The correspondent of the Empire Newspaper wrote on 6 February that “the population is steadily on the increase”.
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“Lambing Flat proper, or Burrangong, the name I presume, by which the town is to be honoured, has upon it the principal stores…….. ,three hotels, one ballroom, a bowling alley, a rifle gallery, and Jones’ equine circus ( performing all last week), a cluster of buildings and presents an appearance of stability.
On Spring Creek, stores are increasing, and the timber is coming in for one or two public houses. Of course, here, as well as on all the surrounding diggings, shanties abound.
On Stoney Creek, there are public houses either selling or preparing to sell, at least half a dozen in number; one of them have a ball room. Horse sale yards are numerous….”.
READ ALSO: Lambing Flat Gold Rush Part 3
On Monday, 11 February, a correspondent of the Yass Courier wrote:
Lambing Flat is the principal place of business. There are several good substantial stores, no end of small shops for the sale of hop beer, fruit and too often grog as well.
There is but one licensed public house, kept by Mr. Allen.
The Great Eastern is certainly a first rate house, conducted on a most liberal scale, and in consequence is the resort of all respectable persons on the Flat.
No rowdyism is allowed to be carried on there….There is but one wholesale store on a large scale on the diggings.
This is Mr. Godfreys of Yass, who has the right wing of the Great Eastern Hotel as a commodious wholesale warehouse. There are several butchers, and bakers, barbers and bootmakers, on the Flat, some of who have really large and respectable establishments.
Mr. Carter of Yass has established a tailing yard, and takes charge of horses at so much per week…. Mrs. Carter has a very good school with about fifteen scholars.
The Commissioner’s quarters and police barracks are nearly completed, and are situated on a hill overlooking the whole of Lambing Flat.
The township is not yet laid out, but I should think the Government will not long delay a matter of such vital importance to the community.
On Monday 11 February the following licences were granted:
Henry Jefferies, Diggers Rest, Stoney Creek; Henry Freeman, Lambing Flat; John Douglass, Sportsman’s Arms, Stoney Creek; W. A. Brown, Red, White and Blue Inn, Stoney Creek; George Douglass, Lambing Flat.
Also a billiard licence was granted to Mr. Allen of the Great Eastern Hotel and to Alexander Phillips, Thomas Finch and W. Maclean slaughtering licences were granted.
Thomas Kirk and Co. had completed by 13 February, for a charge of £15 , the cutting of the sidelong of the hill at the crossing-place to enable drays and other vehicles to cross with greater facility.
Messrs. Goddard and Mathieson are erecting a fine building at the junction of Main and Burrawa Streets which they intend to open as the Adelong Hotel.
( to be continued in next week’s Tuesday edition of the Young Witness).
Historian Brian James contributes his column each week to the Young Witness on behalf of the Young Historical Society Inc.
