Gresford Mural Project

Our committee is working towards brightening up our village, commencing with a historical time line of Gresford. The mural will be sketched by local artist Stacey Cocks and appear in the bar area of the showground.

We welcome input from everyone in our community as we refine the details of the timeline from 1826 with the first land grants issued by Governor Ralph Darling. The timeline prior to 1826 will be written by Gringai Elder Jimmy Wilson Miller.

Following is our first draft, perhaps you know something that could be added or you may notice there is an inaccurate date that needs rectifying. Please send any information you feel will be helpful in finalising the details to gresfordmurals@gmail.com.

Don’t forget our mural fundraiser, the Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight, Thursday 20th April, with Balloons Aloft who won the 2022 NSW Adventure Tourism Award. Cost $480 per person including champagne breakfast, or breakfast only

$40. Meeting point at Gresford Sporting Complex 5.30am, each flight will take approx 40-60 minutes. Profits will go to the Gresford Mural Project. Flights are dependent on suitable weather, money back guarantee, back up days 21st & 27th April.

Our next meeting will be held at The Beatty Hotel on Monday 20th March at 6:30pm, everyone is welcome and your thoughts and ideas greatly appreciated.

Louise Brown

Gresford Showground Mural Timeline

1826 The first land grants were issued by Governor Ralph Darling to Charles Boydell & George Townshend

1830 John McIntrye whose land adjoins Townshend & Park goes missing, foul play is suspected due to his harsh treatment of the local indigenous people & his assigned convicts

1831 The first reference to dairying in the district when Boydell and Townshend enter a dairying partnership. By 1955 there were 248 dairy farms in the district

1834 Charles Boydell plants one of the first vineyards in the Hunter Valley. By 1846 there were 102 acres of vines established in County Durham

1840 The first use of the name Gresford when a mail contract is let and was named after the Welsh town on the Alyn River

1842

Dr Henry Lindeman of Cawarra provides the first medical services to the area and establishes the thriving Cawarra vineyard and winery. The homestead is still used on Lindeman’s wine labels today

1856 The first church in Gresford is established and in 1867 St Helen’s Catholic Church was consecrated

1868 Gresford’s first public school commences in West Gresford

1870 A slab construction police station is built in East Gresford

1872 John Beatty is the landlord of the Junction Inn, later renamed the New Victoria. In 1920 John BeattyJnr buys the hotel & renames it ‘The Beatty’

1884 The first telephone is established to Gresford and Eccleston has commenced a church at Ravenscroft

1890 The School of Arts is opened at West Gresford on land donated by the Lindeman Family

1900 Bushrangers Jimmy & Joe Governor terrorise the local community

1903 The Congregational Church is opened in East Gresford.

1904 Dorothy Mackellar penned ‘My Country’ whilst living at Torryburn

1910 Ralph Bridge opened the first bakery in Gresford

19141918 192 men from the Paterson & Allyn River Valleys served along with 2 women, 47 men were killed in action in the 1st World War

1927 The Gresford Showground was established with the first agricultural show held in 1929

1929 Tom Boyle buys Shelton’s Bakery, opens a picture theatre, cafe and kiosk

1936 Gresford’s CWA Branch is formed initially using the baby health clinic rooms

1937 Gresford’s first electricity is connected

1939-

1945 During WWII the army takes over the Gresford Showground for administration and catering. 363 men and 31 women from the Gresford area served 19 killed in action

1949 The RSL first opened with a room in the School of Arts Building

1952 Gresford formed it’s first bush fire brigade

1953 Town water was introduced into the area

1953 The bowling club formed using rooms attached to the School of Arts

1956 Clevedon Private Hospital was opened

1972 Lostock Dam was built after the 1964 drought for water conservation storage

1973 The Gresford Community Park was initially utilised by the Girl Guide’s, the facilities are now been managed by the Gresford Community Group

1981 The Vacy/Gresford Colts Football club began with two teams and the Gresford Sporting complex was developed in 1984

1987 The Paterson Valley Pony Club commenced at Gresford Showground with 17 members

GAPS, the Gresford Amateur Performing Society formed staging many 1999musicals

1995 The Gresford Community Group is formed

Arboretum

1st Billycart Derby is run

2023 Gresford’s sporting complex is upgraded with a new amenities block and officially opened on 1st April