Australian Town and Country Journal at KellyGang 18/5/1872
COROWA AND WAHGUNYAH
COROWA in New South Wales, and Wahgunyah, in Victoria we two towns only separated by the Border Customs duties, for a bridge connects them. Properties on the one side are owned by residents on the opposite, and vice a versa. Corowa is not an old town, but it has the good fortune to be taken in hand by a few colonialists of the progressive mood (Victorian principally) and present tense, at the head of whom is Mr John Foord. Corowa, it was intended by the Government, should be 1 mile or two lower down the river, but the present natural site was eagerly taken possession of by the people. It was owned by Mr Foord, but soon cut up into allotments with a judicious number of reserves on which churches and other public buildings are now erected.
Corowa has a population of about 300.Six hotels, four stores, a public and two private schools, a court-house and lock up, and a good steam flour mill are in the town. There is no resident clergyman at present but Victoria supplies one. The Public school is a pretty fair building of brick. The teacher is Mr. Swindlehurst. The attendance is about sixty. The pupils were very clean, and their proficiency seems to be very satisfactory. Entering the town from Albury, forty miles distant, the first building of importance is the Royal Hotel, a large inn at the corner of the street. It is well kept by Mr Martin, On the opposite side of the street off the road, is the court-house and police quarters, also made of brick. Below Martin's hotel, on the same side, is another large hotel, and a book seller's and newsagent's shop (Mr Thomas Stead) also a good building. Opposite, though a little lower down, is Mr Weir's, a large general store, in connection with; which is the post-office. This is very properly explained about by the business men in Corowa. It may be here listed that a telegraph and post office is urgently needed. At present if messages are required to be sent to any part of New South Wales Corowa people have to go to Wahgunyah, and use Victorian wires.
Below Mr. Weir's stores is the custom-house, under Mr WH Brown, whose judgment, in facilitating the passing of entries has prevented many a bitter quarrel taking place at this angry time. Next to the custom-house there is a compact, well managed and stocked chemist's shop (Mr J E Hudson). Opposite, are the extensive business premises of a spirited townsman, Mr Levin. The large building facing the main street is a wholesale and retail grocery and drapery establishment. Adjoining this is Mr Levin's private residence. At the rear and on the bank of the Murray is the Corowa steam flour mill the property of Mr Levin. It has just been completed.
The mill is a fine brick building four storeys high. The interior fittings are of pine, mostly polished, and looking very fine. The engine is a twenty horse-power one, with Cornish boiler fitted with Galloway tubes. The rest of the machinery is also on an improved plan, and most complete in every respect. Three pairs of stones are worked. The construction of this model structure was carried out under the supervision of Mr Bowden, who has now in charge of the mill. Though only just opened, the scene before the mill doors during my stay in Corowa was a most pleasing one. Drays, carts, and vehicles of every description with well filled bags of grain from the district around were in attendance, and presented a scene of the right sort. Mr Levin is to be deservedly congratulated on his enterprise.
A short distance beyond the mill is the Steam Packet Hotel, and then the bridge is arrived at. To the right of the bridge are Mr. Foord's large brick stores and the steamer's goods shed.
The Corowa and Wahgunyah bridge is a substantial structure, and cost about £10,000. It was erected by, and is still the property of a private company. It is paying a dividend of about ten per cent. Though the charges are fixed by Parliament, it is hoped that some reduction or alteration will be made, and I have heard several complaints about them.
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