About Temora 

In the heart of the NSW agricultural belt, Temora Shire is a sanctuary rich with heritage and resources.

From golden beginnings to high flying achievements, Temora has spread its wings to become more than just another country town.

Known for its internationally acclaimed aviation museum in a district of agricultural excellence, Temora is always reaching for the sky.

And with a reputation as the state’s "friendliest town", Temora is a place where country hospitality rings true.

It’s a place to enjoy, a place to relax and a place to inspire.

So come along and sample Temora’s finest resource – our community, which will welcome you with open arms.

The 2010 CountryLink Inland Tourism Awards will be held at Temora Aviation Museum.  Click here to visit their website.  

 
Click here for Accommodation.

History of Temora

One hundred and twenty three years ago more than 20,000 people had thronged to the gold diggings at Temora with the district being proclaimed a goldfield on June 4, 1880.

Some large discoveries were made, including the famous Mother Shipton nugget, a facsimile of which appears in the Rock and Mineral Museum (section of Rural Museum).

The first white settlement in the Temora District had occured in the 1850's and 1860's, with large runs being established by the early selectors. Broken Dam near Ariah Park was the crossroads for stage coach mailruns between Wagga and Forbes, and Narrandera and Lambing Flats (Young).

As the gold declined Temora continued as the service centre for a developing wheat growing district. The railway reached Temora in 1893 and was extended to Lake Cargellico and Griffith, reaching Ariah Park in 1907.

Our German Pioneers

German settlers played a part in the foundational pastoral days of the Temora district since as early as the 1850's. It was during the gold rush that German prominence rose, at the time that the township began.

A German by the name of Henry Margules, who was the pioneering mining registrar and a land & mining agent, is said to have selected the site of the town. A fellow German laid out the boundaries of the town - Surveyor Schleicher. A prominent pioneer during the gold rush days was August Ludwig Deutscher who came to the area from south west Victoria and became Temora's unofficial mayor. Today, German names and the ancestors of the first German pioneers maintain a presence in every aspect of Temora's life.

Temoras Gold Rush Days

Although already supporting a flourishing pastoral community by the 1860's, the township of Temora was not "established" until the gold rush of 1879, a decade after gold was first discovered. In the 1880's at the peak of the rush, Temora had a population of 20.000. In 1881 the highest yield from the Temora field was attained; an Impressive 35,228oz.

In more recent times, gold mining occurred at the Paragon Gold Mine at Gidginbung, 12 km north of the town, from 1986 to 1996. At the time is was the largest open cut gold mine in operation in NSW.

Although there is little evidence of the old mines, the Mother Shipton mine, located off Moroney's Lane, is a site well worth visiting. Gold mining took place at Reefton, Springdale, Combaning and Sebastapol as well as at Gidginbung and Temora.

In the early 1880's Temora was the scene of a massive gold rush with some 20,000 miners and hopefuls descending on the field. Numerous large gold nuggets were unearthed over a period of several years and there were some who did very well. Others were less fortunate and had great difficulty in surviving.

The Mother Shipton Nugget

The most spectacular find was the Mother Shipton Nugget won from the Mother Shipton Mine which is still one of the historic reminders of Temora's golden era. The nugget, which broke into three parts, as it was dug out, weighed in at 308.35 ounces. In 1882 the nugget was valued at 4,300 pounds ($8300). There is a replica of the nugget at the Temora Rural Museum. The smallest piece of the nugget was presented to Queen Victoria and the largest section was displayed in the window of the Orient Steamship Co. in London. While there the premises were broken into and the nugget was stolen and never recovered.

Where have all the Old Pubs Gone?

Very few of the gold rush hotels in Temora survived beyond the 1930's and 1940's.

The exceptions were the "Dewdrop Inn" and the "Golden Gate" hotels. These buildings survived beyond 1970 by which time few people were aware of their significance. The Dewdrop Inn was licensed in September 1880 by John Skelly and located in William Street, which was later changed to Gidgee St running off the Barmedman Road. The Golden Gate was a wooden structure on the corner of Old Cootamundra Road and DeBoos St. Old Cootamundra was the precinct of many hotels. The Golden Gate was licensed in 1881 to Alexander Stewart. After its licence was lost it was used for a long time as a private hospital where many Temora residents were born. There is now a modern brick home on the site.

First Bulk Wheat Haulage

Ariah Park a village 32 kilometres west of Temora claimed its name to fame on the 27th September 1916 when bulk wheat was loaded at its Railway siding for the first time in rural Australia.

Prior to this wheat had been transported in bags. A combination of the coming of the railway, better on-farm machinery and bulk selling through enterprising agents allowed Ariah Park to claim its place in the nation's history as "the birthplace of bulk grain haulage" in Australia.

The Temora Line

The construction of the railway line to Temora in 1893 heralded a new era for the advancement of the town and district and assured its development as wheat and wool growing centre.

After many arguments, suggestions and submissions, a petition in 1986 to have the line take the shortest and most feasible route from the southern line at Cootamundra was finally adopted. Seven years later the line became a reality.

The Sharman Boxing Troupe

Because of extortionate insurance premiums and restrictive regulations the popular boxing tents which featured in country shows are now a thing of the past.

The widely acclaimed Sharman Boxing Troupe originated when Jimmy Sharman, who lived in Temora, was crowned the Riverina Lightweight Champion in 1910. His boxing troupe made its debut at the Ardlethan Show in 1911 and continued for some 50 years in which time many of the champion boxers commenced their boxing careers in the Sharman tent. In recognition of Temora as home of the Sharman Troupe most of the memorabilia, including tent backdrops, the bell, drum, boxing gloves and numerous photographs were presented to the Temora Rural Museum where they are displayed.

 To find out more about Temora please visit the Shire Council website here