Tuena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids TuenaNew South Wales |
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Goldfields Inn
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 Tuena
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 59 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2583 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 490 m (1,608 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Upper Lachlan Shire | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Southern Tablelands | ||||||||||||||
| County | Georgiana | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Yarraman | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Goulburn | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Hume | ||||||||||||||
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Tuena is a small town in the Southern Tablelands area of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Upper Lachlan Shire and sits on Tuena Creek. This creek flows into the Abercrombie River. Tuena is about 269 km (167 mi) west of Sydney, the state capital. In 2016, Tuena and the areas around it had 59 people living there.
Tuena became famous for gold! Gold was found here in November 1851. This was just nine months after the first big gold discovery in Australia at Ophir. The gold rush brought many people and changes to the area.
Contents
A Glimpse into Tuena's Past
The area around Tuena was first explored by Dr. Charles Throsby in 1819. The first person to own land here was Samuel Blackman, who arrived in 1836. Tuena was officially made a town in May 1859. Streets were planned out, but today, most of the original town layout is hard to see.
The Gold Rush Begins
Gold was found in Tuena in November 1851. However, gold had already been found nearby on the Abercrombie River a few months earlier. News spread quickly about the rich gold found in Tuena Creek. People were digging up the creek bed and finding lots of gold!
Growing Pains and New Buildings
Because of the gold rush, Tuena grew very fast. Many buildings were built quickly. In 1852, a post office and a police station were set up. Three pubs were built, including the Goldfields Inn in 1866. There was also Parson's store, a courthouse (in the 1860s), and a school (in 1860). The school building used today was built in 1889.
More Mining Discoveries
Later, around 1884, other valuable metals were found near Tuena. These included copper and silver, along with some gold, at a place called the Mount Costigan Mine. This mine helped the town for a while. It closed and reopened a few times, but by 1892, it mostly stopped working. There was a last try to open it again in 1927.
In the 1930s, people used a special machine called a gold dredge to find gold in Tuena Creek. This machine helped dig up gold from the bottom of the creek.
Local Landmarks and Churches
The town's last hotel, The Goldfields Inn, closed in 2012. It used to be called the Tuena Hotel.
Tuena also has three old churches:
- St. Mark's Anglican Church (built 1886): This is thought to be the oldest wooden church built by miners that is still standing.
- St. Margaret's Presbyterian Church (built 1890): This church is made of stone.
- St. Mary's Catholic Church (built 1896): This church was built using bricks from an old mine nearby.
Bushrangers in the Area
The area around Tuena has lots of forests and mountains. The nearby Abercrombie Caves and the goldfields made it a good place for bushrangers to hide. Famous bushrangers like Ben Hall, Frank Gardiner, and Johnny Gilbert were known to be in this area. They were outlaws who lived in the bush during the gold rush times.
