History Kiandra, New South Wales

1 history

1.1 goldrush
1.2 skiing
1.3 area today

history

kiandra police station



kiandra snow shoe carnival 1900



the start of girls snowshoe race



the mailman arrives @ kiandra


goldrush

in november 1859, gold discovered mountain cattlemen, pollock brothers, , march 1860, 10,000 miners , storekeepers had raced scene. initial returns good. 9 kg nugget discovered in river deposits under became known new chum hill. kiandra post office opened on 1 june 1860 , estimated area @ peak accommodated around 15,000 people, served 25 stores, 13 bakers, 16 butchers, 14 pubs, several banks , 4 blacksmiths. nevertheless, 1861, sydney morning herald reporting mass exodus , easy pickings exhausted.

significant numbers of chinese people worked kiandra goldfields. chinese miners built 3 mile dam in 1882 assist sluicing operations @ new chum hill . scenic lake still exists , supplies selwyn snowfields snow-making water requirements. wikipedia s chinese site lists kiandra 奇安德拉 (qi de la).

the last mining operations ceased around 1905. official total production recorded 48 676 kg.

in 1890 second courthouse built in township constructed. building included police barracks , used more police rather court function. remained kiandra s police station until 1937, later become kiandra chalet.

a battery stamper , other mining relics recovered locally situated on road cabramurra below new chums hill, close npws entry booth (which attended during snow season). stamper used crush rock , quartz in order free embedded gold.

the wig , pen brewery in canberra commemorates chapter in australia s high country history pale golden pilsner beer in czech style, named kiandra gold .

skiing

kiandra isolated deep snow made inaccessible during winter. in 1861, norwegian miners introduced recreational skiing snowbound mining settlement after manufacturing on forty pairs of both short skis, known skates . , longer snow shoes during months before first winter snow. avoid confusion conventional skate, skates described (two palings turned @ front end , 4 foot long). there no fence palings or posts in kiandra in 1861.

ski races held annually on township hill @ kiandra, led founding of kiandra snow shoe club—reportedly becoming world s longest continuously running ski club evolved present-day kiandra pioneer ski club in perisher valley, nsw. whether club first of kind has been subject debate. @ 1 time, poet banjo paterson vice president. club held perhaps first international ski race carnival in 1908. in 1927, william hughes, member of club, 4 members of ski club of australia made first historic ski traverse kiandra hotel kosciusko. eventful journey retold in klaus hueneke s book kiandra kosciusko , commemorated 150 ski tourers in 1977 in event organised kosciusko huts association.

the kiandra courthouse closed police station in 1937, , time used private residence, before becoming kiandra chalet (until 1953) , later kiandra chalet hotel, owner of chalet ran ski rope tow. chalet closed in 1973 , building became roads depot building.

australia s first t-bar installed on township hill in 1957, in 1978, kiandra s ski lift operations re-located permanently nearby selwyn snowfields. t-bar remained in operation @ mt selwyn until 2009 ski season when replaced township triple chair (retaining name township in reference kiandra township hill run).

the area today

kiandra courthouse before 2010 restoration



kiandra courthouse stands today

the last resident left kiandra in 1974, after national parks , wildlife service (nsw) took on town , completed demolition of of buildings. decision npws not preserve of human heritage of township remains source of resentment in quarters in district day. 4 buildings former township remain intact, collection of ruins , historic cemetery. area retains various other relics of australian pioneer history, including mining equipment, old gravesites , abandoned diggings.

the remaining buildings @ kiandra of high heritage value , historical walking trails provide information on former layout , points of interests of old town. substantial remaining building former courthouse, constructed in 1890, , partially restored national parks in 2010, stokes rousseau , carpenters sean walker , barry ellwood furnbiz use interpretive centre. restored court room officially opened on 5 may 2010 150 people present ceremony. later additions original courthouse @ rear of building remain in state of outward disrepair, although national parks intend continue restoration in stages, aiming preserve cultural history of site across many previous uses.

in 2012, public accommodation returned kiandra opening of restored wolgal lodge bookings. opening of 1960s fishing cottage in part conducted create , demonstrate market demand kiandra-based accommodation, which, according snowy times, prove market based argument restoring kiandra courthouse , chalet accommodation .

easter 2013 saw 4 of kiandra s buildings in public use first time in decades - guided tours , exhibitions - including matthew s cottage exhibition , pattinson s cottage house museum.