Australian Town and Country Journal at KellyGang 17/8/1872 (2)
Proceeding on my journey, I crossed a slight range and about five miles beyond Mundarlo came to the Junction Inn (J A Griffiths') a roadside place of accommodation. Five miles further, and Lower Tarcutta was reached. A police station (Martin in charge) and a comfortable hotel are here. The hotel is carried on by Mr G Hassett. There are two roads at Lower Tarcutta; one branches off to Albury and the Upper Murray, and the other to the right goes to Wagga Wagga and down the Murrumbidgee. The latter I followed.
A few farms (free-selections) were passed, and Ballentine's Belmore Inn was reached, seven miles from Tarcutta. A mile beyond, a red gate to the left leads to Berambula, the station of P Donnelly. Berambula is a sheep and cattle station. It has an area of 65,000 acres, and a frontage to the Murrumbidgee of about eight miles. This station is very much improved; being all fenced in, divided and subdivided into a number of paddocks. The fencing seems to be of a most substantial character. Leaving Berambula, I continued the Wagga Wagga road for four or live miles though lightly timbered country. A wine-shop and farm were then passed. Another five miles over well grassed undulating country, and I got to Alfred Town. The town boasts only of a small store, and a good brick-built public-house. The latter is called the Alfred Inn, and is under the management of Mr W H Power. A few hours more riding, and 1 reached Wagga Wagga. As this flourishing town has already been described, I must cross the bridge and take up the ground where I left off, 40 miles further down the river.
Grong Grong station is opposite Buckinbong . "Grong .Grong" appears to be a corruption of the aboriginal word Goornong. The station is the property and residence of J H Bear. Esq. The area of the station is about 150 square miles; it has a frontage to the Murrumbidgee of 6 miles, and it carries about 30,000 sheep. The woolshed, a good large structure, is about 3 miles from the residence. Since Mr. Bear, with true Victorian spirit and enterprise, took possession of Grong Grong, many important improvements have been made, and the property consequently considerably enhanced in value. Beside extensive home improvement, between 70 and 80 miles of fencing have been erected; some of this at a cost of £50 or £60 per mile. The residence of Mr Bear is a very picturesque one. The house is a spacious building of pine, laid crosswise: and the school-house, kitchen and stables are also of pine. A flower garden is between the school-house and the residence; and at the rear is a fine sheet of water; on the bank to the left of the house is a good orchard - containing almost every kind of trait, among which the orange looks well. Some viues also give promise of abundance of grapes. Beside being trenched drain pipes have been laid down through the garden by Mr Bear, Before the residence, a fine well grasped plain stretches away, and its limits are guarded by a belt of timber.
Mr Bear accompanied me for several miles on my journey.
Crossing some nice country on a sloping hill we came to a vineyard, several acres in extent. The vineyard is only young, yet, but with favourable soil, climate, and, careful preparation of ground, Mr Bear will have a good return for his trouble: and the district be benefitted. A short distance beyond the vineyard, I left Mr Bear and continued the journey alone. After travelling for four miles along a track, I crossed a dangerous creek, where no less than seven deaths by drowning, took place within a fortnight, during the flood, but; without inducing the Government to erect a bridge there. After crossing the creek 1 ran the fence up, the hill side through some timber, for half a mile; and came to Bundidgarie, the home station of Mr Robert Mitchell. The house is of brick. The area of Bundidgarie is 30,000 acres, and it has a frontage of five mile to the Murrumbidgee. The station is completely fence in, subdivided, and well watered, It curries about 15,000 sheep. A magnificent view is had from the hill above the house.
Standing near one of the largest and finest Kurragong trees in that part of the country, a glorious scene of plains and miniature lakes opens out over a sea of trees, on the station of Mr Bear. The whole resembles a grand panorama, and the brightness of the verdure at this season of the year rendered the picture more attractive. The road continued for four miles further on the high ground, between pine trees and brush timber growing on a reddish soil.
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