The Four Watson Brothers arrived in Sydney in 1858 from Portadown in Ireland and quickly moved on to Lambing Flat, where a rich alluvial gold rush was taking place.
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They set their business up in Boorowa Street at the western end near the Australian Hotel.
Their business was very successful and they moved into a weatherboard building at the other end of Boorowa Street (Fosseys Later Reject Shop).
In the mid 1800s this was converted to a two storied brick building.
On the corner of Boorowa and Lynch Streets the Watson Brothers purchased the flour mill built by JJ Hayes of Boorowa in 1866.
It was capable of milling 1500 bushels of wheat per week making 55 tons of flour and supplied the surrounding areas of Grenfell, Forbes, the Levels and the Bland.
It was an imposing building being three stories high with a chimney stack of 60 feet.
The wheat is received in Boorowa Street and exported from Lynch Street.
The engine has 16 hors e power and the boiler capable of driving an engine of 24 horse power.
The quality of the flour was outstanding and in 1873 and in 1873 it won against 10 competitors in the intercolonial exhibitions.
New machinery was installed in 1888 and the mill could store 20,000 bushels of wheat and 100 tons of flour.
The flour took prizes at Young, Sydney, Melbourne and Philadelphia.
Thomas Watson initially managed the first store but took religious orders and left for Victoria.
James Watson was 24 when he arrived at Lambing Flat and was the bookkeeper of the business.
He was interested in public affairs and become the member for the Lachlan Parliamentary Electorate which Young was part of.
George Watson, the youngest of the brothers, at the initial store had the job of looking after the yard, the stables and horses and driving the cart.
Part of the brothers business was treating wash dirt purchased from small diggers and Chinese and this was managed by William Watson in an area on the creek bank behind the original store.
William, after James left for Sydney, managed the new store and flour mill and was very involved in the town development.
He was a great supporter of St John's Church. William died aged, 47, on August 18.
George Wilson died October 12, 1887, aged 52.
- Brian James supplies his column for publication in the Young Witness each Tuesday on behalf the Young Historical Society Inc.
