Markdale - an historic and beautiful home

Binda (including Bigga and Garbine State Recreation Area)
Small historic rural village in the Southern Tablelands
Binda is a tiny but historic rural village which is located 261 km south-west of Sydney via Goulburn and it is 19 km north of Crookwell. The town's name is thought to mean 'deep water' in the language of the Gundungara people who once frequented the water holes along Binda Creek.

This is the oldest settlement in the area. Police were stationed at Binda in 1840 due to the number of bushrangers in the area. They set up a residence, lock-up and horse paddocks on the townsite. That year the Whitton gang raided Oak Park estate, shot a man they mistakenly took for Mr Oakes and burned the homestead down. They headed north through Bigga with Francis Oakes an unwilling guest. Three policemen caught up with the bushrangers at Grabine station. One of the gang (Russell) was killed in the shoot-out while Whitton was captured. He was hanged at Goulburn two months later.

The village was gazetted in 1851 and one of NSW's earliest national schools opened here in that year. Until the 1880s it was the main administrative centre of the district. The shire's first post office, government school, courthouse and police station were set up here.

On Boxing Day in 1864 the notorious bushrangers Ben Hall, John Gilbert and John Dunn rode into town with three local girls. They robbed the store of Edward Morriss, then rounded up the townsfolk and marched them off to the Flag Hotel where they locked everybody in while participating in the Boxing Day ball. Morriss escaped at 2.00 a.m. and set off to alert the police. An angry Hall burned Morriss's store down. Morriss paid off his creditors but was ruined financially and joined the hunt for the Hall gang.

Today the village survives on the back of through-traffic headed north to Bathurst and Grabine State Recreation Area.

3.5 km north of Binda is 'Funny Hill' sheep station where the famous Binda Picnic Races have been held since 1848.

Things to see:  

Historic Buildings
There are a number of historic buildings adjacent the main through-road in Binda. Entering the town from the south you will pass the ruins of one of NSW's first government schools. Opposite is St James Anglican Church - a Gothic Revival bluestone and quartzite structure built in 1864 with dressed sandstone sills and fine stained-glass windows. The key to the church and a guide book are available from the Binda store which is a little further along the main road. It comprises part of the old Flag Hotel (c.1852) where the Hall gang conducted their raid. Here you can purchase a local history called 'The Village of Binda' written by Wayne Cummins, a descendant of the Cummins bushrangers.

Adjacent is Rose Cottage, built as an inn c.1890. A little further along is a large stone structure built in the 1860s as a steam mill. Unfortunately, when it was near completion, the owner fell off the scaffolding. He died from his injuries and, consequently, it was never used as a mill. They stood unused on Binda Flat until World War II when it was taken away for use in the manufacture of bombs. The miller's residence (adjacent) was built at the same time. Just beyond are the former store-post office (c.1870), the Anglican rectory (1874) and Binda cemetery (interments date back to 1850).

In 1877 the original school was abandoned and another was built 2.5 km north of Binda (it can still be seen on the roadside) to facilitate access for those children who lived further north.

Accommodation
Accommodation is available at the splendid Markdale homestead (tel: 02 4835 3146) and at Chatsworth Farm Stay, tel: (02) 4835 6105. The impressive gardens, designed by Edna Walling, at Markdale can be seen by appointment.

Lookout
About 15 km south-east on the Bigga Rd, is the Sheck Webster Lookout at Snowy Mount which offers excellent views.

Bigga
Bigga is attractively situated 56 km north-west of Crookwell and is noted for producing some of the world's finest and most expensive wool. Samuel Blackman took up land here in the 1820s and sold it to his son-in-law, Tom McGuinness, in 1848. Most early settlers were either related to or worked for the McGuinness family who still live here.

In 1861 Tom McGuinness became the postmaster of the first Bigga post office which was located at Bigga station (the village has shifted around somewhat over the years). That same year, bushranger John Piesley engaged in a three-day drinking spree at a local inn on Christmas Day. At its conclusion he rode to a nearby farm, owned by William and Stephen Benyon, and started a fight. William's wife Martha hid Piesley's guns and would not return them unless he departed. Piesley agreed but returned an hour later shooting Stephen in the arm and William in the throat. William, paralysed and moribund, died six days later. Piesley was caught and hanged at Bathurst gaol three months later.

Earlier that same year (in July), notorious bushranger Frank Gardiner was wounded during a shoot-out with two policemen, who were also wounded, to the west of Bigga. While Sergeant Middleton rode to the village for extra horses, Gardiner escaped from Constable Hosie.

Much earlier, in 1840, the Whitton gang met their come-uppance in the area (see introduction for the story of he Whitton gang). One of the bushrangers (Russell) was killed in the shoot-out and he is buried near the site of the Bigga school.

Bigga village was proclaimed in 1892. The Uniting (originally Methodist) and Anglican churches date from 1906. There is a pub and a golf course.

The only known Aboriginal rock art site of the Southern Tablelands is located at Gardiner's Rocks to the west of Bigga. The name is owing to the fact that bushranger Frank Gilbert used the rocks as a hiding place.

Grabine State Recreation Area
Grabine State Recreation Area is located on the edge of Wyangala Dam 21 km north-west of Bigga along unsealed road. There are opportunities for waterskiing, boating, fishing for trout, perch, Murray cod and catfish, or just relaxing. A roped-off swimming area with pontoon is available for children.

Facilities include a modern amenities block, kiosk, disabled facilities, boat ramp, tennis courts, a six-hole golf course, picnic tables, barbecues and playground equipment. There are some fine lookouts over Lake Wyangala, notably at Decca Hill.

Bunkhouse accommodation (8 rooms with four beds per room) and three self-contained cabins holding five people apiece are available. There are toilets, showers, a fireplace with seating and you can either hire the modern kitchen and dining room or use barbecue and washing-up facilities free of charge, tel: (02) 4835 2345.