Gunning, New South Wales

Gunning is a town on the Old Hume Highway, between Goulburn and Yass in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, about 260 km south-west of Sydney and 75 km north of the national capital, Canberra. (Nearby towns are Cullerin, Gundaroo, Dalton, Yass, Murrumbateman and Goulburn.)

Gunning
New South Wales
Gunning's main street
Gunning
Coordinates34°47′0″S 149°16′0″E
Population659 (2016 census)[1]
Established1821
Postcode(s)2581
Location
LGA(s)Upper Lachlan Shire
CountyKing
ParishGunning
State electorate(s)Goulburn
Federal Division(s)Hume
Localities around Gunning:
Dalton Merrill Gurrundah
Oolong Gunning Cullerin
Lade Vale Bellmount Forest Lerida

At the 2016 census, Gunning had a population of 659.[1] The Shire of Gunning (which was amalgamated into Upper Lachlan Shire in 2004) had a population of 2,280. The Gunning Wind Farm has been established to the town's northeast, and is visible from the Hume Highway.

A monthly market is held on Yass Street, near the Old Court House, by the local Lions Club, on the 4th Sunday of each month. In and around the historic Courthouse, you'll find jams, honey, arts & crafts, homemade goods, children's toys and books available. Plus, don't forget to get a bacon and egg roll or a sausage or steak sandwich from the Lions Club BBQ for breakfast or lunch.

If you make a day of it, Gunning offers historic buildings, great cafes, a few knick-knack and antique shops and a country pub with bistro.

History

The Gunning region was originally home to two Australian Aboriginal language groups, the Gundungurra people in the north and the Ngunnawal people in the south.

The region (specifically Gundaroo) was first explored by Europeans in 1820, and settled the next year by Hamilton Hume. In 1824, Hume and William Hovell left here to discover the overland route to Port Phillip Bay where Melbourne is sited. Land sales began in 1838. The nearby town of Dalton, now best known as the earthquake centre, was settled in 1847.

In 1865, Bushranger Ben Hall and his gang held up Kimberley's Inn, and a constable was shot dead.

In 1886 the town was described as

Wheat, maize, barley, and Oats are produced in the district Natural grass is plentiful and affords good pasture for flocks and herds. The Great Southern Railway Line passes near this town. The population is 409.[2]

Heritage listings

Gunning has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Population

In the 2016 Census, there were 659 people in Gunning. 86.9% of people were born in Australia and 91.4% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were Anglican 30.4%, No Religion 25.8% and Catholic 22.6%.[1]

Transportation

Gunning was originally a coach stop, and service centre for the surrounding farms mainly growing Merino sheep. It has a police station and court house, post office, and school.

The Main South railway from Sydney arrived in 1875 and was completed through to Albury in 1882. Gunning railway station is served by one daily NSW TrainLink XPT service in each direction operating between Sydney and Melbourne, and one weekly Xplorer service operating between Sydney and Griffith.[4]

Its main streets were built very wide, for the time of horse and bullock-drawn wagons. This served the town well when the main highway between Sydney and Melbourne carried cars and trucks through, until the Hume Highway by-pass was completed on 5 April 1993. The town has been able to resume a more rural pace of life, and develop something of an industry in providing bed and breakfast accommodation.

The establishment of the main trunk telegraph line is remembered by the Telegraph Hotel.

Notable residents
  • Millicent Armstrong was a playwright and farmer in Gunning, New South Wales, who wrote primarily about the experiences of country life in early 20th century Australia. The plays she wrote while living in Gunning were well received and prize-winning.
  • Uniting Church, Gunning
  • Old Gunning Court House
  • Telegraph Hotel, Gunning
  • old St Francis Xavier church building

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Gunning (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  2. John Sands, The New atlas of Australia [Sydney, 1886] page 49.
  3. "Gunning Railway Station and yard group". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01162. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. "Southern timetable". NSW Trainlink. 7 September 2019.
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