Free Settler or Felon
Convict and Colonial History




Tamworth Time Line 1827 - 1870


Ashton's Circus

1827

In May Allan Cunningham travelled from Segenhoe in the Hunter Valley over the Liverpool Ranges to the Peel River


1831

Bushranger George Clarke apprehended for cattle stealing


1831

Sir Thomas Mitchell entered the Peel Valley by the old stock route through the Peel Range. He met Joseph Brown at 'Woolomin', camped at Goora (Somerton) and crossed the' Nammoy' (Namoi)


1832

Sir W. Edward Parry accompanied by Henry Dangar, Charles Hall and William Telfer travelled from Port Stephens via the Hunter Valley to examine the area recommended by Henry Dangar


1836

Shearing commenced at Peel River. Before this facilities were not set up at the Peel and the sheep were driven along the track known as the Peel Line to Port Stephens.


1837

Crown Lands Commissioner Alexander Paterson. Headquarters at Jerry's Plains


1838

The Australian Agricultural Company imported 30 mules and 12 drivers from Valparaiso. They were used to take wool to Port Stephens


1839

Richard Stubbs established a Store at Tamworth


1840

Thomas Byrnes became Tamworth's first Postmaster


1841

Australian Agricultural Company headquarters at Goonoo Goonoo


1842

Magistrate Francis Edward Bigge shot at by bushrangers George Wilson and Thomas Forrester


1844

Border Police establishment removed from quarters on the Peel River to Tamworth


1848

John Campbell appointed Chief Constable at Tamworth Bushrangers Roach and Gregory captured near Tamworth


1851

Gold discovered on Swamp Oak Creek by Buchanan and Lucas on a grazing run leased by Nathaniel Burrows a former convict who arrived on the Florentia in 1828


1852

Edward Hargraves appointed gold Commissioner for Hanging Rock


1852

Gold discovered at Bowling Alley point by two Port Stephens men Laurie and Renwick.

Church of England Parsonage built at Tamworth


1853

Caledonian Hotel built at Tamworth


1853

Ashton's Circus performed at Hanging Rock


1854

Gold rush at Happy Valley

Hanging Rock Gold Diggings 1854

Oakenville Creek 1854


1855

Tamworth National School opened by John Crawford

Tamworth';s first bank opened. Bank of N.S.W. Manager Shepherd Smith

Travelling from Sydney to Tamworth in 1855


1858

Dr. Richard Jenkins first local man to be elected to Parliament


1858

Tamworth's first Chemist, David Goodwin


1858

Tamworth's first solicitor William Smith


1859

James Barnett, Tamworth's first watchmaker and jeweller


1859

Flour mill established in Tamworth by Charles Armstrong


1861

New Court House built at the corner of Peel and Darling Streets Tamworth

1861

Tamworth connected to Sydney by telegraph


1862

Harness and saddle maker B and G. Moses


1862

George Denshire appointed the first full time Postmaster


1862

Travelling picture show in Tamworth. H. Jors showed 20 lantern slides in the Daniel O'Connell Hotel


1863

Foundation stone laid of Presbyterian Church, Marius Street. Tamworth


1864

Record floods. Northern part of the Peel River bridge washed away


1865

Murder of Celia Butler at Bowling Alley Point


1866

Henry Aiken established a General Store


1866

Population of Tamworth 650


1867

Tiger Brewery established. Tamworth


1870

Nathan Cohen established a soap and candle factory Tamworth


Notes and Links

Oakenville Creek 1854 The illustration represents a scene of very frequent occurrence at these diggings. A stray clergyman is performing divine service in the open air to an attentive audience, among which may be perceived a sprinkling of native blacks. While the parson is perhaps settling dialectically some knotty point of controversy, two men in tile back ground are settling pugilistically some old quarrel or disputed claim. For such affairs, indeed, Sunday is set apart as the regular settling day- especially during the absence of the efficient Commissioner, Mr. King.

In and Around Tamworth - Town and Country Journal - 1906

To Tamworth by Coach in 1871 - Town and Country Journal 1871

An Australian Gold Digger - Paul Prisk - Nundle Town and Country Journal 1889