Corduroy Road Ruin Historic Site facts for kids

The Corduroy Road Ruin Historic Site is a very old road near Curban, New South Wales, Australia. It was once a busy route for stagecoaches and was built between 1850 and 1923. This historic road is also known as a Cobb & Co route. Today, it is owned by the Gilgandra Shire Council. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 5 October 2018 because it is an important part of history.

History of the Corduroy Road

Early Settlers in the Curban Area

In the 1820s and 1830s, people in New South Wales started looking for new land. They wanted more space for their cattle and sheep. This was because the economy was growing, and trade with Britain was increasing.

Explorers found easy ways over the Liverpool Ranges. This allowed settlers, called squatters, to move their animals into the rich Liverpool Plains. Others moved livestock northwest from the Lithgow and Bathurst areas. They settled along the Castlereagh River, which flows near Curban.

One of the first Europeans to settle near the Castlereagh River was Andrew Brown. He looked for land for himself and his boss, James Walker. Other early settlers also moved into the area. They often left small groups of workers to look after the animals. These workers lived in tough conditions.

By the 1830s, more land was being settled. Licenses were given for stations along the Castlereagh River. This included areas near present-day Gilgandra, Curban, and Gulargambone.

How Transport Routes Developed

As more people settled, they needed ways to travel and move goods. Roads often followed rivers. One main road connected Gilgandra to the outside world. It followed the Castlereagh River from Mendooran. This road was used by wagons carrying wool to the coast. It passed through the Curban area.

Cobb & Co Coaches and Mail

Cobb & Co was a famous company that ran horse-drawn coaches. They expanded their routes across New South Wales. They started carrying mail, which was very important.

Between 1874 and 1880, Cobb & Co began mail services. They linked Gilgandra to Dubbo twice a week. They also had a service from Gulgong to Gilgandra. This route went through Mendooran, Curban, and Coonamble. Later, the Coonamble service ran three days a week.

The road used by these coaches was shown on maps from 1880. Cobb & Co stopped using the East Coonamble road through Curban in 1898. However, other people continued the coach service. One of the last official mail coach services on this road ended in 1923.

Challenges of Coach Travel

Traveling on these coach routes was very difficult. In 1897, a newspaper described a trip by a government minister. The roads were often very muddy after rain. Large pools of water stretched everywhere.

Drivers had to be very skilled. They would often drive off the main path to find a better track. They would weave between trees to avoid getting stuck. Sometimes, the coach would sink deep into the mud. The horses would struggle to pull it out.

One time, the coach hit a tree in the dark. The journey was slow and bumpy. Travelers worried about missing their trains. Crossing small streams was also tricky. The horses sometimes seemed like they might fail. These stories show how tough travel was before railways.

What is a Corduroy Road?

Corduroy roads were a clever solution for bad road conditions. The land in this region often had soft, muddy areas. It was too expensive to build stone roads. So, people used a technique called "corduroy."

To build a corduroy road, workers would cut down small trees. These trees were usually about 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) wide. They would cut off the branches. Then, they laid the logs side by side across the road. This created a stable, but very bumpy, surface.

Corduroy roads were built in sections. They were used in boggy areas, sandy spots, and at creek crossings. Large amounts of cypress logs were available in the area. Cypress pine was good because it resisted termites.

One traveler described a corduroy road as "incredibly rough." The coach would "bump, bump, bump" along. It was so slow that it took over an hour to travel just four miles. This shows how uncomfortable these roads could be.

This road-building method has been used for thousands of years. Ancient Europeans built similar wooden paths over bogs. It was also used in wars during the 20th century.

The Corduroy Road Near Curban

The Corduroy Road near Curban was likely built or fixed by Charles Law. He owned a nearby property called Wattle Park. Charles Law was a fencer and well digger. He also took on civil works contracts.

In 1905, this section of road was still very muddy. People asked the Public Works Department to "corduroy" the river crossing. After the Gilgandra Shire Council was formed in 1906, they took over road maintenance. In 1910, the Shire Engineer inspected a corduroy crossing at Curban.

In 1915, a car trip from Coonamble to Gilgandra was described. The article noted the "corduroy roads." It said they reminded people of how hard it was to travel in wet weather. It made people "shudder to contemplate" what it was like for coaches before railways.

Sadly, in the 1960s, much of this corduroy road was removed. The logs were taken to Dubbo to be used as fuel for brick kilns.

What Remains Today

The Corduroy Road Historic Site is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northwest of Curban. It is 27 kilometers (17 miles) northwest of Gilgandra. The exact original length of the road is not known. It might have extended onto nearby private land.

Today, about 200 meters (656 feet) of cypress pine logs remain. They are laid across the road's direction. At the northern end, you can see the remains of an old gateway. There is also a hardwood mile post nearby.

Condition of the Site

The site is generally in good condition. However, thick grass can grow during wet seasons. This makes it hard to see the full road. Photos taken during droughts show the road much more clearly.

Some logs are missing or have been moved. The cypress pine logs are slowly decaying. This is due to wet conditions, contact with the ground, and exposure to sun, wind, and rain. Animals from the nearby stock reserve can also sometimes disturb the site.

Why is This Road Special?

The Corduroy Road Ruin Historic Site is very important. It is the largest remaining example of a corduroy road in New South Wales. It is also the only one that can be easily seen and is not buried.

This road shows us how people built roads long ago. It helps us understand the history of transport. It also shows how early settlers dealt with bad road conditions. They used simple, cheap methods with local materials like cypress pine.

Connection to Cobb & Co

This corduroy road is important because of its link to Cobb & Co. It was part of a main route used by these famous coaches. From around 1872, they delivered mail and passengers. The route connected Dubbo and Mudgee to Gilgandra, Curban, and Coonamble. It even went north to Queensland.

Cobb & Co drivers were pioneers. They faced dangers like bushrangers. They also managed thousands of horses. The stories of Cobb & Co are a big part of Australian history and culture. This road helps us remember their legacy.

The Corduroy Road also shows how coaching routes, stock routes, and early settlements were connected. It is a rare piece of history that helps us understand the past.

The Corduroy Road Ruin Historic Site was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 5 October 2018.

• It shows how history unfolded: This road is a rare piece of early road transport history. It shows how roads helped open up inland New South Wales. It also shows how people improved roads when money was tight.
• It is linked to important people: This road is strongly connected to Cobb & Co. Their coaches used this route to deliver mail and passengers. The stories of Cobb & Co are a big part of Australian history.
• It can teach us more: This site is the largest example of a corduroy road in New South Wales. It can teach us about old road-building methods. It might also hold old items dropped by travelers.
• It is rare: This is a rare example of an intact 19th-century corduroy road. It is the largest and only one that can be easily seen.
• It shows key features of historic places: This road shows how important early roads were for settling the region. It also shows the early use of timber in the area. Cypress pine was used because it was common and resisted termites.