Tilba, New South Wales

Central Tilba New South Wales
A view of Central Tilba
Central Tilba
Coordinates	36°19′S 150°04′E / 36.317°S 150.067°E / -36.317; 150.067
Population	288 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	2546
LGA(s)	Eurobodalla Shire
State electorate(s)	Bega
Federal division(s)	Eden-Monaro

Central Tilba and Tilba Tilba are two villages near the Princes Highway in Eurobodalla Shire, New South Wales, Australia. At the 2016 census, Central Tilba and surrounding areas had a population of 288^[1] (Tilba Tilba had 95).

Behind the towns sits Gulaga / Mount Dromedary, an extinct volcano which created the geological composition of the area, including the nearby Najanuka / Little Dromedary Mountain to the south.^[2]

History

The area was originally inhabited by the Yuin people, an Aboriginal nation. Tilba Tilba is the original name of the district, and is said to mean "many waters" in the Thawa language.^[3]

The town was settled during the Australian gold rushes of the nineteenth century, and was the home town of the Bate family, of political renown.^{[citation needed]}

Gold on the mountain

Gold was discovered on and in the mountain. By 1876, 'in one creek over £10,000 of gold had been obtained, and constant employment is given to several miners'^[4]

A visitor in 1878 said 'There is no doubt that gold is in plenty. It is won with comparative facility, no blasting being required, and the expense of timbering being more than compensated by the ease and rapidity with which the driving [tunnelling] can be carried on and much of the gold extracted.'^[5]

Gold mining in 1896 was mainly by tunnelling and mechanical stamping. 'Five tunnels have been driven in, one under the other. The longest is No. 5 tunnel, which has been driven over 700ft [200m] into the mountain side. About a dozen men are working in the mine. The battery stands in a little gully below, and the stone is sent down to it in shutes.' 'At the foot of the mountain a few Chinamen are sluicing in the bed of the creek.'^[6]

In 1901 it was reported 'The Dromedary mines are still producing small but regular quantities of the precious metal. Although the streak is about the smallest worked in the colony, it is of such good grade that profit is made.'^[7]

In February 1911, the New Mount Dromedary Company mine closed down.^[8]

The district

A visitor in 1876 described 'the beautiful district known as Tilba Tilba, than which there can be no climate more salubrious nor scenery more beautiful. The soil is good, and some large dairies are being formed the land is being rapidly taken up, and doubtless in very few years the export which now consist principally of butter, cheese, and bacon, will be considerably increased. Bermagui is the shipping part for the district embracing Tilba, and it is very easy of access.'^[9]

In 1891, in Tilba Tilba the brothers Sam and Henry Bate, had an argument about how to develop the town. Sam disagreed with his brother and so, 3 kilometres up the mountain, established Central Tilba.^[10]

By 1896, there was a bridge across the Wallaga Lake linking Tilba to Bermagui to which the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company ran four services a week. At that time the mail service ran every day except Sunday from Sydney by train to Tarago (east of Lake George), then by coach via Braidwood, Araluen, and the Deua River valley to Moruya then Tilba and on to Bega.^[11]

A traveller at that time said 'we come to Tilba Tilba, a perfect little gem in the wildest and most rugged setting. It is quite impossible to convey in words any adequate idea of the wildly picturesque romantic beauty of this fertile little spot. It must be seen to be properly appreciated, and I would strongly recommend some of those who are eternally bewailing the monotony of Australian life and scenery to go to Tilba Tilba, and stop there for the rest of their natural lives.'^[12]

Location and description

Central Tilba is located around 10 kilometres (6 mi) south south west of Narooma and is 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of Bega.^[3] The entire village is classified by the National Trust as the Central Tilba Conservation Area.^[13]

Attractions

The ABC Cheese Factory in Central Tilba was in operation from September 1891^[14] until 2006 and it remains a local attraction. The Tilba Factory was purchased in 2012 by two local dairy farmers who installed new cheese-making and milk-bottling equipment, bringing back the tradition of dairy manufacture to the Tilba area. The milk bottled and cheese made on site are from two local dairy farms, one in Tilba one in Cobargo. In 2006 there were 19 locals employed at the Tilba Factory, where they were producing award-winning cheese, yoghurt, milk and cream made from jersey milk.^[15] As of 2021^[update] the business is called Tilba Real Dairy.^[16]

In media

It is the site for the television series: River Cottage Australia.^{[citation needed]}

From the ABC Coffee Palace to the Dromedary Hotel

Today's Hotel was constructed in 1895 for Jim and Emma Livingstone (nee Southam). It is said that it was built from wood recycled from the ships that docked at Bermagui harbour.^[17] The building opened for business as the ABC Coffee Palace.

Several times Mr Priddle, by then the owner, applied to the Moruya Licensing Court, for a Publican’s licence for the premises. At the third attempt on Tuesday 3 October 1899, he was successful.^[18] In his successful application, Priddle said The Coffee Palace did not pay, and the shareholders had sold out. He said the building was on the main south coast road and had recently been renovated. He reported that the building has 12 rooms, an 8-stall stable, and 2 water closets.

From that date, the licence of the Palace Hotel changed hands frequently. In 1924 the Yass Courier said the Hotel has probably changed hands more than any other hotel on the coast.^[19][20]

In 1901 Priddle sold out to Mr G Kelly^[21] In 1903 the licence was held by Frank Sceats.^[22] In 1904 the licensee was E C Simmons.^[23] In 1911, the licence was transferred to William Livingstone.^[24] In November 1911, Livingstone returned to farming and sold the licence to H E Townsend.^[25] By December of 1914, the licence was held by Horace Gibb.^[26] In 1915 the business was purchased by A E Pauling.^[27] In 1919, the licencee was Mrs Hogan. In that year, she sold the business to Andrew Hogg.^[28] In 1921 the licencee was Arthur L W Leslie.^[29] who sold it that year to J Turnbull.^[30] In 1923 Turnbull sold it to S Turnbull (no relation).^[31] The next year Mr Moran took over.^[32] In 1924 it was bought by Mr Livingstone who it was rumoured was planning to move and extend the building to a frontage on what was now being called the Prince's Highway. (He did neither.)^[33] In 1927 W J Donnelly bought the licence from Mrs Speight.^[34] In 1931 Donnelly sold the business to Ben Sutherland.^[35]

In 1934, the Licenses Reduction Board gave notice that the licence would be surrendered and that the hotel would cease trading on 1 July 1935.^[36][37]

Then news came that 'for some unknown reason', the Hotel had been granted a new license to be held by Leo Lynch.^[38] In August 1935, it was announced that the Hotel would be renovated, hot and cold water and a septic tank would be installed and the name changed to the Dromedary. Readers will agree, said the Cobargo Chronicle, that this is quite a suitable name.^[39]

In June 1936, the Hotel was 'relit' with electricity.^[40]

See also

• List of reduplicated Australian place names

References

External links

• Collection of photographs including some taken by William Henry Corkhill 1846-1936 held in Pictures Collection National Library Australia

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