íRi
TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS.—lu order
iacilitate and simplify prothe
cedtire imder tlie law, in regard to sett
of New South Wales has lieen divided into U1
considerably in form and
land, Uie surfnce
ounties. These vary
The boundaries, as far as possible.
have been designod to follow well defined natural features, such as
mountain chains and the coui-ses of rivei-s; where, however, such do
not exist, as in portions of the plains of the interior,
arbitrary lines has been found necessary. Foruierly, and
recent date, nineteen of UiesE r in the
District, north and south fi'om Sydney, and extending west some
distuuce beyond Bathurst, were grouped under the title, Tirst Class
Settled District, but sub$eiiuently to tho passing of the Land Law
of 1S84 such a distinction ceased to possess any value. In connection
with the law relating to ocmpalion under lease, the rest of the colony
was divided into Pastoral DisCiict.s, of which there were originally
thirteen.
The following i
proximate c
) the of the jnnties with theii
the collection of statistics, and to deal more readily with all matters
which came under the notice of the police authorities.
Goographically, however, the.w divisions are of but little importance,
their value only becoming evident in connection with the
circumstftuces which called them into esistence.
TOWNS.—The towns, villages, hamlets, and smaller centres of
population scattered throughout tho colony, arc as varied iu their
general circumstauces and surroundings, as are the causes to which
they owe their existence. Some are the result of a gradual development
of manufacturing industries, or increase in trade relations,
Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong may he cited as examples of a
gi'owth which, in its elements, approaches more neai-ly thau any
other to that of toiTis of the Old World. Many derive their importance
from the fact that they form the commercial centres and
entrepots of largo psstoial or agricultural areas. The increase of
such is generally gradual, and their prosperity proportional to the
progress of the suri-ounding districts. Of these, the more important
are Goulbnrn, Bathurst, Orange, Armidale, Hoiirke, and Hay. A
third class has its origin in the discovery of gold or other metals
in various parts of the colony. The increase in such cases is
generally rapid, populations of thousands iirising in periods numbered
by weeks. The houses are at first of a non-permanent character,
but, if the mining is successful, temporary buildings soon give place
to structures of a more lasting description, and whore but a short
r.niie previously were the trees and wilds of the Australian bush,
lire found all the outward appeai-anoes of modem civilization.
Qora, Silverton, and Cobar may be referred to in proof of
Ulis. The extension of tho i-ailway lines into the interior gives rise
to l.ownships, which frequently assumo positions, afterwards, of imjioi--
tance in the land, as commercial centres- In connection with these
luav be menrioncd Nyngan and Jewnee. To^nis are also designed under
I'.xi'cutive Authority in anticipation of demand, frequently on account
1)1 the proximity of the sites to places of interest. They are surveyed,
¡incl the allotments offered at auction sale; if the estimate has been
in advance of popular requirements, such towns appear on the maps,
l)ut i-equire year.s to develop into centres of population. Couridjah,
nuiir the Picton Lakes, and Brasfort, in the vicinity of the celebrated
Wtmtworth Falls, are examples of this class. All the centres around
wliich cluster small populations, imciei of future towns, are proWded
w itb the various adjuncts of a public character considered indispen-
«.iiiie to progress. Thus, in a central position, where perhaps a few
siiM.lers' houses have arisen close to each other, through the
ptional fertility of the land, -»vill bo found a school, provided with
.1,11 efficient teacher, paid by the State; as the place increases in
Dimiilation and importauce, a post-oflice, with a weekly mail, will be
Kiel I'd. A telegraph-office will follow in the course of timo; and at last,
;üe humble hamlet will blossom into a town, and become known. In
iiauy cases, the extension of a railway line has placed the little isolated
•futre within the pale of civiliKation; the weekly mail, frequently
'Tegular in its arrival, on account of defective roads, becomes a daily
lue. All these different pliases have been, and continue to be,
'i-presented in the progress of the towns of Australia. The histoiy
.f all, is tho history of a c^haiige from tl.e wilds associated with the
irimitive race now fast disappearing from the scene, to the refineiiMiits
of life which have their oi-igin in the advancement of knowledge,
mill the fai'-reaching discoveries of science.
ABERDEEN.—Aberdeen, situated on the left bank of the
lluiiter River and on the Great Northern Railway Line, about f) miles
«iiiitL from Scone, is sun-ounded b}' a considerable area of agricultural
. ami pastoral land, well known for its grazing capabilities. Tho adnt
gouuti7 is undulating in character, and ridges occur in which
I is plentiful. Cereals grow readily; tho orange and vino bear
iiliuailantly. Having an elevation of only about (>10 feet above tho
I sntt -level it differs but little in regard to climate from tho towns of
I tlii> coast. Population, 125.
ADAMINIBT.—This township, also called Seymour, is situated
I III the valley of the Eucumbane, a tributary of the Snowy Hi ver,
abdut 20 miles south-east from Kiandi'a. Tho country aroimd is
fertile and is lar^ly occupied by settloi-s for agricultural purposes.
Copper is found 'in the immediate vicinity. It has an elevation of
over 3,000 feet above sea-level, and like Kiandra, possesses a
climate which, in winter, sometimes approaches severity. Popula-
N E W SOUTH WALES.
ADEliONG.—A.K-l..iig, situated
L small tributary of the Murrumbidg.
ship. The coi
Hon of the pn
it is found a!
Foot, has bee
the laud in t
ireek of the same name,
lown as a mining townitiy
around is very auriferous, and extensive operations
several places in the vicinity, fo
luable with
()U8 metal from the li
ciated. The deepest shaft iu the colony,
mnk In connection with one of the mine.
' neighbourhood is of very good quality, and is occupied
Some of
by settlers for agricidture. Among the product are wheat,
barley, oats, potatoes, and tobacco. The country in which tlie
Adelong Creek ha-s its sources, is of ii very broken character, many
portions being rugged iiiid picturesque; the course is winding, and
throughout the bed, in chaotic confusion, are immense masses of rock,
between which the water finds its way, in some places forming
oascades or falls, and in othei-s rapids, down to the lower levels.
Tho rainfall immediately around Adeloug varies between 30 and 40
inches; south towards the mountains the average is greater. Population,
750.
ALBTTKT.—On the 17th November, 1.82-t, Messrs. Hume and
Hovell, with a party of eight other colonists, after a long
fatiguing journey, which occupied them over six
part of the Murray River on which the preseii
stands. A tree was marked by Mr. Hovell with 1
this tree, with the inscription legible, still remain
as one of the landmarks of the past. The fertil,
country south of the Mun-uinbidgee, and around Albury
pastorahsts beyond the bounds of the early settlements
;ks, i-eached the
^own of Albury
lud is in-eseiTed
haiiicter of the
•on attracted
•hich, before
xpedition of 182i, did not reach the Yass plains. The law of
18G1 opened the lands of the colony to the people, and soon free
selectors liegan to settle, and erect homesteads, on the beautiful undulating
slopes found for miles on the banks of the Upper Murray.
The land iu the district is fertile, and saitablo either for agricnltural
or pastoral pur|)oses. Sheep-farming was first tried on the grassy
slopes and well sheltered valleys, but, during the last two decades,
wheat and other grain-crops have taken a place among the products.
The grape and oi-ange grow readily; wine-making is established as
an important industry. The town is well laid cot, the streets are
wide, and the general appearance is very much impixived by the
planting of oi-namental trees. Gold has been found iu the quartz
reefs of the Black Range. The climate is excessively hot in snmmei-,
the thermometer occasicmally reaching 110" Fahr., but, during the
remainder of the year, the weather is pleasant and genial. The rainfall
amounts to about 30 inches annually. Albury possesses sevei-al
very fine buildings. Population, 4,0«.
APPIN.—Tho township of Appin occupies a position on the
north-eastern slopes of the low watershed that sepai-ates the upper
of the George's
Duth fi'om Campbell town
wheat, 1
, aboil 10 miles
The s
I the Nepear
•ounding coimtry is agricnltural
i being the principal products.
r \ ' o l l o n g o u g passes through it.
nize and sugar largely,
a-shore, liolh north ami
liscovery has led to the
,y. The olimate is very
of the year, it is pleasant
lonntingto about 40 or .50
The road from Campbellto\vn
Population, 255.
ARALTTEN.—AraUien is situated on a small stream of the same
name, which fiows into the Mornya River. The area on which the
town is built, and its immediate neighbourhood, consist of an iininense
sunk \-alley, about 2,000 feet below the level of the surrounding
countI'y. The steepness of the descent makes ingress and egress
a matter of considerable difficulty. The valley of Araluen, which
lies about l.'i miles south from Braidwood, has long been known
as a gold-bearing country. The diggings are chielly alluvial in
chai-acter, but clay-slates containing auriferous veins are numerous.
On the outskirts, the country is mountainous and broken; this,
to a very considerable extent, interferes with attempts at agriculture.
Population, 879.
ARMIDALE.—Aniiidale. one of the principal tomis of the
Northern Tableland, is situated on the Duinaresq Creek, a small mountain
stream which ultimately joins the upper wators of the Mauleay
Kivor. The surrounding country, known as the New England District,
is undoubtedly one of the finest portions of the colony. The
land is fertile, and is occupied both for agricultural and pastoral jjurposes.
All the cereals and root-crops grow readily; English fi'iiit
trees thrive, and produce abundantly. Among the mineral products
are gold, tin, and antimony. The countrj' immediately around
the tovvn is level, but towards the west it becomes mountainous, culminating
in the peaks of the New England Range. Armidale is
situated at an elevation of about 3,300 feet above the sea ; the climate
is therefoi'e bracing and healthy. In winter, the cold is greater than
is found to obtain in the same latitude at a lower elevation, but
severity is scarcely ever experienced. This town ¡jossesses a number
of fine substantial buildings. The rainfall amounts to about 34 inches
annually. Population, 2,187.
B A L L I N A , -'I'he Richmond River, at the mouth of which tho
town of Ballina is situated, was first brought prominently uiider notice
by timbei'-cutters. In the immense brushes which lined the bank» of
the river, cedar was found in groat abundance. It was cut and foi--
warded to Sydney, and around this industry and the trade which
followed in its train, clustered the first settleifl who took up their
abode |iormanenLly on the river. As the oedar became scarce, attentiou
was gradually tui-ned to the laud, which was soon discovered to
he of the most fertile kind. The dense scrub rendered the tflsk of
clearing a very arduous one, but once ready for cultivation, the richness
of the soil amply repaid the settlor for his toil. Wlieiti half a
century ago there wii.s nought but jungle-growth, so thick and impenetrable
us almost to prevent progi'ess through it, are now seen
comfort«,ble homesteads, and pleasant fields, with all the evidences of
steady prosperity. The district produces
Much of tlie coimtry is auriferous; on the
south, very tine gold has been found. This
conclusion that reefs esist iu close proxiu
hot in summer, but during the
and gomal. Tho rainfall is abn
inches annually. Population, 3l50.
BALRANALD.—Halr.inald, one of the towns of the interior,
is situated on the right bank of the ilurrumbidgee River, a few mile.?
up-stream from its confluence with the Murray. The country around
is strictly pastoral in chai-acter; the soil in many places, e.specially on
tho banks of the river, is of a very good quality, but o\ving to
the smallness of the rainfall, which varies between ó and 15 inches
annually, agriculture, without irrigation, is almost impossible. The
isolated position of this town, and tho difficulties of communication
with other commercial ceutres, have largely tended to retard its
progress, but with the extension to it, iu the future, of tho railway line
from Hay, it would doubtless rise immediately into considerable
importauce- The climate is dry, and in summer very hot. Population,
Ü4tí.
BANKSTOWN".-Banksto\vn is situated on tho Great Southern
Road, about l5 miles north-east from Liveqiool, and is distant from the
meti-opoHs about 13 miles. The land in tho vicinity is oí afair quality,
and is WBII suited to the gi'owth of cereals. Near George's River,
the soil is, to a considei-able extent, alluvial in character, anil
generally richer than on tho slopes which approach on both sides.
Fruifr-gTO^viug receives attention. The grape is cultivated, and produces
abundantly. Poiiulation of neighbourhood, 360.
BARADINE.—Jiiiradine is situated on a small stream of the
same name, H tributary of the Namo: River, and lies about 80 mile«
north-west ft'om Coonabarabran. Oii the banks of the streams which
join their waters above the township, the land is alluvial in character,
and suitable for agriculture, but the limited character of the rainfall
docs much to hinder enterprise in this respect. The surroimdiug plains
arc chiefly occupied for sheep-farming. Population of district, 250.
BARMEDMAN".—This township is situated a short distance
west from the Barmedman Creek, and lies about 20 miles north-west
from Temora. The country- around is auriferous iji character, and
settlement has arisen chiefly in connection with mining. Large awas
are occupied for pastoral )Mirpo8es, but the limited water-supply in
many places, renders it necessary to adopt special precautions for the
pi-eservation of stock. The rainfall seldom exceeds 15 inches annually,
cultivation of the soil is therefore attended with difficulty. The
princi¡)al industry is gold-mining. Population, 350.
BARRABA.- -Hanabn, a small township on the Manilla River,
a tributary of the Namoi River, is situated about 00 miles north-west
from Tamworth. The surrounding country is both agricultural and
pastoral in character. Population, 229.
BARRINGUN.—This village is situated on a small creek of
the same name which flows into the Warrego, one of the northern
tiibutaries of the Darling River, and, being in latitude 29® south,
occupies a position on the dividing line between Queensland and
New South Wales. The suiTounding country, which includes part of
the adjoining colony, is very dry, and only suitable for pastoral
pnqjoses. The rainfall, in some portions, does not exceed nine inches
annually. Barringun has arisen in connection with tho travelling of
stock from one colony to the other. Tho chmate in summer is
found to be very hot, the atmosphere possessing but little humidity.
Population, 113.
B A T E M A N ' S BAT.—I Satoman's Bay is a small township on
the south side of the inlet of the same name, near the entrance
to the Clyde River. The bay forms a safe and well sheltered harbour
for slapping. Oysters are plentiful in several parts of it. These,
together with fish, wattle-bark, and timber, rank among the principal
exports. Wheat, maize, and potatoes are grown on the agricultural
lands on both banks of the river. Population, 26ti.