The Railway Hotel in Molong Street was built in 1880 In the 1850s gold was discovered and this brought a huge influx of people to Stuart Town, Mookerawa and surrounding areas. The thirst for gold saw people from all over the world come to Australia to try their luck. A huge population of Chinese moved to the area they worked in groups not individually.
The prominent people in Stuart Town were The Moxtons, The Boehme's and the Lees.'
Yee Lee owned a grocery store and was a wealthy merchant. Boehme's Hall still stands today some 170 years old it is full of antiquities and outside lots of machinery from a bygone era.
The common, is a place for those with less then 20 acres to agist their livestock. The common is some 400 acres on one side and 2000 on another it is dotted with mullock heaps evidence of lots of mining in the area. You need permission to enter the common. Also, good idea to have a four-wheel drive as the area is rugged terrain.
The Railway Hotel is being renovated and the floors are all done and painted it now has a bathroom at the end of the verandah, a kitchen and area for meetings and two rooms (sleeping quarters).
The Post Office has a room at the end and is run by Janet a lovely lady who opens up 10-1 each day Monday to Friday and then shuts up to do the postal run.
There is an internet cafe with two computers and printing machine available in the rooms next to the School of Arts. They have a cafe there on Monday and Tuesday from 10-1p.m. and you can purchase toasted sandwiches, Devonshire teas, coffee, cold drinks. The service is friendly and run by Marion and Ian Percival.
Lots of the old shop buildings and houses are still evident in Stuart Town and are occupied as either studios for artists or homes.
The old convent is now a private home and has great views of the town ship and sunset at night. The convent was renovated and owned by a trainer of dogs some of whom starred in the film BABE.
Ironbark trees are opposite the Railway hotel and can be seen through the window of what used to be the bar.
The Ironbarks Inn is open at the end of the week, and it was formerly The Australian Hotel. It too has a long history in the town.
The railway runs and both passenger and goods trains go through Stuart Town every day.
Moxton Park in Molong Street next to the Railway hotel has been built on site where Moxtons had their premises in earlier times.
The Stuart Town Advancement Association in combination with Orana Arts auspiced the artist residency for myself and Nicola Mason artist from Napoleon Reef.
Stuart Town has no shops, no petrol station and intermittent Wi fi. It has a pub, school with eleven children, a Catholic and Anglican Church, a police station and waste depot.
There is a wonderful core of artists who moved to Stuart Town in the 80s and bought up old buildings to live and work in and stayed there making this their home. They comprise printmaker, painters, photographer, author and story coach.
There are also residents who are direct descendants of the legendary Elizabeth Jessie Hunt - the Lady Bushranger.
Wellington is the nearest town with a wonderful Information centre to browse and gain local knowledge, maps etc. This would be the place to purchase petrol and supplies for those in Stuart Town or they travel to Dubbo.
There are farms in and around Stuart Town. It is known as Wiradjuri Country.
The Stuart Town Advancement Association is working on increasing links with artists who wish to visit and use this setting to explore and create.
Every year they hold the Ironbarks Festival and this year it is on Easter Sunday when the place will swell with visitors who come to share in the activities. The festival celebrates the fact that Stuart Town was formerly Ironbarks and Banjo Patterson wrote The Man from Ironbark which was published in the Bulletin in the 1800s.
This year in November Stuart Town will be unearthing a capsule that was buried some 50 years ago so that will be a time for celebration of its history.
There is evidence in the town of its rich gold mining history with the mullock heaps and remnants of old machinery and buildings from that period.
During the residency I was kindly taken on a tour on the first day by Tom Williamson of the STAA and shown all the sites on the first day and Nic and I were invited to view the sunset from the verandah of the Convent building and share some nibbles a great opportunity to make connections. The second day was spent doing some preparatory writing and a visit to the internet cafe provided stimulus and connections providing more information about the town and its history. Day three poems were written and some drawing, sketching done till late into the evening. Day Four and final touches put to the work to be presented that afternoon to the STAA, Orana Arts and community. That evening we were invited for drink and nibbles at artist home and had a lovely evening conversing and sharing stories. Day Five I packed and headed for the long drive home to the Central Coast.
It was an opportunity to create some poetry based on the shared history and here and now. To make connections with people from Stuart Town and to hear first-hand some of the stories and gain knowledge of the land and the people from the past. It was great to share the time with another artist and have chance to share ideas and knowledge.
This residency has laid the foundation for more poetry, research and creation.