Excursion to Wollombi.

Sunday 10 October was a sunny spring day--perfect for the Society's members and friends who set off in a large tourist coach on the annual excursion. Heading north along the Newcastle Freeway, the coach took the Peats Ridge exit to reach the village of Wollombi, which is where the road divides--one section heading to Singleton and the other heading to Maitland. Shortly before reaching Wollombi we passed through Laguna, an area first still remain settled in the late 1820s on land granted to Assistant Surveyor Finch when he was in charge of the construction of the Great North Road. Remnants of this road, built by about 3000 convicts between 1826 and 1834--including stone culverts--still remain, and plaques have been erected to indicate the remaining pieces. One of these plaques is in Wollombi, on the roadside near the Community Hall.

When the coach reached Wollombi there was time to inspect the Catholic Church of St Michael the Archangel while we waited for the arrival of our chaplain, Fr Anthony Robbie, to say Mass. The story of the church was told by Brian McAteer in our last Newsletter and members were now able to see for themselves the 1840 Bishop Polding foundation stone and the 1893 Bishop Murray foundation stone. The little stone church was full for the Mass, our coach load being joined by local Catholics.

After Mass, the Community Hall proved to be a pleasant location for lunch. We were then given a talk by local historian Carl Hoipo. He gave us the background to the Aboriginal occupation of the area; the European settlers' search for a route to the north and the harsh conditions in which the Great North Road was built; and how the Wollombi area had been subject to many big floods. He lead quotes from local newspapers to illustrate his talk. In the 1960s changes in market forces meant that local dairy farms ceased to be viable, and farmers started selling their land and seeking other employment to support their families. For a time the cheap land attracted young people seeking an alternative lifestyle. However, in about the last 20 years a large percentage of new settlers have been people over 50 years old, seeking to move away from city life. Carl Hoipo also gave a brief history of St Michael's Church.

Thanks were then expressed to Carl Hoipo for his talk, and also to Laurie and Joan Tumminello, representing the Friends of St Michael's Trust, for their part in preparing for our Society's visit. A comfortable journey home rounded off a very pleasant day.