Australian Town and Country Journal at KellyGang 1/6/1872
A Tour to the South.
[BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT]
DENILIQUIN
DENILIQUIIN, a township in New South Wales, 500 miles south west of Sydney, is fondly called by its inhabitants "The City of the Plains." The aboriginal name of the place was Denilicoon, meaning "wrestler's ground,"- contests in wrestling having been one of the chief sources of amusement of the aborigines of that part. The scene of these Olympic games was a spot situated behind where the Royal Hotel now stands and near a lagoon. Denilicoon was the name of a chief, who was a great wrestler, says the local legend. A giant was he, 6 feet 7 inches high, and having a frame powerful in proportion. He died in Deniliquin only a dozen years ago. The oldest inhabitants give its history only since the white man "sat down."
About the year 1845, the well known Mr B Boyd , on behalf of the Royal Banking Company, took up the north Deniliquin country, or more properly the whole north banks of the Edward, commencing on what is now Landale 's station, fifteen miles above the township, and embracing nearly all the country between Deniliquin and Moulamein , seventy miles below. The head station, three miles above Deniliquin, now Mr Landale's residence, was called the Woolshed, because it was where the sheep was shorn from the surrounding stations. It was then in charge of Mr Daniells, the present Crown Lands Commissioner at Wellington. He was succeeded by Mr W Murray, now of Orange. At the great sale of the Royal Banking Company's properties, Mr James Tyson bought the Deniliquin runs (three), and, after holding them some years, sold to Landale Brothers, the present owners.
On the country south of the Edward, and forming the great southern bend of the Murray River, the first settler was Mr Lewis, of Moira, now of Geelong. For fifteen years the monotony of his pioneer life was chiefly relieved by well fought battles with the blacks, who became more troublesome as the white men increased. After passing through the hands of Mr M'Kenzie, Moira station was purchased by the late well-known Hugh Glass, who sold it to the Hon J O'Shaughnessy, who now owns the country for twenty five or thirty miles from Echuca to Deniliquin.
After Mr Lewis came to this part of Riverina, a good family of pioneers, the Gwynne's, followed. They took up the Werai and Barratta runs. The Gwynne's subsequently sold Barratta, but at the present day Mr Henry Gwynne holds Werai, while Mr F A Gwynne has a station called Murgab , which he purchased when the Royal Banking properties were sold in blocks in 1855-6.
The next settlers that took up country were Phillips and Graves, in 1845-6. These gentlemen took up Warbreccan , but sold out to Cockburn and Harvey in 1852. They in turn sold in 1858 to Morgan, M'Intosh and Co., who sold to present owner, P A Jennings, Esq, MP, in the year 1863.
After these (Phillips and Graves) came, Mr Peter Stuckey, who, about the year 1847 or '48, took up country between Warbreccan and Moira, now called Mathoura. This property Stuckey held till his death, about 1860, when it was sold by his executors to Mr E J Hogg, in 1863. Mr Hogg was, in reality, one of the original settlers, having taken up Thule and Cobran runs below, and adjoining Warbreccan, in 1846. Thule and Cobran are now held by Messrs Wolseley, Gibbs, and Co, while the Mathoura run is the property of the Melbourne Banking Company.
Such is the past of Deniliquin country. "The City of the Plains" has now 600 people within its municipality, on both banks of the Edward. The Edward or Thyalite (as it was named by Sir Thomas Mitchell) River, is a good broad stream, and is spanned at the township by a well-constructed bridge. The township is called: North and South Deniliquin, the latter is the principal place. It is, however, badly situated, and liable to be flooded. It has the usual Government offices, court-house, gaol, post and telegraph offices, also hospital, churches of principal denominations, and Public School. Starting from the bridge, South Deniliquin, the first building to the right is the Public School. This structure has a most pleasing appearance. It is built of brick. The teacher is Mr S King Miller, and he has one assistant. The number of pupils on the roll was 90, and the average . attendance about 70. The pupils showed considerable proficiency in grammar, arithmetic, geography; also drawing and singing. The discipline was excellent, and the method of imparting instruction was most pleasing. During my visit prizes were distributed, consisting of many valuable and handsomely bound books given by Mr Miller, who justly complained to me that on these prizes for the children were imposed a duty of ton shillings. Lord Belmore, Sir James M'Culloch, and Sir James Martin, all visited the Deniliquin school, and their remarks in the visitor's book are of a most flattering character. The Hon P A Jennings is chairman.
The gaol is a plain structure. The court-house, telegraph, and post-offices, are also built of brick.
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