Ungarie, New South Wales

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Ungarie
state = nsw


caption = Post office and Central Hotel
lga = Bland Shire Council
postcode = 2669
pop = 342 [Census 2001 AUS|id=UCL177800|name=Ungarie (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)|accessdate=2007-06-30|quick=on]
est = 1872
elevation= 372
maxtemp =
mintemp =
rainfall =
stategov = Murrumbidgee
fedgov = Riverina
dist1 = 44
location1= West Wyalong
dist2 = 200
location2= Wagga Wagga

Ungarie is a town in Australia, the Second major town of the Bland Shire, located in the Central West region of New South Wales. It is located 513 km west of Sydney and 615 km north from Melbourne, between the towns of West Wyalong and Lake Cargelligo and is situated 262 m above sea level.

The Ungarie district is in the largest cereal-growing centre in NSW. Fact|date=May 2007

History

John Oxley, the explorer and NSW surveyor general was probably the first European to cross through what is now the Ungarie district. This was part of his investigation of the Lachlan Valley area in May 1817. In describing the country he had penetrated he said:

"For the want of timber, grass and water, this country will never be inhabited by civilized man."

He was of course proven wrong and the land west of Bathurst soon opened up. It was about 1852 that John Regan explored the back country of what is now West Wyalong in search of more station country. The Regans had a property east of West Wyalong called The Bland. Soon after he continued to explore further west and came upon the creek that he called The Humbug.

His group was so impressed by the land that it was taken up. A Mr Ward entered into partnership with one of Regan’s friend, a Mr Wood. They called the new run Merrigreen which consisted of 42,220 acres. After Regan’s explorations more men came to take up various stations.

Wollongough was taken up by Carlo Marino around 1871, followed by the King Family in 1878 and later by John Bros. In 1866 Roger Freeling took up Ungarie Station.

It was around about 1871 that the farming residents in the vicinity of the Humbug took up a petition for a Post Office to be established at Wollongough as they argued that the nearest post office at Marsden was too far away, 81 km. The postmaster at Forbes reported that about 20 to 30 residents would benefit from a post office.

Mr George Tout was appointed postmaster on January 1 1872 with an allowance of ten pounds per annum. The post office closed in 1875 because of some disagreements regarding the cost of the tender for the mail service. There often appeared to be some concern expressed by postmaster Tout regarding the conditions and the viability of the Post office. Once the post office was established a small settlement began to grow.

Mr Tout had erected, at his own cost, an apartment adjoining the post office. It is believed that this was the first building in Ungarie and it was believed to have been located at the rear of Navin’s store on the creek.

The old hotel was owned by Mrs Kerwin, and a portion of it, which still stands at the rear of the butcher’s shop was the dining room and was built around 1883 by Mr Tout. In 1889 the hotel was sold to the Mackrell family who came here from Wardry, where they conducted a hotel business.

By 1892 the settlement comprised a post office, a hotel, two general stores, a blacksmith shop, a butchery and a boarding house. It was Mr Mackrell who apparently led a group for the establishment of a school in 1891. Even at this stage the Ungarie settlement did not have the distinction of being gazetted as a village and it was in November 1891 that application was made for Ungarie to be established as a village. Following this, Surveyor A. Maitland reported that a village should be surveyed on the south side of the Euglo or Humbug creek in a position which would now be mid-way between the present township and the original business place adjacent to the east.

Nothing had yet been finalized, so a petition was submitted to the Minister of Lands, urging a survey for a village. Surveyor Roberts reported in December 1892 that a more suitable site existed on the north side of Euglo or Humbug creek opposite the present day township. In September 1893 Surveyor A. Maitland surveyed the village on this site covering an area of 250 acres. This was gazetted as the village of Ungarie on 31st March 1894.

The first police residence appeared from Yarrandale in 1896, however it is not exactly clear when the first police constable took up duties.

By 1900 the village of Ungarie began to grow and a baker shop was added to the list of services provided in the town.

Places of interest

*White Elephant Water tower
*Ungarie Museum

Pubs and clubs in Ungarie

*The Central Hotel, The Top Pub
*The Town and country Tavern, The Bottom Pub
*Ungarie Lawn Bowling Club
*Ungarie Golf Club

Sport

* Ungarie CC- Cricket
* Ungarie Magpies - Australian rules football

Notable people from the area

* Terry Daniher
* Neale Daniher
* Anthony Daniher
* Chris Daniher
* Paul Smith
* Ben Fixter

Surrounding towns

*Tullibigeal (39Km)
*Burcher (46Km)
*Lake Cargelligo (75Km)
*Weethalle (57Km)
*West Wyalong (44km)

References

*Astride the Humbug, 1872-1972 – Ungarie, 100 years of town building, published 1973

External links

* [http://www.blandshire.nsw.gov.au/ Bland Shire Council]
*Central Hotel [http://www.gdaypubs.com.au/NSW/ungarie.html]
*Town and Country Tavern [http://www.gdaypubs.com.au/NSW/ungarie.html]