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Tarcutta was proclaimed as a village on 28 October 1890. The Tarcutta area was first visited by the European explorers
Hume and Hovell as they passed through on their way from Sydney to Port Phillip in the Colony of Victoria. On 7 January
1825, near the present site of Tarcutta, they met a group of Wiradjuri Aborigines.

A decade after this first European contact around 1835-37, 'Hambledon', a U-shaped slab house was built at Tarcutta. It
was the first inn and post office to be built between Gundagai and Albury. Tarcutta Post Office opened on 1 January 1849.

In the 1880's Tarcutta locals began actively lobbying for a rail branch line from from Wagga Wagga to Tumbarumba via
Tarcutta. On 15th April 1917 the Tumbarumba branch line became a reality opened as Upper Tarcutta. It was renamed
in 1925 to just "Tarcutta" Station. The Station contained a A 76m up side platform. Opposite were loop and goods sidings,
the latter with a gantry crane, goods shed and loading bank. At the down end of the yard was a stock siding and
stockyards. A section of the line sustained major flood damage in 1974 and the remainder of the line was closed in 1987.

Tarcutta is half way between Sydney and Melbourne on the Hume Highway, and has long been popular in the trucking
industry as a stopping and changeover point for drivers.The local park houses the National Truck Drivers' Memorial to
the truck drivers who have died on the infamous local stretch of the Hume Highway, as well as around the country.
The country singer, Slim Dusty, endorsed the memorial with a plaque.

Opposite the memorial poet Les Murray wrote 'The Burning Truck' in the local cafe in 1961 and that same cafe is
described by Bruce Dawe in 'Under Way' when he writes: 'there would be days / banging open and shut like the wire
door of the cafe in Tarcutta / where the flies sang at the windows'.

Tarcutta is the birthplace of former Grand Slam champion tennis player Tony Roche, the son of a local butcher. A
left-hander, Roche had a successful singles and double career and won 12 Grand Slam men's doubles tournaments.

He made his final Grand Slam appearance at the Australian in 1979, losing in five sets in the third round to Colin Dibley.
After retiring Roche coached Ivan Lendl, Pat Rafter and Roger Federer to several Grand Slam titles. He was also the
coach of the Australian Davis Cup team for several years.

The 432 hectare Tarcutta Hills Reserve is of national significance because it protects perhaps the largest area of grassy
whitebox woodland in good condition left in Australia. It has unusually high species richness and provides habitat for the
nationally threatened turquoise parrot and the nationally endangered swift parrot. The Reserve is owned and managed by
Bush Heritage Australia listed on the Register of the National Estate. Whilst they are always looking for volunteers, access
to the Bush Heritage reserve must be arranged with Bush Heritage in advance

On Apr 5, 1881 Tarcutta post office was the subject of a practical joke among staff that made the Sydney papers!
Tarcutta Post Office was for the first time to be given gas lighting and a gas fitter was working in the building
laying lead pipes to carry the gas. A worker ran into an adjacent room feigning terror and told another worker to "run
quick" as there was an explosion looming with the mysterious new gas lighting. The worker ran into the nearest room
to tell the worker fitting the gas he should escape quickly, the astonished worker stared at him blankly. The man then
remembered that there had been gas lamps calmly burning in his office and realised he had been gotten! The paper of
the time reported that "the dispute between the fooler and the fooled will yet have to be settled by one higher in
authority than either of them".

Tarcutta is located almost exactly halfway between Sydney and Melbourne. It has been a popular stopover and
change-over point for truck drivers making their way between the two cities. It was near Tarcutta that the final section
of the Hume Highway was sealed in 1940.

Tarcutta has a strong history of fire-fighting bravery. The Tarcutta Fire Brigade is the one of the busiest Brigades in the
Riverina Zone attending Motor Vehicle Accidents and Fires and other Incidents on the Hume Highway. The Tarcutta
Brigade was formed in 1937 and received its first powered unit in 1950. In the late 50’s the Brigade owned its first truck
which was a Chevy Lend lease after Barry Heard and Frank Halloran purchased it from an auction in Sydney. In 1968 the
Brigade received a Bedford 4WD tanker which was an ex forestry unit.

Sid Heard was born in Hawksdale area of Victoria and his parents managed stations in various parts of the Riverina. Sid
came to Tarcutta in 1928 and settled at “Springfield” marrying Edna Caroline Webb in 1933. He became interested in the
bushfire brigade work and was Captain of the Tarcutta Brigade between 1940 to 1960. After the devastating fires in 1952
which swept through many areas, Sid and Alex Porters were the prime movers in setting up one of the first Bushfire
Brigade radio networks in NSW. They experienced difficulty obtaining a radio license as this concept was so new. Their
radio call sign of V.L.2.P.K. has carried on to be the current call sign of the Wagga City Council’s Bushfire Brigade today.
From 1960 to the mid 70’s, Sid was the communications officer for the Tarcutta Bushfire Brigade and operated the base
radio for this area.

The whole of Tarcutta, Oberne and Humula areas were completely burnt out on the 1st January 1905. Red grass and
Kangaroo Grass had grown fence high through the dead timber. Nothing could be done to stop the fire on this terrible day.
The temperature on the 31st December 1904 had reached 119 degrees Fahrenheit, but no one had time to look at the
thermometers on the cruel New Years Day that followed.

In 1952 Tarcutta experienced devastating bush fires. Trucks and water tanks played a big part in stopping this fire which
occurred in the Ladysmith and Tarcutta Brigade areas. Tarcutta Village was threatened at one stage. The Coreinbob area
was devastated. Three local fire fighters were badly burnt. Ken Morris lost his house and Coreinbob School was burnt
before the fire was contained.

The area was first explored by Europeans when Hume and Hovell passed through it on their way from Sydney to Port
Phillip. On 7 January 1825, near the present site of Tarcutta, they met a group of Wiradjuri Aborigines. The meeting
seems to have been amicable with Hume later writing that the explorers had been met by a group who had 'begged the
travellers would accompany them to their camp so the women and children might have an opportunity of seeing them.'
Hume believed that the people were curious about Europeans. The name Tarcutta has the aboriginal Meaning of "meal
made from grass seeds".

For decades Tarcutta, located almost exactly halfway between Sydney and Melbourne, has been a popular stopover
point for truck drivers making their way between the two east coast cities. It has also, tragically, seen more than its
share of accidents as drivers, both old and young, have crashed and been killed. In 1994 Re-Car Consolidated
Industries established a monument to, as the plaque says, "the memory of truck drivers who have been accidentally
killed while performing their duties in the transport industry". It is a frightening reminder of how many drivers are killed.
Located on the eastern side of the road in the centre of Tarcutta it is well worth visiting.

The Old Tarcutta Inn was built in 1836 by Mr T.H. Mate and operated as an inn and and Cobb & Co. change station for
more than 100 years, until the Egan family transferred its licence in the 1940s. It remained unoccupied for several years
until a dentist, based at the Wagga Wagga RAAF base, bought the building and began restoration. The next two owners,
including Dr D. Ham, continued the inn's upgrading program.  The former Cobb and Co Inn has long been closed and
been used as a restaurant then bed'n'breakfast it is presently closed.

Archibald Watson is one of the most colourful characters in Australasian medical history. The legends surrounding his
life may tend to overshadow his achievements as a surgeon and anatomist, but his legacy as a teacher and mentor to
generations of Australian surgeons cannot be overestimated. He was born at Tarcutta on 27 July 1849, the eldest of the
four sons of Sydney Grandison Watson.On leaving school his restless spirit called him in search of adventure in the
South Seas, and he took passage in the brig Carl, an ill-fated voyage which was to haunt him for the rest of his life.
Arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and murder, he skipped bail and returned in secret to the Upper Murray, while his
father arranged for him to flee the country. However in 1884 Watson had returned to Australia to take up the Elder
Chair in Anatomy in Adelaide. Here he built his unrivalled reputation as a teacher and consultant. He later became
Lecturer in Operative Surgery, and Pathologist, and finally Surgeon to the Adelaide Hospital. In 1900 he obtained
leave from Adelaide to attend the Boer War. He returned to the Elder Chair in 1902, but a decade later in 1914, at the
age of sixty-five years, Watson enlisted in the AIF, and was sent as Chief Pathologist to Gallipoli, Lemnos and Egypt.
At the end of the War, he returned to Adelaide, retired from his positions, and was succeeded.

Joseph Climpson was a war Heroe and police officer in Tarcutta in 1929. Climpson enlisted in the Australian Imperial
Force on 14 August 1914. He landed on Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 with the 1st Division Signal Company, and was
promoted lance corporal next day. Mentioned in General Sir Ian Hamilton's dispatch of 11 December, he was
transferred to 4th Division Signal Company on 12 March 1916. He sailed for France on 2 June, was promoted corporal
on 16 June and saw action at Pozières in July. For his performance during this and later engagements on the Somme
he was promoted to sergeant on 2 November and awarded the Military Medal in December. Climpson returned to
Australia in June 1919 and on demobilization he joined the New South Wales Police Force. After training at the Police
Depot in Sydney he was stationed at Wagga Wagga. On 7 April 1920 at Surry Hills he married Dorothy May Stevens,
whom he had met in Britain. Briefly at Whitton in 1921, he was at Adelong in 1921-25 and at Maude in 1925-29; he
attained the rank of constable 1st class on 1 July 1928. Next year he was transferred to Tarcutta. As as country
policeman, Climpson was involved with the Boy Scouts' Association and organized amateur concert parties.

Thomas Mate was a pioneer founder of Tarcutta. MATE a grazier and store-keeper, was born on 5 April 1810 at
Canterbury, England, son of Thomas Mate. At 23 he migrated to Sydney where he stayed for some months and then
moved to the country to gain pastoral experience. On 8 February 1836 at St James's Church, Sydney, he married
Maria Bardwell. Mate bought a few sheep from H. H. Macarthur and in 1837 took up a run on Tarcutta Creek. His
primitive homestead was half-way on the track between Sydney and Melbourne so he added an inn and store for
travellers.

Though the Aboriginals were then very numerous he avoided conflict by his kindness and faithful promises. By
1849 the Tarcutta school had sixteen children, four of them Mate's, and the station was well stocked with sheep and
cattle. In 1850 he decided to open a general store at Albury. The town was then very small but it grew rapidly after
gold was discovered and river transport was opened. As his emporium prospered he expanded as a wholesaler and
had a bonded store. At first his store housed the post office and after 1858 a telegraph office but both moved to other
premises in 1862.

Prominent in Albury's growth, Mate served on the Albury Hospital Committee and chaired a banquet to celebrate the
opening of the bridge across the Murray on 2 September 1861. In 1859 he had contested the Hume electorate; as a
squatters' candidate holding land on the Murrumbidgee and near Albury as well as Tarcutta he was beaten by three
votes chiefly because floods prevented many country electors from voting. He won the seat in December 1860 and
held it until November 1869. He sought in vain to confine John Robertson's free selection to settled areas instead of
the whole colony but in 1866 succeeded in initiating a bill for preventing the careless use of fire which became law
in April. As a supporter of the Martin ministry he helped to pass the Public Schools Act in December and was
gazetted a magistrate of the territory. From 1864 Mate was involved in much litigation mostly over land. His major
holdings were Kulki near Urana and the Tumberumba and Brae's Springs runs near Albury and Tarcutta, which were
managed by his sons. His store continued to expand and as mayor in November 1880 he was chosen to open the
Albury market yards which soon attracted store cattle from all north-eastern Australia, especially after Victoria
raised its stock tax. Predeceased by his first wife, Mate died at Manly from pneumonia on 22 July 1894 and was
buried in the Anglican section of Waverley cemetery. He was survived by his second wife Florence, née Brown, whom
he had married at Albury in 1882, and by three sons and four daughters of the first marriage and one daughter of the
second. His probate was sworn at over £13,000. His firm is still the largest in Albury.

Charles Ebden was a pioneer founder of Tarcutta. EBDEN, a, pastoralist, businessman and politician, was born at the
Cape of Good Hope, second son of John Bardwell Ebden, a prominent merchant, banker and politician in the Cape
Colony, and his wife Antoinetta Adriana, née Kirchmann. His elder brother, John Watts Ebden, became solicitor-general
and a judge of the Cape Colony. Ebden was educated in England and at Carlsruhe.

In 1832, after several trips between the Cape and Australia, he settled in Sydney as a merchant. By early 1835 he
had joined the pastoral movement to southern New South Wales and was on the limits of settlement at Tarcutta Creek.
In the spring of 1835, before (Sir) Thomas Mitchell set out on his expedition, Ebden's stockman, William Wyse, formed
two runs on the Murray: Mungabareena on the site of Albury and Bonegilla on the Port Phillip side of the river. Ebden's
were hence the first stock to cross the Murray. Accounts of his subsequent movements vary. It seems that in December
1836 and January 1837 he reconnoitred to the south with his friend and manager, Charles Bonney, arriving in
Melbourne a few days after John Gardiner and Joseph Hawdon, the first over landers. He probably did not move his
sheep from the Murray until March 1837. In May Ebden was observed near the Goulburn 'in a most strange costume,
with a fur skin jacket and cap, his beard long … very different from the Mr E. in his tandem in George-street, Sydney.
He has at present on the road about nine thousand sheep, thirty horses, and nine drays'. Such a scale of operations
indicates that Ebden had considerable capital behind him. By August 1837 he had settled on the Campaspe river west
of Mount Macedon in an area he named Carlsruhe. He was thus the first pastoralist in the Port Phillip district to settle
north of the Dividing Range; he was joined six weeks later by Alexander Mollison, another overlander.

On 1 June 1837 Ebden had attended the first Melbourne land sale and had bought three half-acre (0.2 ha) lots on
the north side of Collins Street, between Queen and William Streets, for £136. Two years later he sold them for more
than £10,000. He sold Mungabareena in 1837 and Carlsruhe in 1840, retaining Bonegilla until 1851. From about 1840
Ebden lived in Melbourne, eventually in a mansion he built at the eastern end of Collins Street; he also built Black Rock
House on Port Phillip Bay beyond Brighton.

Ebden was elected three times to the Legislative Council of New South Wales. At the first election in 1843, he topped
the poll for the Port Phillip District, but resigned in 1844. In March 1848 he was again elected, but would not stand later
in the year as he 'could no longer lend himself to the perpetration of what was only a farce'. However, in June 1850 he
was returned as one of the last Port Phillip representatives. He was active in the separation and anti-transportation
movements and the campaign to win the vote for pastoral tenants, helped William Westgarth to introduce German
immigrants, was a founder of the Melbourne Hospital and the Benevolent Asylum, and at different times president and
secretary of the Melbourne Club.

In 1851 Ebden was appointed auditor-general in the new Victorian government. However, he was not a member of the
Executive Council and soon tired of defending policies which he had little part in making. He resigned in October 1852
when he was not promoted colonial treasurer; disapproval of the government's break with the squatters on land policy
may also have affected his decision. Charles La Trobe was glad to be rid of him because of his peculiarities of
temperament'.

In the early 1850s Ebden was active in buying and selling pastoral runs, and between 1854 and 1861 controlled nearly
500,000 acres (202,345 ha) in the Kerang region. However, he was associated with several commercial failures: he
had been a promoter of the Port Phillip Bank, in 1853 was first chairman of directors of the ambitious Melbourne,
Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Co., and was later chairman of directors of the St Kilda and Brighton
Railway Co. He was also promoter of the Victorian Fire and Marine Insurance Co., and a local director of the Bank of
New South Wales.

Ebden visited England between 1854 and 1856. On his return he was closely associated with (Sir) John O'Shanassy in
an attempt to form an opposition 'party' and was spoken of as a possible premier. However, he ran last in a large field
in the first Legislative Assembly election for Melbourne where his conservative views were not appreciated. In March
1857 Ebden was returned for Brighton and from April 1857 to March 1858 was treasurer in the second Haines ministry.
His negotiations with Baring's for a £7,000,000 railways loan reached an advanced stage, but the subsequent
O'Shanassy ministry made other arrangements. Late in 1858 he was prominent in attempting to reconstruct the Haines
'party' and early in 1859 was a founder of the Constitutional Association. After the 1859 election he refused to join the
Nicholson ministry on the ground that his alleged 'ultra-squatting beliefs' would jeopardize its land bill. Late in 1860
Ebden came to terms again with O'Shanassy, withdrew support from William Nicholson and, after refusing to attempt
to form an administration, supported the creation of the Heales-Brooke ministry.

In May 1861 Ebden returned to London where for several years he was a semi-invalid with asthma. When he returned
to Victoria in 1866 his health improved, but he died at the Melbourne Club on 28 October 1867. In 1847 or 1848 Ebden
had married Tamar Harding. She survived him with one son and two daughters; to them he left his fortune of well
over £100,000.

Ebden was something of a dandy who fancied himself as a Beau Brummell. He delighted in his reputation for oddity, and
cultivated his moderate talent for epigrams and badinage. His remark that he feared he was becoming 'disgustingly
rich' became famous. To a new chum who asked whether he was related to 'the great Mr Ebden', he replied: 'I am
myself, sir, that happy individual'. In Gavan Duffy's eyes he 'demeaned himself as if he were descended from the
Norman Conquerors'; the Argus described him as an 'empty and affected coxcomb'. But he was widely popular, and
many regarded him as the very model of a gentleman. Behind the flippant manner was a serious-minded and
conscientious man of affairs. He lacked sufficient eloquence and quickness of thought to be an outstanding
parliamentarian, but was a clear and logical speaker who deserved his reputation as a sound financier. He was a leading
member of the conservative, pre-gold, Anglican ruling class and the ablest political representative of the squatters of
his time.

In the beginning the warriors of the Waradgery tribe (Wiradjuri) traversed the Tarcutta Valley, as they moved about their
territory which 'extended from about Jugiong and Tumut in the east to the junction of the Lachlan and Murrumbidgee
Rivers in the west, while their northern boundary was somewhere out between these two rivers and their southern
about Billabong Creek.'  The Bugong (Bogong moth) formed the Waradgery tribe's principal food during the summer.
Their weapons were like those of the natives of the colony, except the spears, which were made of strong knotted reeds
about 6' long, to which was affixed a piece of hardwood, about 2' in length with a rounded point, barbed in some instances
with numerous small pieces of flint or agate. Many Aboriginal implements have been found in Keajura district paddocks.

The first white colonisers to view these people were Hume & Hovell, who recorded the event on 6th January 1825. Early
that year their party of eight persons were crossing the valleys south of Tarcutta. Near Tarcutta the party came upon
a group of friendly Aboriginal people. The explorers were very impressed with the physical characteristics of these
people and became friendly with them, some of whom later travelled with them as far as Yass. Hume reported that
the timber principally observed in the district was stringybark (Eucalyptus sp.).

Late in 1829 Charles Sturt explored the Murrumbidgee River, commenting on the last permanent settlement near
Jugiong and the last sight of settlers at South Gundagai.

In October 1836 Major Thomas Mitchell's party approached Tarcutta. Near Kyeamba he wrote of finding cattle marks in
the valley and tracks of well shod horses, finding a wild herd of at least 800 head. He commented on the dark
umbrageous trees overshadowing the noble river, the rich open flats with tame cattle browsing on them, unlike the
(other) wild herd.

Lady Jane Franklin, wife of the Tasmanian Governor, and the first woman known to travel overland between Melbourne
and Sydney, recorded in her diary:  ' Thurs 25th April 1839 Tarcutta Creek', saw Aborigines near Mate's homestead.
'Dabtoe was the Chief of Hoonbiarjo'.

Mrs Annie Thompson (daughter of T.H.Mate) on her 100th birthday said that 'the Aborigines at Tarcutta were always
friendly but her father never employed them regularly on the station. He certainly would not let them in or near the
homestead.'

Though there were '3 or 4 hundred camping round his place at one time, they never killed nor even molested a single
person on the station, or did any appreciable damage during a period of 40 years, and were otherwise useful about
the station. 'Some of the blacks assisted on the station at shearing time, and they were even given the carcasses of
sheep which sometimes were drowned when they were being put through the trough after shearing'. 'I fear that
sometimes a sheep was held under too long...but the blacks were not above eating drowned mutton.'

The name Tarcutta (Lower) is Wiradjuri for 'meal made from Gulla or grass seed, or flour and cakes made from grass
seed. The name Murrumbidgee (Morumbeeja) is Wiradjuri for a flood (or a big one water)(Tarcutta Schools Centennary,
1873-1973).

The real stimuli to pastoral development were the buoyant conditions of the 1820s and the desire for new and better
grazing lands. After 1822 enterprising pastoralists sent members of their families with shepherds or stockmen, or even
just sent the shepherds or stockmen, to graze stock in distant areas under Tickets of Occupation. These were
sometimes established pastoralists from near Sydney, or Sydney businessmen, or even both. (Swan, Keith, A History
of Wagga Wagga, WWCity Council, 1970, 19). Although much of this early pastoral development of the region was a
part of wider family and company interests, some early settlers had no pastoral interests outside the area.

A good example was Thomas Mate, an Englishman who settled on the Tarcutta Creek thirty miles east of Wagga Wagga
in 1835 or 1836, and quickly expanded his activities to include a store and inn because of his position on the Port Phillip
Road. When licences were introduced in 1837 the Murrumbidgee River frontage had already been occupied below Wagga
Wagga. By the same year Thomas Mate had occupied the Upper Tarcutta Creek, John Smith the Kyeamba Creek and
there had been settlement on the Hillas and Adelong Creeks. (ibid, 21).

G.W.Rusden's estimate of the number of children attending Wagga Wagga School 1849 included 16 from Mate's Tarcutta
Run (ibid, 33).

Thomas Hodges Mate had arrived in Sydney in 1833 on the ship 'Palambam' from Sudan via Hobart. He was a cabinet
maker. Also on the ship were the Bardwell family, one of whom, 17 year old Maria, was later to become his wife. They
married on 8/2/1836 at St.James' Church, Sydney and would go on to have 8 children.

Mate had been born in Kent on 5/4/1810 into a French Huguenot family with the name 'Meitte' (pronounced 'Mate'). He
spent part of his childhood in France and was always interested in the French language. He remained in Sydney for
12-18 months, having 1000 pounds in funds. Taking the advice of friends he moved into the interior in 1835. At the age
of 23 his first speculation was to buy some sheep from Hannibal Macarthur, a nephew of John Macarthur of Camden Park
and Elizabeth Farm, Parramatta. He headed south with his flock by bullock wagon and horse back with his wife and infant
in the late spring of 1836 and finally settled down on the Tarcutta Creek.

By 1835 Gundagai was the terminal point of settlement...from this point the great age of pastoral occupation...squatting...
set in. A further effort was made in 1836, by Act of Council, to control the squatting boom, part by the imposition of
annual licenses of 10 pounds each. Thus Mate became the largest landholder in the district. When the first map of the Port
Phillip (later Melbourne) Road was printed in June 1836 two buildings were shown where Tarcutta is now located. Other
settlers were located along the mid-reaches of Tarcutta Creek. The blacks were very active and numerous just then, and
the reports of their depredations on the Murray were such as to deter Mr Mate from going further than Tarcutta.

With the introduction of "Depasturing Licenses' in 1837, Mate's name appeared in the NSW Government Gazette as a
landholder in the Murrumbidgee-Southern and Yass districts.

Hambledon homstead is one of the earliest buildings in this part of the state. The first house was only a wattle and daub
hut, without floorboards, but by 15th June 1839 Mate had an Inn, a Store and an established sheep station by the creek.
He became a licensed publican on 1/7/1839 for his 'Tarcutta Inn'.(Tarcutta Schools Centennary, 1873-1973). His Store
Book for 1839, found in the ceiling at Hambledon, gives a list of the large stock of goods available from the general store
in 1839. The store became an important coaching station in an extensive network of mail services from the Upper Murray
and Balranald. Its importance declined after the construction of the railway to Wagga Wagga in 1878. (National Trust
(NSW), 1977).

The settlement of Tarcutta grew up around Mate's homestead (AHC, 1980).  Later, believed to be over the years 1847-9,
a new house was built on the opposite side of the creek. This vertical slab, U-shaped homestead is still in use (1973) under
the current name 'Hambledon'. It was probably in this building that Tarcutta's first Post Office was opened in 1849
(AHC, 1980).  Mate succeeded in avoiding any conflict or collision with the Aborigines in the district by kindness and
firmness. He insisted on them obeying his orders, and faithfully kept his promises to them.  In 1848 landholders had to
declare their holdings and define the boundaries thereof. Mate's Tarcutta land was described as named 'Umuther and
Toonga' (Umutbee), of 120,000 acres, with 800 cattle and 11,000 sheep, stretching from near Oberne to Lower
Tarcutta, then south-west to near Keyamba, then east to Osborne. The length of boundary was 50 miles. Other
properties were described at Kulki, Tumberumba, Walla Walla and Oberne.

In 1850 the drought was broken with a flood. Also in 1850 Mate became a general storekeeper in Albury, when the
Beechworth gold diggings opened. He became influential in Albury, later becoming Mayor. By 1894 this store, 'Mates Ltd.'
had grown to become one of the largest provincial businesses in the colony, employing 50 hands. He always continued to
personally supervise and manage this business, while his sons attended to his station properties. These included Umutbee,
Toonga, Kulki and Tumberumba.

Hambledon was managed in 1855 by Mate's son Alfred (Branch Manager's report 233/84 (1984).  Mate's interest in the
Robertson Land Act led him to seek election to Parliament as the Member for Hume. He was returned to oppose the
Robertson Land policy, being in favour of confining free settlement to the 19 old counties. He was a member of the NSW
Legislative Assembly from 15/12/1860 until 15/11/1869.

While in the House, Mate succeeded in inscribing on the statute book the useful Act dealing with the 'Careless use of Fire'.
He also assisted in passing the Public Schools Act of 1866) and supported the Martin-Parkes administration. Also during his
term he was gazetted a Magistrate of the Territory.

Early in 1872 a special correspondent of the "Town & Country Journal" visited Tarcutta describing:
' Tarcutta is a fine station on the Tarcutta Creek, and carries both cattle and sheep. The residence of the hospitable owner
is near the main southern road. The grounds are planted with choice trees, shrubs, and flowers, which give the place a
most pleasing appearance. Commencing with all sorts of beautiful roses, fuchsias and other flowers, under the immediate
care of the ladies of the house. There were also, rearing their lofty heads, poplars, willows, acacias and elms. Further
rambling showed fruits in abundance, inclusive of oranges and among the shrubs the mulberry was conspicuous. While
looking at the latter I was shown some excellent specimens of silk, quite equal to those exhibited in Sydney a few
months ago. This was prepared by one of the ladies of Mr Mate's family. Arrowroot growing well next passed under
notice, and there were fine fields of planter's friend flourishing amazingly beside paddocks of maize. Mr Mate has
expended many thousands of pounds on improvements. The area of the station is over 70,000 acres and nearly 8000
acres are purchased; and now it carries about 10,000 sheep and 1000 head of cattle. The cattle...are pictures of good
breeding, and their glossy skins and well shaped quarters are the talk of the district! Their ancestors mostly belonged to
the Purple blood, and their imported sire, Lucifer, was owned by Mr Mate. In the centre of one of the larger paddocks half
a mile from the house I was shown a wash pen for warm and cold water, constructed on a good principle. The water is
obtained by means of a race from Tarcutta Creek. Opposite the home station there is a large brick hotel, with full stables,
called 'The Horse and Jockey'...Immediately at the rear of the residence there is a large swamp called 'Umutbee'. It is 8
miles in length from NW to SE. This swamp years ago was covered with rushes which looked like fields of growing grain.
From Tarcutta Creek have been taken large eels, which upsets the theory that they are only to be found in eastern waters'.

Another reporter in February 1879 wrote: 'Tarcutta is very quiet, and being now off the main coach road to Albury and
Melbourne, little happens worth recording.' This was soon after the opening of the Wagga railway station. (Tarcutta School
Centennary 1873-1973).

After his wife Maria died in 1877 he left Tarcutta to live in Albury. In 1882 he remarried. Florence Ada Mate (nee Brown) had
come to the Ovens diggings with her father. In 1884 a daughter was born. From 1886-9 Mate was an Alderman of Albury
Council and in 1888 he became Mayor. At Brae Springs, Walla Walla, he built a fine residence where he retired and he died
at Manly on 22/7/1894.

Mate's children appear to be as follows: Sopia (1836); Thomas (?), Annie (1840); William (1842); Frederick (1844); Emily
Ann (1849), Alfred (1851); Maria (?) and Florence (1884)(Tarcutta Schools Centennary, 1873-1973).

The whole of the Tarcutta, Oberne and Humula areas were completely burnt out in January 1905, due to fence-high red and
kangaroo grass through the dead timber.  1914 was among the driest season recorded, other dry years were 1896, 1902,
1929, 1940 and 1944.  In 1938-9 Tarcutta Creek dried up at the bridge and even the Murrumbidgee ceased to flow. 1916,
1917, 1923, 1932, 1934, 1950, 1952, 1956 and 1959 all recorded floods 1940 and 1952 recorded fires in or around Tarcutta
areas. (Tarcutta Schools Centennary, 1873-1973).

Amongst later owners of Hambledon were Henry Tyson 'The King' and Charles Owen Lloyd-Jones. The present owner is best
known as an Olympic equestrian. The restoration of this building was assisted by a $50,000 loan made available from the
Heritage Conservation Fund in 1982.

The Tarcutta Country Women's Association was formed out of desperate need. Country women were fighting isolation, and
an appalling lack of health facilities and the constraints of a male dominated society. The Association was built by women
who had to watch helplessly as their children died from minor illnesses. These women realised they had nowhere to turn
but to themselves - and the result was staggering. Within a year, the Association was a unified, resourceful group that was
going from strength to strength. The members worked tirelessly to set up baby health care centres, fund bush nurses, build
and staff maternity wards, hospitals, schools, rest homes, seaside and mountain holiday cottages - and much more. At the
same time they continued to run homes in which they were often mother, nurse, teacher and general hand. The women of
the CWA, while believing deeply that their role in the family is vitally important, have been initiators, fighters and lobbyists.
They have made localities into communities by providing social activities and educational, recreational and medical facilities.

The CWA shares interests with women in other states and countries around the world. Any woman in NSW and ACT, through
her membership of CWA, has a voice in her nation's affairs and an opportunity to assist the community. The aim of the CWA
is to work to improve conditions for country women and children. No other organisation exists for this purpose and the CWA
is the largest women's organisation in Australia. Our objects are achieved by consulting governments about many issues,
including Heath, Education, Transport, Social Services and the Environment.
CWA of NSW is a member of CWA of Australia. Country Women's Association - Tarcutta Branch Secretary: Mrs Jenny Wild
Phone: 02 6928 8226 Meeting Time: 1.00pm / 2nd Thursday Meeting Place: CWA Rooms, Sydney St, Tarcutta

Tarcutta is renowned for being a Transport friendly town, being ideally located half way between Sydney and Melbourne.
In 1956 when the great floods hit Tarcutta, hundreds of drivers were left stranded in Tarcutta, with the road unpassable.
The Tarcutta community looked after them, providing cooked meals. Soon after this the community wanted a hospital,
and for the truckies it was important with the local doctor being called upon on many occasions following accidents. A
building fund was started and was contributed to by the transport industry and the locals. In 1962 the new hospital was built.
Today the hospital has closed, but the trucks still arrive in the hundreds each night. The new Changeover Bay, located in
the centre of town comes to life each night as the many rigs roll into town to have a meal, shower or a sleep. Some change
over trailers before doing their return trip, whilst others continuously roll through town.

Although rugby league was first played in Sydney, it did not take long for it to spread to other areas of the state. Indeed
league has a long and noble tradition in country New South Wales. In 1920 the NSWRL set up a Country Committee. NSW
Country was divided into six sections: South Coast, Northern Districts, Central Northern Districts, Western Districts, Southern,
and North Coast. The group system was introduced in 1922, with neighbouring towns being organised into 12 groups. The
Country Rugby League (CRL) was formed in 1934, "subject to the NSW Rugby League still being the paramount institution."
In 1939 a dispute arose between the CRL and the NSWRL. The CRL wanted a new administration structure, an equal
partnership in which the NSWRL looked after league in Sydney, and the CRL looked after it in the bush. When their
proposal was rejected the CRL broke away from the NSWRL for a week, but returned to the fold with a promise that a
committee would be set up to sort things out. Eventually the CRL gave in on the grounds that it was in no one's best
interests to have the game divided during the war. Tarcutta won the Clayton Cup in 1969. The Clayton Cup is awarded
each season to the best performing first division first grade premiership-winning team in country New South Wales.

Did you know? The Tumbalong-Tarcutta deviation construction of the Hume Highway was a major road works project
which was partly funded under the significant Unemployment Relief Works Programme in 1938. As part of the plan to relieve
chronic national unemployment, State premiers were called on to provide schedules of public works that might provide
relief for the unemployed.

John Peisley was a young colonial who saw the path to life's success and happiness was at the point of a gun. At the
time he was described as a vicious lout with a bully's streak and a brace of Colt Navy revolvers to enforce his demands. In
late December 1860 he bailed up and robbed the Gundagai to Yass Mail Coach. In early 1861 a few days later he robbed
several travellers over a period of four days along the Lambing Flat to Cowra Road, taking goods and sums of money
ranging from 18 pence in copper (all one poor man had) to around fifty pounds, almost two years' wages for a labourer.
It was a group of Tarcutta citizens who brought his career to a close. On 28 January 1862 he arrived at McKenzie's Pub,
near Tarcutta. He started drinking heavily while talking to another individual in the bar. Mckenzie was suspicious of this
customer because he was trying to hide a revolver.  He listened to the conversation and became convinced the man was
indeed John Peisley. He enlisted the aid of a John Campbell and a Mr. Beveridge who was the overseer of Wantabadgery
Station (which would become famous 19 years later as the place where the Moonlite gang of bushrangers was destroyed).
By this time Peisley was having a meal in the kitchen with the man with whom he had been talking. Both men were drunk
and started a quarrel in which Peisley was challenged to a fight. At this point McKenzie, Campbell and Beveridge rushed
in and grabbed the villain, quickly overpowering him. Peisley was chained to the kitchen table overnight but tried
unsuccessfully to escape. Peisley arrived at Carcoar Court on 7 February and was brought before the bench charged with
murder and Robbery under Arms. He was remanded to appear in Bathurst and this duly occurred on 13 March. The jury
retired for ten minutes and returned a unanimous verdict of Guilty. Peisley was then sentenced to death. As he was taken
from the court a friend in the crowd called out, "Well, Johnny, what is it?" Peisley replied, "Oh, it's a swinger."

In 1956 Shell intended producing an Olympic Games film and had brought a director and a film editor from England for
this project. The torch was flown from Athens to Darwin and then to its Australian starting point in Cairns Queensland by
the R.A.A.F., then run the 4450 kms by the torchbearers to Melbourne. The torchbearers ran day and night and the
assignment of famous Australian cinematographer John Leake, ably assisted by Max Lemon was to film the torch bearers
along parts of this journey. However when they were filming the torch relay running through Tarcutta, Shell decided not
to continue with the film. The film still exists today and is a wonderful memory of a thriving 1950's Tarcutta.

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