbit bounty which was 2/6d a rabbit. How did they prove this to the government, they cut the ears off and thread them on a piece of wire and make it into a hoop shape and hang it on the fence to dry. Mum said they were all maggotty. Once a week teams would go into Forbes and cash their ears in for money. The teams were, Rolly Ryan who was the poisoner, using arsenic, on roots of thistles and sweeten them with vanilla. He used to lay his baits about 4 o’clock in the afternoon then get up before day light and cut the ears off his bounty. There was the Rabbit Pack. These were 6 Kangaroo Dogs they spent 2 days on the chain to make them hungry used to be able to chase rabbits down and catch them on the fly and bring them back to the owner, and the owner would pull their necks. Mum went out with the rabbit pack one day to see them in action and one of the dogs brought mum a rabbit. Mum said I don’t want that. Mum didn’t like the way the dogs were tied up and made go hungry. You have no idea of the cruelty to animals in the bloody country. Then there was Schooner. He was a Kangaroo Dog that belonged to the property and was allowed to roam free. Everyone liked Schooner and used to slip him some tit bits. Schooner often brought mum a rabbit unharmed and mum being the person she is accidently let them go. There were the trappers, they used to place nets over the warrens and use ferrets and other techniques to flush out the rabbits. Once they were caught she said they pulled their necks. Then there was the lady in a horse and sulky would ride in a big circular motion, talking to the horse whilst rounding up the rabbits and drive them towards a big netted area with a funnel net at the bottom. Once on the other side of the funnel the rabbits were belted with sticks. One night mum and dad were out for a walk and there was a dog howling just inside the scrub line. Dad wanted to go over and have a look at it. Mum said No bloody way, it could take to us. Take me home you can come back and have a look. Dad never went back. Another time mum was using the pit which was the outhouse in those days. Mum could hear this hiss hiss noise and got dad to investigate. Dad came back and said it’s a bloody snake. He got some petrol poured it down the pit and lit it up. It took two goes to kill the snake. Mum never liked using the pit after that. **All Images courtesy of Mark Wright. See more

17.01.2022 Condobolin's WW1 War Trophy. This captured German trench mortar was presented to the citizens of Condobolin in 1921 in recognition of the districts enlistments and support of the war effort. Condobolin & District Historical Society secured funds from the Community War Memorials Fund to replace the original, long gone wheels and for a repaint.

14.01.2022 A RELIC RETURNS A relic of Condobolin’s past, has found its way back to the town. Rex and Alice Williams, donated a Top Hat, which was owned by former local und...ertaker, Robert G Marlin, to the Condobolin Museum recently. The couple have strong connection to Condobolin. Alice was a Nursing Sister at the Condobolin Hospital, and Rex was a former Alderman on Council (1973 1976). They lived on Moonaculla, a property 40 miles North West of Condobolin and have many fond memories of old friends and places. The Top Hat was left to Alice, after Mr Marlin passed away. She often borrowed the Top Hat for performances she did around Condobolin. It is only fitting this piece of Condobolin history be returned home, Alice said. It was a very recognisable fashion statement in its time, and we are more than happy to donate it back to the Condobolin community. The Top Hat, will be displayed with a description that reads: This Top Hat was worn at many local funerals by (now the late) Mr Robert G Marlin who was the then local undertaker. Sister Alice Faulkner (now Williams) often borrowed it when performing vaudeville acts and entertaining various organisations. On his demise, Mr Marlin directed the hat be given to Alice. That was prior to 1976. It has been faithfully preserved by Alice, who now presents it to Condobolin as an interest for prosperity. See more

14.01.2022 A HISTORY OF TULLI SCHOOLS Settlement of the Tullibigeal district from the early 1900’s meant that schooling for children of the era became a consideration both... by the families who came here and the Government. There were eventually 11 Provisional Schools in the area, all opening between 1922 and 1932. Before this time schooling was held in family homes such as the Allen’s and Kintworth’s of Curriba. At Bygalorie classes were held in a room of the Bygalorie Homestead owned by Mr Exon. Wilga Plains, Tibeaudo, Koyuna and Four Corners school classes were conducted in buildings on private properties owned by F Bahr, W Carter, F Helyar and H Brown. Parents chose to erect buildings for schools at Merribogie, Balveolan and Borapine. Burgooney and Yaddra schools began in Public Hall buildings. In 1920 Tullibigeal Provisional School opened after canvassing for a school in the township. 22 pupils were enrolled, growing in number to 76 by 1929. Tullibigeal School community has ‘hit the headlines’ numerous times since 1920. The most noted being in 1985 when the Government plan to close the secondary department led to community meetings and delegations, leading to the school being part of a pilot program called Western Access. HSC Examination results have been a highlight of NSW school rankings. Sporting prowess in football, tennis, netball and swimming has been achieved by Tullibigeal schooled students. A recent school reunion of the students from Kynota included members of the Stokes, Haworth, Wallder and Mott families. Visitors for the June celebrations can see the Kynota school site along the Weja Road on the corner of what is known as ‘Circle Y’ reserve. Several years ago, Curriba School Reunion erected a plaque on the old-school site on Imries Lane. Some of the other original school buildings are still in the district. Tullibigeal School will be open for visitors during the festivities. Contributed by Jennifer Ireland on behalf of the Tullibigeal Centenary Committee. See more

08.01.2022 TAKING A LOOK BACK AT THE RENOWN THEATRE IN CONDOBOLIN An image of the Renown Picture Theatre at Condobolin in 1955. The photograph is from Les Miller’s personal collection. Image Credit: Les Miller.

08.01.2022 Moving the monument from the main street

06.01.2022 "Members and guests" in 1909 in the grandstand at the original showground on the Parkes Road.

01.01.2022 Write something...Views from the town side