Gol Gol, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Gol Gol is a small town in the far western region of New South Wales
, Australia
in Wentworth Shire. It is situated on the banks of the Murray River
, which forms part of the New South Wales-Victoria
state border, in the Sunraysia
fruit-growing region of north-western Victoria. Rapid development in recent years has rendered Gol Gol virtually a suburb of Mildura
, approximately 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) to the west on the other side of the river. In the ten years to 2006 the population of Gol Gol increased from 619 to 663, an average annual increase of 0.71%.
) with 25 men, 2 boats, a train of bullock carts and a herd of at least 100 cattle, which was to be used for food when wild animals were scarce.
It was on this trip of Mitchell's that he encountered some local Aboriginal
s and he learnt the area next to the Murray River was called Gol Gol (meaning meeting place). Mitchell generally used Aboriginal names when marking his maps as he felt that a map was more use if a settler could ask a local Aboriginal where it was. When Mitchell returned to his base camp on the June 4, 1836 he passed on the name of Gol Gol to his superiors.
Early settlers lived in crude dwellings along the banks of the river. These dwellings were made from Mallee
boughs and branches covered with mud and bags. Others lived in tents, struggling to earn a living from the soil due to frequent dust storm
s which blew across the scorching deserts.
Gradually facilities improved with the progression of communication and transport making necessary goods and materials more readily available.
In October 1881, Gol Gol was described as an under-developed township on the river Murray, populated by six families with about 25 children. The population increased steadily, especially after 1907 as a result of development of irrigation
works in the area and the expansion of nearby Mildura in Victoria.
By 1917 Gol Gol had become "a suburb of Mildura" and the community continued to progress and become less isolated and with the development of irrigation, lost some of its rough frontier days.
Gol Gol has an Australian Rules football
team competing in the Millewa Football League
.
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 Wentworth Shire. It is situated on the banks of the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
, which forms part of the New South Wales-Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
state border, in the Sunraysia
Sunraysia
Sunraysia is an area of northwestern Victoria and southwestern New South Wales in Australia, known for its sunshine, grapes and oranges. Its main centre is Mildura....
fruit-growing region of north-western Victoria. Rapid development in recent years has rendered Gol Gol virtually a suburb of Mildura
Mildura, Victoria
Mildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
, approximately 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) to the west on the other side of the river. In the ten years to 2006 the population of Gol Gol increased from 619 to 663, an average annual increase of 0.71%.
History
On March 17, 1836, a surveyor by the name of Thomas Livingston Mitchell set out on an expedition from Boree Station (west of OrangeOrange, New South Wales
Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
) with 25 men, 2 boats, a train of bullock carts and a herd of at least 100 cattle, which was to be used for food when wild animals were scarce.
It was on this trip of Mitchell's that he encountered some local Aboriginal
Australian Aborigines
Australian Aborigines , also called Aboriginal Australians, from the latin ab originem , are people who are indigenous to most of the Australian continentthat is, to mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania...
s and he learnt the area next to the Murray River was called Gol Gol (meaning meeting place). Mitchell generally used Aboriginal names when marking his maps as he felt that a map was more use if a settler could ask a local Aboriginal where it was. When Mitchell returned to his base camp on the June 4, 1836 he passed on the name of Gol Gol to his superiors.
Township development
In 1865 a survey was initiated to determine the site for the township of Gol Gol and was completed in February 1866. The area proclaimed as the site for the township of Gol Gol was notified on the 15th June, 1886 in the Government Gazette 95384 acres (386 km²) for the township. Although Government sales began in March 1871. It was almost a decade before allotments in the village were occupied. A Post Office was opened in 1877 and closed in 1879. Subsequently, a Post Office existed from 1885 to 1887, 1902 to 1919, then from 1927 until the present.Early settlers lived in crude dwellings along the banks of the river. These dwellings were made from Mallee
Mallee (habit)
Mallee is the growth habit of certain eucalypt species that grow with multiple stems springing from an underground lignotuber, usually to a height of no more than ten metres...
boughs and branches covered with mud and bags. Others lived in tents, struggling to earn a living from the soil due to frequent dust storm
Dust storm
A dust / sand storm is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Particles are transported by saltation and suspension, causing soil to move from one place and deposition...
s which blew across the scorching deserts.
Gradually facilities improved with the progression of communication and transport making necessary goods and materials more readily available.
In October 1881, Gol Gol was described as an under-developed township on the river Murray, populated by six families with about 25 children. The population increased steadily, especially after 1907 as a result of development of irrigation
Irrigation in Australia
Irrigation in Australia is a widespread practice to supplement low rainfall levels in Australia with water from other sources to assist in the production of crops or pasture. As the driest inhabited continent, irrigation is required in many areas for production of crops for domestic and export use...
works in the area and the expansion of nearby Mildura in Victoria.
By 1917 Gol Gol had become "a suburb of Mildura" and the community continued to progress and become less isolated and with the development of irrigation, lost some of its rough frontier days.
Gol Gol Today
Gol Gol currently has a population of about 700 people. Within the township there is a hotel, garage, general store, school, pre-school and a number of government depots. The major industries of the area include citrus, vegetable and grape growing made possible by the large irrigation system which has been installed. Large areas of land have been set aside for future residential development and this will further enhance the town's population.Gol Gol has an Australian Rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
team competing in the Millewa Football League
Millewa Football League
The Millewa Football League is a minor country Australian rules football league with teams based in the Sunraysia region of north-western Victoria and south-western New South Wales, Australia, around the towns of Mildura, Victoria and Robinvale....
.