Australian Town and Country Journal at KellyGang 6/7/1872
WAGGA WAGGA
AMONG the more wealthy and flourishing; inland towns of New South Wales, Wagga Wagga takes precedence. It must be granted that there are several others in better situations, with a larger population, and having finer buildings: but for its size, facts and figures are supplied which show that in energy, progress, and large commercial transactions, it hardly has a rival. It is in the centre of a large pastoral district, and by its peculiar position might justly be called the key of Riverina. Before describing it and its institutions, it may be admitted that there is an unpleasant coarse swaggering twang about the name, particularly when pronounced, as it appears to have been, in the English Law Courts and as it is spelt, viz: Wagga Wagga iu place of Wagga Wogga, or at least, Waugga Waugga, which latter seems to be the proper and local pronunciation. Wagga Wagga in the aboriginal tongue means - "A meeting of crows," or “the place where crows congregate." That is a literal translation of the name; the first syllable "wau " is very expressive of a crow's uote. It must be confessed that the name is not a nice one, but the inhabitants, with a few exceptions, do not desire to have it altered, in fact most of them seem rather to like the name, on the principle, I suppose, that in the case of names, like other more important things, we come to like in time, features by no means attractive. "We pity first, endure, and then embrace."
Wagga Wagga, 310 miles from Sydney, and 400 miles from Melbourne, is principally built on the south bank of the Murrumbidgee River. The population numbers about 1000. The situation of the town is not a good a one, being liable to inundation, though there are hills on each side of the Murray. The business of Wagga Wagga is almost solely transacted in Fitzmaurice street, which runs nearly parallel with the river. In this street are the Government offices, banks, mechanics' institute and Masonic hall, stores, hotels, &c. If the reader will follow the writer, and take a glance at the engravings which accompany this article, he will form a tolerable idea of some of the principal business places in the town.
Entering Wagga Wagga proper from the Sydney road, via Tarcutta, the first building of importance to the right is a large steam flour mill, carried on by Mr Nixon; the two story building almost opposite is the Mechanics' School of Arts ; this building has a fine large reading room on the ground door, in which all the leading newspapers and periodicals of the day are filed also a good library.
Up stairs there is a large concert room, the whole length of the building, and a good stage for performers or speakers at public meetings. A little above the School of Arts, and on the same side, is the Bank of New South Wales, Mr C E Scriven is manager. Next door are the offices of Power, Rutherford, and Co., the well known stock and station. The managing agent here is Mr G A Elliott. It may be observed in passing that, as at Deniliquin, large transactions in cattle, sheep, and stock generally, take place at Wagga Wagga. The other stock and station agents are Mr George Mair (Ettersbank. Egglestone, and Co.) ; Wilkinson, Hann, and Co (J G Dougharty); G Forsyth and Co, S Minchin, and A Armstrong.
We next come to the Australian Hotel. Before entering, it may be necessary to state that the largest buildings about Wagga Wagga are the hotels, which are remarkable for their size, and the amount of business they do. Hence they are facetiously known as "quartz reefs." If they arc continued to be called "quartz reefs," it might be suggested that the Australian should be "Krohmann's," the Criterion, "Paxton's,"' and the Commercial, "Beard and Holtermans."
The Australian Hotel is a fine brick building, having 120 feet frontage to Fitzmaurice street. It is erected on an acre and a half of land. The building contains fifty-five rooms, and includes several private suites of apartments, elegantly furnished, for gentlemen and families, parlours, dining-rooms, coffee, reading, and smoking-rooms, and billiard-room. The latter is fitted up with one of Thurston's best tables.
A balcony the whole length of the building in front commands a splendid view of the town and the Murrumbidgee, and by reason of its being on the highest site in the street is calculated to afford a refuge for those lower down, in times of flood. At the rear of the hotel are the kitchens, laundry, and servants' apartments - another building of brick. The stables are in keeping with the establishment, and are under the charge of "Jim," with pleasure, I say it, one of the best grooms and ostlers in the colony. The stables can on a push give accommodation to fifty horses. They are of brick and wood. The coach-houses, harness-rooms, &c, adjoin the stables. From personal experience it may be fairly said, in regard to table accommodation, wines and spirits, and general management of the Australian, that it can hold its own with any in the colony. Mr Henry Moxham is the proprietor and host.
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