Posts Tagged ‘jeogla’
Kempsey to Armidale – Kemp’s new line
Monday 7 December 1857, The Sydney Morning Herald
THE MACLEAY LINE OF ROAD. – On Monday last we were pleased at receiving a visit from Mr. William Smith, of the Macleay River, the pioneer in opening Kemp’s new line for wheel-traffic. On that day, the 23rd instant, Mr. Smith entered Armidale, with two drays, carrying over one ton each ; and, having unloaded, despatched them on their return before evening. Mr. Smith informed us that the marked line, which he followed pretty closely, and had to clear before him, is about 100 miles in length from Kempsey to Armidale, and that he imagined it might be made shorter by 5 or 10 miles. Neither a bow nor a yoke was broken on the way, there was not a single capsize, and feed and water were found in abundance. Mr. Smith has assured us that the expenditure of the proposed £1500 would make a good road of the line, as no bridging is required, and none of the creeks crossed on the way contained nine inches of water. The track is declared a sound one, and Mr. Smith, who is evidently a practical man of great experience and indomitable perseverance, is of opinion that only one side cutting will be necessary. The worst part is stated to be between Little Harry’s and Hall’s station, but from the former point to the edge of the table-land the road is good. We understand that at the present time there are no fewer than thirteen vessels trading between Kempsey and Sydney, and that so far from the water on the bar being very shallow, as is often represented, the Prospector, which draws 6 feet 6 inches when loaded with 2500 bushels of maize, finds no difficulty in crossing it. Another of the traders takes 3000 bushels as a cargo, and will consequently have a deeper draught. A few months ago we chronicled the arrival of drays, on two occasions, from the Macleay, by the old Jeogalla line. New we have the pleasure of stating that a second line has been proved practicable. We strongly recommend co-operation with the Macleay people in this matter. They are entitled to more than thanks from the New England residents; and while we give Mr. Smith great credit for his successful trip, we deeply regret that Mr. Kemp, the discoverer of the new line, should have met a premature death in his exertions to further the cause, and that he was not spared to see his predictions fully verified.
Road from Armidale to the McLeay
Saturday 14 June 1856, The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser
(To the Editors of the Armidale Express.)
GENTLEMEN – Observing in your publication of 3rd instant, a paragraph respecting the importance to Armidale and its neighbourhood of a nearer and better road to some shipping port than the present long and bad routes to the Hunter and Clarence, and suggesting Kempsey, on this river, as the nearest, and soliciting information-I have to call your attention to the fact that there is a dray road via Hillgrove and Jeogalla, distance 110 miles.
I do not mean to assert that it is at present a very practicable one, which is not surprising, as not one shilling of either public or private money has ever been expended on it ; but if a proper survey were made, and a few hundred pounds laid out in making sidelings on the Big Hill and in other places, as the ground is perfectly sound, and there is good feed and water throughout, I believe a much better and nearer road may be found than on the line to any other river.
It is probable a route may also be found from the cattle station called Little Harry’s, near the Guy Fawkes, crossing the heads of Fifth Day anti Nullah Nullah Creeks, and avoiding crossing this river. The part from Fifth Day Creeks upwards to and downward from New England has been traversed at different times, on horseback, by myself and two other parties ; and I doubt not, with a little trouble, a good road might there be found.
The subject has attracted considerable attention here, and subscriptions have at various times been opened, but nothing has hitherto been attempted. I expect, however, three or four persons, accompanied by blacks, will start hence in the course of a fortnight, to explore the dividing range between the Nambuccra and McLeay, and if that is found impracticable, then to examine the Fifth Day Creek line.
The proprietors of Little Harry’s, Guy Fawkes, Bald Hills, and other stations in the neighbourhood, ought at once to direct their superintendents to give every information in their power, particularly as to the spurs leading off the table land, and not let the paltry consideration of the disadvantage of a road going through a cattle camp weigh in the scale against so great a public benefit. I speak advisedly on this point, an objection having been made on that ground to my opening a road there to which I then acceded.
As regards this river, the bar is the safest on the coast save Moreton Bay, and always has nine feet of water on it. Vessels are never bar-bound for want of water, as in a much puffed river to the south, and with the aid of a pilot and his boat and crow (voted, but not yet obtained), would get out and in during nearly all weathers. It embouches in Trial Bay, a safe refuge in southerly gales-northerly and easterly being fair for entering the river or proceeding to Sydney.
The soil here would successfully compete with any in the colony. No manure is ever required. The products are maize, tobacco, pumpkins, bananas, oranges, lemons, grapes, potatoes, onions-in fact, vegetables and fruits of all kinds in the greatest perfection, which might be exchanged for your wheat. – I am, gentlemen, your very obedient servant.
J. W.
Kempsey, McLeay River, May 23, 1856.
Off the road at Jeogla.
Monday 25 January 1954, The Sydney Morning Herald
PLUNGE BY CAR
ARMIDALE, Sunday.
A man was killed when a car plunged 20ft down an embankment on the Armidale-Jeogla road, 33 miles east of Armidale to-night.
He was Charles Leslie Cundy, labourer, of Styx River, Jeogla.
Cundy was thrown from the vehicle and was pinned underneath it.
Painful driving accident
Tuesday 14 April 1908, The Sydney Morning Herald
CAPSIZED OVER AN EMBANKMENT. HILLGROVE, Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Diamond, of Mayfield, Jeogla, were returning in a sulky from Hillgrove on Saturday evening, when the vehicle capsized over an embankment near St. Helena Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Diamond each sustained a broken arm and other injuries. A young man named Mason, who was fortunately pass- ing, assisted the sufferers to return to Hill- grove.
Old news from Armidale and New England 