Hargraves History

Pre1830
The land around Loueeja is occupied by Wiradjuri people.

1830s
White settlers take up grazing land from the Macquarie River to the Cudgegong River.

1851
A large nugget of gold, now known as the Kerr hundredweight, is found on Wallerwaugh Station, which at this time extends as far as the current village.

The Gold Rush begins. Between two and three thousand miners move though the area known as The Louisa Goldfields in search of their fortunes.

1852
Church of England in Hargraves is established.

1856
Louisa Creek National School is established in a slab hut just west of Lindsay Street.

1856
An early record exists of a court being proclaimed at Louisa Creek, a court house is built at about this time.

1858
Police headquarters for the Mudgee District moved from Avisford to Hargraves.

1859
The township of Hargraves is gazetted. 68 houses in the vicinity of Lindsay Street and along Merinda Street are mapped and valued. Most housing is slab or bark with a bark roof and valued at between five and fifteen pounds. The exception is the stone house and kiln belonging to the Nugget Vein Company, which is valued at one thousand pounds.

1867
Of 135 breadwinners, 13 are storekeepers, 4 publicans, 3 police and one a magistrate. No account is taken of their families or of the hundreds of Chinese miners in the area.

1863
First Annual Report of the Police Department notes that Hargraves police strength is 2 constables.

1870
Police Station built and possibly a residence is added to the courthouse.

1872
A new slab schoolroom is completed in Bowen Street.

1899
The School Residence is built beside the school.

1911
A new school building is opened, the slab building is by now dilapidated.

1914
The outbreak of WW1. More than fifty citizens of Hargraves fight under the Australian flag. Five do not return.

1925
The closure of the Hargraves Court of Petty Sessions.

1929
The great depression. Many unemployed move to the area to make a living panning for gold or living off the land.

1931
Police Station is sold.

1935
Approximate date of closure of Hargraves Police Station.

1939
WW2 and again Hargraves sends men to fight for their country.

1949
The newer school building is moved from Bowen Street to its current site in Merinda Street.

1959
The Hargraves lock-up is removed to Dubbo.

2006
Hargraves Public School celebrates its 150th year of continuous education for the children of the community.

The village currently has one store and no pub.

 

 

Source material
Brian Hodge, Valleys of Gold and Frontiers of Gold
Barbara Hickson and John Broadley, CMP for Hargraves
James F Grant and Division of Planning, Dept of Education, Hargraves Public School 1856-1976
Julie Wilson, own archives