With the Hunter Valley locked out to free settlers prior to 1820, the first local land grants were made around 1826 when George Townshend (Trevallyn), Charles Boydell (Camyr Allyn) and Alexander Park (Lewinsbrook) received their grants.

Townshend and Boydell were neighbours in Wales and many other Welsh settlers followed. Names like Gresford, Eccleston, Halton, Trevallyn, the Allyn River, Summer Hill and Caergwrle reflect these strong links.

In 2002, the signing of a Sister Village Agreement with Gresford in Wales publicly recognised these links. Numerous historic sites and interesting stories provide the present day visitor with an insight into the early days of settlement.

Early settlers were assigned convict servants in proportion to the wealth they brought with them. They also employed “ticket-of-leave” (ex-convict) labourers. Their aim was to develop the land and grow independent settlements. They grew tobacco, fruit, wheat and corn. Tobacco became an important crop with the district winning medals for its produce at International Exhibitions.

The first grapes were planted in the late 1820s, amongst the earliest plantings in the Hunter, with viticulture growing in importance during the 1830s. However, after the arrival of Dr Henry Lindeman in 1841, wine production became a major industry.

Later, dairying and citrus orchards grew in importance, particularly as transport links were improved. Gresford even had its own butter factory at one stage. Cheese was also processed locally.

Of course, the first product from the district was timber. The extraction of this valuable resource still occurs today but the volumes are much smaller than they once were and many of the quality timbers are now very rare. Once, numerous small saw mills produced cedar, ironbark, blue gum, mahogany and turpentine timbers.

In the pioneering days, the district had to be largely self-sufficient. Consequently, many tradesmen had shops in the townships. These included a saddler, tailor, hairdresser, bootmaker, cobbler, butcher, baker, blacksmith, auctioneer and undertaker.

Of course, times change. The restructuring of the dairy industry, in particular, has had dramatic repercussions locally. Today, the number of dairies and the number of farm labouring jobs has been greatly reduced. The beef industry is not as profitable as it once was and local orchards are now more of a hobby industry.

Changing transport options has seen the need for locally based trades people reduced. Many locals also buy the majority of the goods in regional centres.

With the arrival of a new millenium, the Gresford district has found itself at a nexus. Traditional agricultural industries are struggling for survival, local trades and shopkeepers struggle to attract customers and many of our young people leave to find work.

However, new opportunities are also arising. The district now has a quality wine industry, well recognised for its fine products. Organic farming is filling niche markets with superb produce. Small businesses are providing specialist products and services to locals and widely spread markets. The tourist industry is also steadily growing as visitors recognise the magnificent environment, rich history, friendly people and proximity to major centres.

While no-one believes that we have the capacity or the desire to become a major tourist mecca, the fact is that the district is responding to enforced changes by adopting new strategies. The district’s greatest strength is its people. Local communities are inclusive, supportive and positive.

While we face new challenges in this changing world, we can draw strength from the pioneers who laid the foundations for the fine communities of the Gresford district.

by Peter Doyle

My earliest recollections are of going through the Paterson River at the Pound Crossing in my father’s Essex car, back in the early 1930’s. The crossing got its name from the cattle pound on the southern side, which was almost the only part of the surveyed village of Tyraman that was ever utilised.

Frequently, large stones above the crossing would get displaced by freshes in the river, wash down and block the car. Then my father would put his feet on the outside running board of the car, pull off his boots and socks and get into the often freezing water and shift the stone while the rest of the family would be singing nursery rhymes.

Later, as a 6-10 year old, I would ride my pony through the crossing to Gresford School, a distance of 5 miles or 8 kms. In my last year, the first Pound Crossing bridge was completed and I then rode over the bridge.

During the day, the school pony along with 5 or 6 others was left in a yard next to Wal Barling’s blacksmith’s shop, about where Short Street joins Lostock Road.

This was in the 1930’s when Australia was coming out of the World Depression. I would say that in those years about 90% of the children went barefoot to school unless it was a special day.

During the war years, everyone was extremely patriotic and loyal. It was all about helping Mother England survive until Japan entered the war in December 1941. There was many a send off in the School of Arts to service men or women as they went off to the front, some unfortunately never to return.

Then we had the equivalent of Dad’s Army, the Volunteer Defence Corp, VDC, made up of locals either too old to serve in the forces or younger people engaged in essential industry. They did army drill once a week, policed blackouts at night and planned how to handle a possible Japanese invasion. Elaborate plans were made to evacuate stock and anything that the Japs could use to advantage, while our VDC were to harass them from deep in the Barrington and other ranges!

After the war, cars really started to become the essential item that they are today. Previously, travel was pretty restricted and generally by bus or train. When I went to boarding school in Sydney in the 1940’s, it was by Mick Smith’s mail car to Paterson, by the Kempsey mail train to Sydney and then by tram out to Waverley College near Bondi Junction. The reverse happened 3 times a year when I came home for holidays.

From the 30’s through to the 70’s, dairying was easily the main source of income for the area. It created keen competition for the carriers as milk was then picked up in 10 gallon cans and at one stage there were 3 separate milk runs between East Gresford and the top of the Allyn River.

However, the introduction of bulk milk collection in the late 60’s had a dramatic effect, and its enforcement as the sole method of collection in the 70’s started the dairy industry on a downward spiral that is still continuing today.

Beef production has had less of a roller coaster ride than dairying. There is still a lot of beef production locally, however there are very few properties about that are totally dependent on primary production to survive.

It is interesting to see the wine industry making a comeback, after many years of being out of favour. The Glendon Brook winery is a very significant development, and it should encourage more vineyard development.

In the 1960’s with dairying at its peak and a major drought in the years ’64, ’65 and ’66, water became one of the great talking points. A representative committee from the district met regularly with the idea of putting dams on the Allyn and Paterson rivers. Suddenly, with a change of government, the homework partly paid off with the construction of Lostock Dam but, unfortunately, we still do not have one on the Allyn River.

Lostock Dam’s building brought many beneficial effects, creating new well paid jobs, brisker business, new blood, new ideas, the Paterson River football team and other benefits such as the re-alignment of Lostock Road (that’s right - you should have seen it before 1970!). However, the hoped for spin off to dairying and to beef has never really materialised and it is sad to see so little use made from its waters.

It was during construction of the dam that the Scouting and Girl Guide movements really took off in Gresford and many of our citizens under 50 years will remember camps up at Lostock Dam. The scouts still retain a campsite there including a couple of houses, and additionally raise funds by running cattle on the dam’s foreshores.

The former Guide Hall, soon to be renamed the Therese Doyle Youth and Community Hall, was moved from the dam site after the completion of the dam. My late wife, Therese and the local Guide ladies catered for the official opening of the dam and did such a good job that they got the hall donated to them at no cost.

This hall, now owned by Gresford Community Group, has recently been painted both inside and out. Shortly, it will have its security updated and air-conditioning installed, courtesy of Country Energy. This will allow the Community Group to expand their youth activities and allow them to initiate adult education activities. We are extremely grateful to Country Energy for the wonderful help.

Harry Boyle, a great Hunter Valley historian, said at a recent Australia Day ceremony in East Gresford that the immediate future of the area lay in developing tourism. This announcement was greeted with a fair bit of moaning and groaning by some of the local residents.

I have to say that I think Harry was spot on. Our proximity to major population centres, our rolling countryside and our mild climate mean that the value of our rural land can never be compensated by the pursuit of primary production alone. This means our area should become increasingly attractive to entrepreneurs, people with new ideas and with financial resources, who are prepared to change with changing times and maybe even lead the changes.

But, hopefully, we will always retain our rural, down to earth lifestyle. Recently, when about to undergo open heart surgery in Sydney, my surgeon told me that he grew up at Trundle, a village in the central west of NSW. It is hard to describe the confidence that gave me, knowing that I was in the hands of someone who would have his feet firmly on the ground but who could also hold his own with the bright people in the medical world.

by Margaret Dent

Bushrangers were an ever-present feature of life during the first 100 years of European settlement in Australia; and the Gresford district saw its fair share.

In the early days of Hunter Valley settlement, they could be described as “runaway convicts”, and while less well-known than those of the gold rush era and the 1860s, were every bit as colourful and interesting.

One of the most colourful of the convict bushranger gangs was the so-called “Jewboy” gang. Numbers in this gang fluctuated between two and seven members and they operated in the Hunter Valley, around Lake Macquarie and as far south as Wyong. While no sightings of this gang were reported in the Gresford district, the area between Paterson and Dungog provided the hilly retreats favoured by bushrangers. A small group, headed by a man known as “The Blacksmith”, a runaway from Mr E Cory of Vacy, had been camped in the area for up to two years. (“An Organised Banditti” – Colin Roope & Patricia Gregson).

Fred Ward, better known as “Captain Thunderbolt”, began work as a horse breaker at Tocal, Paterson when he was about 17. In 1856, he stole a mob of horses from Tocal, was caught, sentenced and removed to the notorious Cockatoo Island Prison.

After escaping, presumably with the assistance of his companion Mary Anne Bugg, he embarked on a long and colourful career as a horsebreaker and thief. In 1864, pursued by the police at a site in the Eccleston area known as “The Leap”, he was reported as making a daring ride down a steep slope to avoid capture when the vigilantes had surrounded him. It is related that Frank, the son of Michael McNamara of “Penshurst”,Mt Rivers on the Paterson River, remembered Thunderbolt calling into his house just after he had been declared a bushranger with a price of £200 on his head.

Thunderbolt said to Frank, “Shoot me and collect the £200.” Frank, in his thick Irish brogue replied, “No, I wouldn’t shoot you for £2000.”

Thunderbolt had a long career as a bushranger. He was well regarded by many because he avoided violence, generally behaved in a gentlemanly manner and had a long-term relationship with Mary Anne Bugg, which resulted in him becoming a father. He was eventually shot and killed by a constable near Uralla but some family members believe that it was actually his half brother who was killed and that Fred Ward survived to live a quiet life, passing away in Canada after the turn of the century.

IM Simpson in “Pioneers of a Great Valley” tells of the Breelong Blacks, Jimmy and Joe Governor. While being pursued by the police, the Governors sped through the gorges of the Barrington Tops and on September 14, 1900 robbed a house near Gresford on the Paterson River.

They then doubled back north, skirting the eastern side of the Barringtons and, on September 22, were reported at Cobark, 20 miles from Gloucester.

The Dungog Chronicle stated on July 31, 1900 that “Joe and Jimmy Governor, the Breelong murderers, were formerly residents of the Gresford district and were in the employ of Mr HH Brown of Coulston. It is feared that if they can escape the cordon of police surrounding them near Merriwa, they would work their way across to the head of the Williams River, to Gloucester and then to the coast. The murderers are the sons of a blackfellow named Tom Governor, and their mother was a half cast. It is 14 years since they were in the district.”

On September 17, 1900, the Maitland Mercury reported that there was “great excitement in the Lostock neighbourhood today. A party of 13 armed men, police and civilians arrived at “Penshurst” about noon, to tell that the Governors had stuck up D Cowley’s at Carrabolla the night before. At 5pm, they had another report from Mr Drummond, the Upper Lostock school teacher, that the Governors had stuck up Edward Lawrence’s at 2pm. During the usual stock sales at Gresford on the Friday, news got abroad about the Governors robbing the huts in the district. It was not long before the saleyards were deserted, as most people made for their homes to protect their wives and families. It is said that large numbers of people slept at the residence of Mr HH Brown of Coulston, on Friday and Saturday nights, also at Hancock’s and Beatty’s hotels in Gresford. They took from Lawrence’s blankets and enough rations for a fortnight.”

The various churches of the Gresford district each have proud histories. Following is information on four of the local churches.

St Mary-on Allyn was built in 1840. In the graveyard are the tombs of William and Mary Boydell. William was the younger brother of Camyr Allyn’s Charles Boydell and came to Australia after being impressed by his brother’s achievements.

William and Mary met aboard the ship that brought them to Australia in 1836. Mary was the daughter of Bishop Broughton, the first and only Bishop of Australia. Bishop Broughton made it a condition of their marriage that Boydell build the home and church, which he did on his land grant.

St Mary-on-Allyn is a handsome church with a fine graveyard made even more special by the well-kept churchyard and idyllic pastoral setting. A nice touch is the iron gateway with an old gas lamp dangling overhead. There are lancet-arched leadlight window with timber tracery and a lancet-arched doorway topped by a gable with carved timber bargeboards.

St Anne’s Anglican Church, Gresford, stands high above the banks of the Paterson River and its walls echo with the dreams, struggles and achievements of a rural community and its pioneers.

This handsome brick church, consecrated in 1898, replaced one on the same site constructed of wooden slabs in 1856 and is one of several historic churches in the district. The land for St Anne’s church, burial ground and glebe had been provided in 1841 by pioneer, George Townshend, who gave 181 acres for the princely sum of 10 shillings!

The interior is lit by many magnificent, memorial stained glass windows, some to the memory of members of the Lindeman family of "Cawarra", Gresford, whose name has been synonymous with winemaking in the Hunter for more than 150 years. St Anne’s has always had a special affinity with the district’s pioneers and in the burial ground you will see the headstones of Townshend, Boydell, Park and Lindeman family members.

To arrange morning tea and/or conducted tour, please call (02) 49 389 325

Construction of St Helen’s Catholic Church in East Gresford began in 1867.

In September 1867 the Maitland Mercury reported that “St Helen’s is a neat substantial structure of the Gothic style of architecture, and built of bricks on a stone foundation . . . 60 feet in length including the chancel, and 23 feet in width, and the walls are 12 feet in height. There are 6 windows on one side and 5 on the other, having a neat porch at the entrance; a bell turret is fixed on the front gable; the building is plastered throughout.”

As was the custom, the congregation paid for the exclusive right to a pew, one way to raise money for the church. The McCormack/Doyle family obtained the first pew on the right in perpetuity, and some families still like to think of certain seats as their family right.

Bishop Murray blessed and opened St Helen’s on October 2 1867, the third church opened in the new Maitland diocese. At the opening of the church, the bushranger Thunderbolt had discharged a gun in an act of bravado, and on his journey back to Maitland, Bishop Murray was worried about meeting the bushranger, so he hid the contributions for the Gresford church down his boots.

The Congregational Work was established by the London Missionary Society in the Allyn, Paterson and Williams River Valleys during the second half of the 1800’s. Churches were established at Eccleston, Lostock, Underbank and Salisbury, with regular meetings at Carrabolla, Upper Allyn, Chichester and Bingleburra prior to the turn of the century.

In January 1903, a group met in a house on the Bingleburra property and decided to erect a church building at 30 Durham Road, East Gresford, on a parcel of land being donated for that purpose. The official opening of the Gresford Church was conducted by the Rev. Dr. S.E. Roseby, Chairman of the Congregational Union of N.S.W., on Wednesday 8th July 1903.

In 1953 the foyer and vestry extended the front of the Church, with the Sunday School hall being added during the 1980's. The recently completed disability access and front porch upgrade was one of the Centenary Projects of the Church.

Over the years the Church has always taken its place in the many community events, both good and bad. It is represented at the Gresford Show, Official Openings, and other community functions. Activities include Sunday Worship at 10:30 each week, Bible Studies, Missionary Prayer and Scripture teaching in the four local schools of Paterson, Vacy, Martins Creek and Gresford. All under the banner of "Knowing Christ and making Him known".

A meeting was held at the School of Arts East Gresford on 28th November 1956 to form the Gresford Branch of the United Hospital Auxiliaries of NSW. This was the formal beginning of the Auxiliary, which raised funds and promoted health in the Gresford District, but it certainly was not the first involvement the community had in obtaining the best Health services they possibly could for their district.

Our first real Doctor in Gresford was Dr Robert Veitch Park, who lived at Lewinsbrook with his brother from 1837. Dr Henry Lindeman also set up a practice in Gresford not long after; though he went on to pursue other interests in viticulture.

These early Doctors were supported by midwives or self made nurses and much later by trained nurses known as Bush Nurses, who travelled the district caring for the sick. There were also visiting Doctors from Morpeth or Maitland who were sometimes accompanied by a Dentist, and they conducted their clinic on Sale days. Up to 17 Doctors of varying expertise came and went from the Gresford District until Dr Rosemary Sheather arrived in 1972.

A Private Hospital known as Cintra existed for a time in Paterson. This was run for many years by a Dr Kemble. Also a Dr Brown opened a private hospital in Gresford called Calala which could take up to 12 or more patients; however this was destroyed by fire in 1930.

Clevedon Hospital was first established as a Private Hospital in the 1930’s and at one stage was under the care of Sister Bracey. It was strongly supported by the Gresford district. However with the departure of Sister Bracey it was recognised that the District really needed a Public Hospital to provide a more stable Health service for the area. Maitland Hospital was approached by local residents and the Board of the Maitland Hospital officially took over the lease and the running of Clevedon Gresford Subsidiary Hospital on 19 May 1956. It was then operated as a Ward of the Maitland Hospital until it closed on 1 May 1984. There were plans to have the hospital converted to a nursing home, but as the building was not to be sold whilst the owner was still alive, this did not eventuate.

The local Hospital was not easily surrendered by the many people who had worked hard for so many years, firstly to establish a Hospital, and then to raise funds to support it. Funds were donated by community members, and various service groups such as the CWA, the RSL, the Lion's Club and the Bowling Club. The Auxiliary had been very active as well and contributed funds to buy much needed equipment, such as an X-Ray machine; they helped furnish the Hospital, along with a lounge built especially for the Sister in charge; and they also contributed to maintenance and repairs.

Local people formed an action group, which agitated and joined protests, until they were able to gain the attention of Matron Makepeace from the Maitland Hospital who put together a report on establishing a Community Nursing service to include Baby Health Care and Home Nursing. Programs were to be arranged in Health Promotion and Education. A Centre was to be established in a suitable location and a four-wheel drive vehicle provided for use by the nurse. The Gresford/Paterson District Community Health Centre was opened on 25 August 1984 in its present location, with Margaret Maddison as our first Community Nurse. Margaret is now Nurse Manager for the Maitland/Dungog Community Health Service.

Up until this time the CWA had taken on the task of providing an Early Childhood Nurse, and Clinics were run in the CWA rooms in Gresford. These Services were taken over by Community Health when the new Centre was established. These days Child and Family Health Services are provided on an outreach basis from Rutherford, in both Paterson and Gresford.

Over Easter of 1984 the Clevedon Hospital Auxiliary became the Gresford/Paterson District Community Health Centre Auxiliary.

A Consultative Committee made up of representatives from the Community was formed with Helen Hall as Chairperson. Helen today is ably supported by Committee Members Margaret Dent, Peter Doyle, Dorothy Priestley, Scott Everett, Bib Price and our present Community Nurse Jann Booth as well as our GP Dr Eardley Rozario who also has an input.

The local GP Dr Rosemary Sheather moved from premises across the road into the Community Health Centre at this time. When the Gresford Pharmacy closed in 1985, Dr Sheather was able to obtain a license to prescribe pharmaceuticals for the convenience of the local community.

Much of the present day success of the Community Health Centre can be attributed to the truly customer focussed policies of Monica Boland who worked in the District as the Community Nurse, as well as the Early Childhood Nurse, until 2003. Monica was also supported by a Volunteer Group known as the Valley Volunteers who amongst other things provided respite services and wrote a local Newsletter which promoted Health issues. Changes have since been made to Health Services in New South Wales and these Volunteer services along with Meals on Wheels and others, have been formalised under new Government run organisations such as HACC who provide services through Neighbourcare, Homecare and HIC in the Dungog Shire. Community Daycare Centres still provide respite and social interaction for our elderly or isolated community members.

Health Services are now provided Shire wide under the auspices of the Maitland/Dungog Health Service in East Maitland. They can be accessed through the Dungog Hospital or Community Health Centres in Dungog, Clarence Town, Gresford and East Maitland. Palliative Care and Mental Health services are also available in our community and an out of Hours GP Service is provided by The Maitland Hospital.

The Gresford Needs a Doctor Committee was formed in October 1999 to again call on the community for help. Dr Sheather retired and left the district and a new GP was now required! Committee members had an active few years as several GP's came and went.

Our present GP, Dr Rozario, came to Gresford to practice in May 2004. His Practice is located at the Community Health Centre and he is able to provide a Pharmaceutical Dispensing service to the community. He and his partner Anthea plan to live locally and hopefully will continue to practice at the Gresford Surgery for many years to come.

The Gresford area was first settled in the late 1820's and education was carried out in the early years by various parish or denominational schools.

In 1868 an application was made for a Provisional School at Gresford by local residents Rev. Addams, Messrs. Lindeman, Boydell, Park and Townshend. This application was approved and the first year the school had an enrolment of 19 boys and 16 girls. John Bush continued as teacher till he became ill in 1880, losing the use of one of his arms. He then gave up teaching but continued on as a postmaster.

In 1881, the present building was built and opened with Mr William Parker as the teacher. The building was made of brick and was a single room approximately 40ft x 17ft with a brick porch attached. The floor was arranged in three tiers and pupils sat at long cedar desks on long forms. At the same time, a comfortable brick residence was built adjacent to the school building and this, with several structural alterations over the years, is still in use today as the school's administration and office area. Well worn sandstone steps are a silent testimony to countless footsteps. The bricks for both buildings were hand made in the local area.

In the early 1900's an extra wooden room was added to the school. This room measured 20ft x 17ft and cost 193 pounds to build. Also around this time a piano was purchased and this piano is still in use today.

During the years that followed there were many changes of teaching staff and the enrolments of the school also fluctuated. In the 1930's the original long brick room was cut into two smaller classrooms. In the 1960's an office and storeroom were added and additions were also made to the residence. The school structures have continued to change and improve over the years with the addition of an undercover area, computer room, demountable buildings coming and going, the residence becoming part of the school buildings and most recently the sealing of a hard court area as a multi purpose sporting facility.

The meeting to form the Gresford CWA Branch was held in the East Gresford School of Arts supper room at 2.00pm on 31st July 1936.

Leading the way were President Mrs G Doyle, Secretary Miss McCune and Treasurer Mrs Brooks. There were 31 members in attendance and 27 voted to join the Hunter River Group. Within four and a half months, there were 50 members. Mrs A Watson of West Gresford (mother of Freda Collison and Margaret Horn) gave the use of her home for the first Annual Meeting.

On 1st September, 1938 the old Post Office (which was located next to the present home of Kevin Chesworth) was rented for Rest Rooms and on 27th June, 1939 the Baby Health Clinic was opened there by Mrs Stacey of Singleton.

The baby health clinic had long been the aim of the association. The branch’s third birthday was held at the clinic shortly after.

The Gresford Branch marked its 21st Anniversary with the opening of their new and our present Rest Rooms on 13th July, 1957. Matron Constance Fall RRC of King George V Memorial Hospital for Mothers and Babies (Camperdown) officially opened the rooms. Her comments were that it was nice to know that there was such an organisation as the CWA with its baby health centres. After the opening, the 21st Birthday afternoon tea was held in the School of Arts.

The Inaugural Meeting of the Younger Set was held on 26th March 1953 with leaders President Miss Harvey, Secretary D Chesworth and Treasurer D Murphy. The final meeting of the Younger Set was held on 15th October 1959 with President Dawn Burley, Secretary Valarie Smith and Treasurer Rita Chick. Members were invited to join the parent branch. Rita Chick has given unbroken service since moving from the Younger Set to the parent branch.

The CWA now has Junior Members, Day Branches and Evening Branches. Today the CWA continues to play an important role in the lives of our members and in the Gresford community.

The Gresford Branch is proud of its role and of its achievements to date and looks forward to being an active part of community life in the local district for many years to come. Congratulations Gresford on achieving this fine milestone of 175 wonderful years!

The Lower Hunter Children’s Activity Van has provided a mobile Preschool service to the children of Gresford and surrounding areas since 1985. Originally, Gresford Preschool operated for half a day from the Girl Guides Hall until 1996 when it moved to the current location of the Supper Room next to the School of Arts building. The Gresford Community Group successfully sought Hunter Area Assistance Scheme funding to meet the cost of necessary renovations to the building and many community members gave their time to ensure that the move was successful.

The current building has similar facilities to a permanent Preschool structure thanks to the involvement and hard work of many local families, Dungog Shire Council and the support of the Gresford community. Facility improvements since 1996 have included safety fences, children’s toilets, a phone connection, an outdoor equipment shed, sandpit and shade area. Recent works include the establishment of garden beds, air conditioning, outdoor murals and seating, fly screen door, black board and a new mat. Planned future improvements include an outdoor soft fall rubber surface area.

Gresford Preschool is part funded by the Department of Community Services and provides an education program reflective of the Preschooler’s needs and interests. The Preschool offers gross motor activities, fine motor indoor activities, craft, music, language, science, dramatic play, general free play, mat and cognitive activities all in readiness for Primary School.

If Gresford Preschool did not exist, then local families would have to travel to Singleton, Paterson or Dungog. Gresford Preschool is now open 2 days a week (Tuesday and Friday) from 9:45am to 2:45pm for children aged 3 to 5 years. The number of children attending the Preschool fluctuates each year with new enrolments welcome at any time.

Since the early days of settlement Gresford has had a rich heritage of locally produced music and theatrical entertainment. A more recent contribution is of that provided by the local people who make up the members of the Gresford Amateur Performing Society or GAPS.

GAPS had its beginning in 1996 following a challenge by Clem Varley to Paul Copeland to do something about ‘it’ (‘it’ being no musical groups in Gresford at the time). The resulting public meeting saw a number of brave people volunteering to become the first GAPS’ performers. Their first public performance consisted of singing two songs at a Gresford ‘Carols by Torchlight’. The rumour was that they sang from the doorway because they were too scared to sing on stage.

The first main production was ‘Thick or Thin’ written locally by Paul Copeland and Barley Ward-Thomas. This show set the pattern of theatre restaurant style productions. It ran for two nights in 1997 to great acclaim. Many of the original GAPS members are still involved today. (eg Bob Wood, Sharon Lawrence, Paul Wilson, Lyndell Saxby).

1997 also saw the production of a Christmas show, ‘Where Did Santa Put It?’ This showed involved many of Gresford’s talented children as cast members.

And the shows kept coming: ‘Greaseford Fever’ in 1998 extended the GAPS singing and dancing with the mostly live music.

Over 500 people came to watch ‘The Witches of Greasywick’ in 2000. The emphasis on all the 4 nights was to have fun and the audience and cast obliged. “Who will ever forget the infamous Dragula played superbly by Paul Wilson and the magical moment when Kel Merriman (Igor) danced to “I Feel Like a Woman”? (The Gresford News 2/11/00)

‘Fork in the Hay’ (2002) focused on true love gone astray set back in Gresford’s early days of wine growing. This was again a play full of fun and laughter.

‘House of the Shining Gunn’ (2004) creatively returned us to the times of gangsters and new business enterprises. The plot was driven by intrigue and suspicion along with the usual saucy behaviour and rollicking comedy (remember old mother Mac (Doti Hilliard) being fed by her daughter).

In addition to all the great shows, GAPS has also made other musical and theatrical contributions to our community including Carols by Torchlight, The Millennium Party, numerous charity functions, etc.

GAPS started as a challenge to do something for the community. All the productions have been written and produced by local residents. The profits from each production have been put back into the community to fund equipment for the School of Arts and other community groups. The best success though has been the contribution to Gresford’s community spirit (‘GAPS - A Triumph for Community Spirit’, Gresford News, July 2004).

The Gresford Bowling Club celebrated its fiftieth anniversary last November, being formed in 1953.

The first bar was situated in the old tennis shed with no Liquor Licence and there was also a new police officer in town so a “cockatoo” was always in place to keep watch. The sole poker machine was on a stump in Bill & Bernie Doosey’s Paddock.

In 1968, the centenary for the school was held with Bill Sellens & Bernie Doosey playing a poker machine on the back of a truck in the parade. The first clubhouse was out near the main road and there was a long walk to the green. The first kitchen was part of the present cool room. The first dining room is the now present poker machine area.

Bob Murrell bulldozed out the green and, before they were able to refill it, it rained which left two feet of water in it. The first greenkeeper, Roy Chick, did not play bowls.

The Gresford Community Group had its creation in December of 1994 when a group of concerned citizens of the area got to talking about the deterioration of rural services available in Gresford and the diminishing prospect of them ever improving.

From that discussion a meeting occurred where the Concerned Citizens of Gresford group, “A non political group of people discussing items and issues that will assist in the development and future planning of the Gresford Community” was formed.

On 15th February 1995, a public meeting was called to gauge community support for the formation of a Community Group with the above objectives.

Its charter was to provide a non political group to assist in responsible development, future planning and expansion of the Gresford district, to the benefit of all residents and visitors alike.

Its aim is to work with the twenty seven established organisations in the district, to support and encourage the endeavours of those organisations, so that the citizens of the Gresford district can live and work in an ever improving environment.

Since the endorsement by the Community at that meeting, the Community Group has been involved in a range of successful community activities including:
• Playground improvements in Orana Park.
• Gresford Preschool which operates 2 days/week with the ability to cater for up to 21 children.
• Gresford/East Gresford walkway linking the two towns for a distance of 2km.
• Obtaining of a Federal Government grant of $100K to establish a Rural Transaction Centre.
• The production of the Gresford News, a monthly news and events publication for the Paterson and Allyn valleys south to Paterson and west to Glendonbrook.
• Continuation and enhancement of the Australia Day recognition awards.
• Establishment of a multi purpose sporting facility for the public in the grounds of the Public School.
• Establishment of a Youth Group in the district and purchase of the Girl Guide Hall as a Youth meeting place.

Cricket has been played in the Gresford district since the earliest days of settlement. The old Gresford cricket ground was in the grounds of ‘Orindinna’, Gresford where owner, Mr J Glennie, never missed a match for 20 years.

In 1897, Sydney teams visited the district to play local teams. Match results were published weekly in the paper and the competition was very keen.

With such a proud history, the present day Gresford Cricket Club maintains the tradition of sportsmanship and competition. The club ensures that its players, particularly younger cricketers, are well supported both on and off the field. The encouragement of future players is due to the dedication shown by the local community and club patrons.

Club members dedicate themselves to running weekly raffles and fortnightly barbecues which have, over the years, ensured that the Gresford club is, financially, one of the strongest in the state. This has meant that the club has been able to support junior elite players who attend training camps and representative fixtures. The club also has a strong record of supporting community projects.

COLLISON & EVERETT PTY LTD
TRADING AS STEWART EVERETT MITSUBISHI

The original building on the current Stewart Everett Mitsubishi site was built by Mr Tom Boyle in the early 1930’s. It was built as a cinema with roller skating and tennis courts on the top side.

The first movie that can be remembered by brother Jack Everett in 1932 was ‘Tom Mix’. He believes that there was no sound but the words were written on the screen.

WJ Maher purchased the property from Ralf Stein in late 1950’s and converted it to a service station panel beating shop. Hilton Collison and Stewart Everett purchased the site from Mr Maher and started business on the 1st April, 1960.

Petrol quantities purchased in the 1960’s were 10 x 44 gallon drums per week. There was super petrol only, no standard and no distillate. Combination of fuel purchases today is approximately 30,000 litres per week.

The franchises held at this business since 1960 were Chrysler, Dodge, Simca, Hillman and now Mitsubishi. Other current franchises include NRMA Road Service and Insurance, Caltex Distributor (the smallest in Australia) and Stihl Chainsaws.

Few written records of the brigade’s early history have survived. Prior to 1952, the volunteers were controlled by NSW Civil Defense and the local Police Officer.

The brigade assumed its own identity in late 1952 or early 1953 under the NSW Bush Fire Council. Occasional meetings were held at the Gresford Courthouse. A small amount of equipment was stored in the horse stable at the rear of the Gresford Police Station.

In 1958, a large bush fire threatened Gresford and East Gresford. The fire approached the villages along Coulston range traveling in a south eastern direction. For a period of three days, most able-bodied men in the districted fought the fire. Due to the lack of equipment and co-ordination, results are believed to be limited. A storm eventually put out the fire at the rear of Glen Allyn homestead.

This fire led to a public meeting on 16th July 1958 at Gresford Courthouse. Officials from NSW Police, Forestry Commission and NSW Bush Fire Council were invited. A large local representation was present, despite only 34 people being recorded as attending. Two weeks after this meeting a delegation of approximately 30 traveled to Paterson to inspect new firefighting equipment and technology.

The Gresford districts first fire tanker was an ex-army Blitze truck. Mr Arthur Bird granted storage space for brigade equipment in his shed in 1965.

A meeting on 16th July1966 resolved to build a fire shed on Council land. A shed committee was formed and a tender from Dark and Dean, for the sum of $277 to construct a new shed, was accepted on 21st April 1967. Substantial volunteer work in constructing the shed was never recorded.

Station extensions were funded by grants from the NSW Rural Firefighting Fund. It was officially opened on 22nd August 1999 by Mayor of Dungog Shire Council, Allan Fairhall. Again, its construction was strongly supported by voluntary effort.

It is hard to believe that a pub fire could have a big bearing on the future of a town.

The fire that destroyed Hancock’s Pub c.1922 in Gresford changed the settlement’s development completely when thirsty travellers encouraged East Gresford’s development where such a business existed.

East Gresford was in a position to serve all roads leading into and out of the settlement.

Following John Beatty’s first recorded license at “The Half Way House Hotel” Vacy in 1865, he settled in the “Junction Inn” in 1872. This single storied timber building was in the car park of the present Beatty Hotel. Records indicate that John Beatty retained this license until 1900 when his son John Alexander Beatty Jnr moved into the present Hotel “The Victoria”, which was first licensed in 1901.

John Alexander Beatty Jnr remained licensee from 1901 to 1909. He then moved to the Grand Central Hotel (behind Maitland Post Office) until 1911. In 1912, John Alexander Beatty Jnr returned to the Victoria Hotel and 2 years later, in 1914, his father John Beatty died.

The Victoria Hotel (now known as the Beatty Hotel) was built on spec by the Boydell family and was leased to John Alexander Beatty Jnr, until he finally bought the freehold.

As John Alexander Beatty Jnr only had two daughters, Elvenice “Venie” Mary Helen and Beatrice Veronica May, John Beatty wished for the family name to be continued, hence he eventually changed the name to Beatty’s Hotel.

As told by “Venie” Beatty (Mrs Alf Richardson) to Tony Lawler, she was carried as a babe in arms from the Junction into the Beatty Hotel.

When bushrangers were in the district, as a precaution John Alexander Beatty Jnr would lock his wife and children in the cellars of the hotel until the bushrangers had left the area.

The reason only one hotel remains in the Gresford district is because of a secret pact between John J Hancock & John Alexander Beatty Jnr. Mr Hancock had two sisters who were interested in rebuilding the Gresford Hotel but he’d had enough of the hotel industry.

John Alexander Beatty Jnr & John Hancock met in secrecy on the border of West & East Gresford due to rivalry between the two towns. The agreement was if John Alexander Beatty Jnr would buy all the bricks from the Hancock’s Gresford Hotel (at the cross roads) then John Hancock would talk his sister out of rebuilding the hotel.

Having all these extra bricks, John Alexander Beatty Jnr could only think of putting brick paths to the toilets at the back of the present hotel yard.