Woodstock, New South Wales

Woodstock is a village in the central west of New South Wales, Australia, 21 kilometres (13 mi) north east of Cowra. It contains remains of a brief goldrush during the late 19th century which left behind a number of substantial buildings before the village relapsed into relative isolation. It includes a restored railway station, hotel and a memorial hall. At the 2011 census, Woodstock had a population of 812.[1]

Woodstock
New South Wales
Parkes Street, the main street of Woodstock
Woodstock
Coordinates33°44′45″S 148°50′50″E
Population812 (2011 census)[1]
Established1888
Postcode(s)2793
Location
LGA(s)Cowra Shire
State electorate(s)Cootamundra
Federal Division(s)Hume

History

The railway station was opened in 1888[2] on the Blayney - Demondrille line which connected the Main Western Line at Blayney and the Main Southern Line at Demondrille railway station. At one time there were several sidings near the station with grain silos, stock yards, loading bank, goods shed, hay stage, and loco platform. In the 1980s services were suspended between Cowra and Blayney. The section was re-opened by the Lachlan Valley Railway which runs heritage trains from Cowra to Blayney. The railway station is now an art gallery and private residence.

Gold was discovered in 1868 at Woods Flat, a few kilometres south of Woodstock. A rush of 500 diggers took up the ground there, but after a short period only a few were left as surface gold was minimal and water supplies lacking. The goldfield had a long history but today almost nothing remains of the buildings at Woods Flat. The village of Woodstock was established in response to the building of the railway line north of Woods Flat, from Blayney to Cowra in 1880s. Initially known also as Woods Flat, the name of the village was changed to Woodstock in 1886.[3]

By 1900 there were many commercial businesses in the villages including butchers, bakers, hotels, saddleries, smithies, bootmakers, mercers, tailors, motor vehicle garages and billiard rooms. A post office was operating by 1897. The current Royal Hotel was rebuilt in 1911, an earlier timber building having been destroyed by fire. The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney opened a branch at Woodstock in 1907, followed by the Commonwealth Savings Bank in 1913 and the Bank of New South Wales in 1929. The Soldiers Memorial Hall was opened in 1925 by Sir Neville Reginald Howse, who was at that time the Member for Calare.[4]

The bushranger John Vane, a member of Ben Hall's gang, who died in 1906 was buried in an unmarked grave at Woodstock cemetery. A headstone was erected by local historians in 1989.

Country markets are held at Woodstock Soldiers Memorial Hall on the second Sunday of each month except January. The Memorial Hall hosts a touring opera company, OperaWorks, each year. Other events at Woodstock include a long track motorbike championships and the annual show.

Heritage listings

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

Notes
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Woodstock (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  2. "Grenfell Branch". www.nswrail.net. Retrieved 11 December 2006.
  3. Kelton, 1987
  4. Carcoar Chronicle 1 May 1925
  5. "Woodstock Railway Station". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01290. Retrieved 18 May 2018.

References

Kelton, J. (1987). Woods Flat Gold ISBN 0-7316-1469-0.

  • Woodstock Images
  • Woodstock Soldiers Memorial Hall,
    Rankin Street
  • Woodstock railway station,
    now an art gallery
  • Former Commercial Banking Company branch
    and residence

Media related to Woodstock, New South Wales at Wikimedia Commons

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