Hay.27s first decades: 1859 to 1880 Hay, New South Wales

the hay court house, erected in 1860.

lang’s crossing place post office opened on 16 april 1859 , renamed hay in 1861. in 1860 brick court-house , lock-up built @ hay (at site of present post office).

the census taken in april 1861 revealed there 172 people living @ hay township, consisting of 115 males (of whom 25 aged 15 years or under) , 57 females (of whom 23 aged 15 years or under). of 90 males aged 16 years or more, 38% married or widowed; of 34 females in category, 76% married or widowed. census enumerated buildings @ new township: 4 brick structures; 17 of weatherboard, slab or inferior ; and, 14 tents.

in april 1861 2 new hotel licences granted @ hay: caledonian hotel (thomas e. blewett , george dorward) , argyle hotel (thomas simpson).  2 hotels located side-by-side in lachlan street.  during 1862 argyle closed doors, , offered sale.  in september 1865 george maiden briefly re-opened royal mail hotel.  in february 1866, christopher ledwidge, landlord of caledonian hotel since 1864, purchased royal mail , incorporated 2 1 hotel.  regrettably, caledonian hotel badly damaged fire in 2006, , demolished in 2007.

according 1871 census of colony of new south wales there 664 people living @ hay township: 388 males , 276 females.  proportion of in hay community aged less 16 years had increased 28% in 1861 38% in 1871.

in november 1871 petition prepared residents of hay requesting township granted municipal status.  elections aldermen held in august 1872.  @ first municipal meeting local businessman, frank johns, elected mayor.

the first bridge on murrumbidgee river @ hay built in 1872 @ cost of £20,000. structure included turntable enabled middle-section swung open allow passage of steamers.  opening of hay bridge delayed while approaches formed. opened on 31 august 1874 colonial secretary of new south wales, henry parkes.  old bridge replaced new one, opened in june 1973. old hay bridge subsequently demolished. turntable, last used in 1946, placed in river-bend north of bridge had been.

a sketch of hay gaol dating 1881

as developed hay became essential hub of surrounding district. pastoral runs surrounding township main employers of labour; stores , hotels, hospital, post-office, banks, court-house , police-station, hay became important focus rural workers , resident squatters alike. carriers, contractors, wool-buyers , dealers in stock established @ hay , township became busy port steamers plying inland rivers. stores township , district stations unloaded @ wharves @ hay, , steamers , barges loaded wool-bales return trip (usually echuca, 1864 had been connected rail melbourne).

during 1879-80 local building firm, witcombe brothers, constructed new gaol @ hay, replace old lock-up in lachlan street (at site of current post office).  new hay gaol opened in december 1880.