Bookham, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Bookham is a small village in the Southern Tablelands
and Riverina
regions of New South Wales
, Australia
in Yass Valley Shire
. It is about 29 km west of Yass on the Hume Highway
. At the 2006 census
, Bookham had a population of 121 people.
The general grazing area which now encompasses the village of Bookham was originally collectively called Bogolong and childhood memories of the races at Bogalong Racetrack inspired Banjo Paterson
to write his poem Old Pardon the Son of Reprieve.
The name change came about in 1839 when Lady Jane Franklin — wife of John Franklin
, Lieut-Governor of Van Diemen's Land
between 1837 and 1843, became the first woman European woman to travel overland from Port Phillip
to Sydney and stayed in the area in 1839.
Shortly after a design for the village at Cumbookambookinah near Bogolong was drawn up and that name was shortened either through general usage or by design to the current name of Bookham.
Bookham Post Office opened on 1 September 1864 and closed in 1993.
There are two churches: the Uniting Church (c. 1926) and the Catholic Church, St Columbas, (c. 1910) still standing in the town.
Southern Tablelands
The Southern Tablelands is a geographic area of the State of New South Wales, Australia. This area is located west of the Great Dividing Range.The area is characterised by flat country which has generally been extensively cleared and used for grazing purposes...
and Riverina
Riverina
The Riverina is an agricultural region of south-western New South Wales , Australia. The Riverina is distinguished from other Australian regions by the combination of flat plains, warm to hot climate and an ample supply of water for irrigation. This combination has allowed the Riverina to develop...
regions of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in Yass Valley Shire
Yass Valley, New South Wales
Yass Valley Council is a local government area in the Australian State of New South Wales. It is located in the Southern Tablelands region of New South Wales on the Hume and Barton Highways and the Main Southern railway line....
. It is about 29 km west of Yass on the Hume Highway
Hume Highway
The Hume Highway/Hume Freeway is one of Australia's major inter-city highways, running for 880 km between Sydney and Melbourne. It is part of the Auslink National Network and is a vital link for road freight to transport goods to and from the two cities as well as serving Albury-Wodonga and...
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Bookham had a population of 121 people.
Banjo Paterson
Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson, OBE was an Australian bush poet, journalist and author. He wrote many ballads and poems about Australian life, focusing particularly on the rural and outback areas, including the district around Binalong, New South Wales where he spent much of his childhood...
to write his poem Old Pardon the Son of Reprieve.
The name change came about in 1839 when Lady Jane Franklin — wife of John Franklin
John Franklin
Rear-Admiral Sir John Franklin KCH FRGS RN was a British Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer. Franklin also served as governor of Tasmania for several years. In his last expedition, he disappeared while attempting to chart and navigate a section of the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic...
, Lieut-Governor of Van Diemen's Land
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
between 1837 and 1843, became the first woman European woman to travel overland from Port Phillip
Port Phillip
Port Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
to Sydney and stayed in the area in 1839.
Shortly after a design for the village at Cumbookambookinah near Bogolong was drawn up and that name was shortened either through general usage or by design to the current name of Bookham.
Bookham Post Office opened on 1 September 1864 and closed in 1993.
There are two churches: the Uniting Church (c. 1926) and the Catholic Church, St Columbas, (c. 1910) still standing in the town.