Bogan Gate to publish third history book ahead of 125th celebrations
Community members looking to publish a new book on Bogan Gate for its 125th anniversary are appealing for photos and stories. This image is of Jack McKeown and mates, World War I. Photo supplied.
RESEARCH: Chairman of the Bogan Gate 125 years Celebrations committee Graeme Hunter (right), with his trusty assistants Tom Lees and Andrew Britt, is compiling a new Gateway to the Bogan history book in time for the town's 125th anniversary next year. Photo: Christine Little
It's been no easy task for Graeme Hunter, but he's on a mission to find and share the untold stories of his hometown of Bogan Gate.
In 2022 the town will be celebrating its 125th anniversary. Graeme is the chairman of the Bogan Gate 125 years Celebrations committee, who is looking to host a weekend of celebrations in October next year.
In the meantime, Graeme is compiling a new book on the town's history - its third Gateway to the Bogan book - but told slightly differently.
"We're looking for aspects of history that weren't in earlier books, we want to capture the untold stories from surviving older generations while we still can," he said.
"There are some good ones - I hear stories from my grandfather, father and great uncle over and over again, and I still laugh at them."
The committee has also received a grant from Northparkes Mines through its Community Investment Program, to replace the Bogan Gate on the original site with a new all-steel gate.
"This gate was on the boundary between Gunningbland Station and Burrawong Station in the 1800s," Graeme said.
"But more importantly it was the stock route to the Bogan River which all stock travelling north or south used as it is the only river that runs north-south in NSW.
"I have already compiled a lot of historical stories dating back pre-1930, droving stories, bushranger stories, the original Bogan Gate, the railway coming through in 1897, then a continuation to Condobolin and Tottenham, the new Bogan Gate, the original settlers, send-offs to our boys going to World War 1, the Bogan Gate shows, races and sports," Graeme said.
"And I have many people's experiences of growing up and living in Bogan Gate, or people just travelling through Bogan Gate on Cobb Co or by train.
"[I'm also looking at] the important use of the railways in the early days (1913), 113 thousand bags of wheat were stacked in Bogan Gate, thousands of stock were railed to Sydney to be sold and 5299 got on or off the train."
Graeme is asking anyone who may have photos or stories about Bogan Gate or those who live or have lived in Bogan Gate to contact him by email graemehunter444@gmail.com