290 



. / ( 'STRALASIA ILL USTRA TED. 



farming centre, 

 and one of the 

 most important 

 settlements of the 

 South, was named 

 after Sir John 

 Young, one of the 

 colony's former 

 Governors. In 

 1860 the spot 



whereon it stands was a 

 sheep-walk, but gold was 

 discovered, and attracted 

 thousands of diggers. It 

 proved a very rich field, 

 and when the escort re- 

 turns commenced to 

 dwindle, attention was 

 paid to the soil. The 

 pick and shovel were dropped and the 

 plough and harrow used. About thirty- 

 thousand acres were cultivated ; and 

 the yearly crops of cereals now make 

 a total of nearly three hundred and 

 fifty thousand bushels,- while the vine- 

 yards yield close on ten thousand 

 gallons of wine. About fifty miles 

 farther to the north is Cowra, with 

 gold and copper mines, and soil which 

 regularly produces large crops. Both 



of these centres have only recently obtained railway communication a loop-line now 

 opens to them the principal markets of the West and the South. 



Returning to Murrumburrah, and travelling twenty-three miles west along the Main 

 Southern Line, Cootamundra, another important town, is reached. During the past five 

 years what was a mere road-side village has grown to a town with large and expensive 

 buildings, while the country around is well farmed, and produces wheat of admirable 



2>iVEM<.\NG Uf THt CURB 



MnkTS CIIEESE-l'ARM AT HODALLA. 



