Discover
The 2020 Cultural Plan will ensure that DRC can commit to policy-making based on a solid foundation; developed with, and responding to community and stakeholder feedback, with transparent processes for reporting, monitoring, and review.
Historical Timeline
Key
The Wiradjuri People are the people of the three rivers, the Wambool (Macquarie River) the Calare (Lachlan River) and the Murrumbidgee. Long before Europeans settled in the region, the Wiradjuri people had lived on these lands for more than 40,000 years.
Discovery, Civic & Law
Culture & Recognition of People & Place
Growth & Education
1810-1849
1818
John Oxley, explorer and Surveyor-General for NSW, leads the first expedition down the Macquarie River.
1837
Robert Venour Dulhunty is granted a license for Dubbo Station, a property located 5km from the current City of Dubbo. Dulhunty had begun running cattle in the Dubbo area sometime between 1829 and 1833.
Image Credit: Photographer Unknown, Old Dubbo House, c.1880, Local Studies Collection, Dubbo Regional Council, D000083.
1842
John Maughan acquires the license for Dundullimal Station from Charles and Dalmahoy Campbell. Between 1843-1852 Maughan extends and improves the original slab hut, creating a large homestead. It remains the oldest known squatters homestead in New South Wales.
1846
Dubbo is proclaimed a place to hold a Court of Petty Sessions. The first serving magistrates are Robert Dulhunty, Edwin B Cornish and John Maughan.
1847
Jean Emile Serisier establishes a general store at what is now the southern end of Macquarie Street. He would go on to become a prominent local businessman with one of the largest stores in the region.
1848
January. A post office is established in Dubbo and a regular mail service from Wellington to Dubbo commences.
1849
2 February. Nicholas Hyeronimus gains a license to serve alcohol at Dubbo's first hotel, the Macquarie Inn.
1849
23 November. A notice formally proclaiming the Village of Dubbo is published in the New South Wales Government Gazette.
1850-1899
1857
The first school in Dubbo is established. It is believed to have been located on the corner of Macquarie and Wingewarra streets.
1865
13 February. A branch of the Commercial Bank opens in Dubbo. The bank later purchases a site at 193 Macquarie Street, where a new two storey sandstone branch is erected. The building remains today.
Image Credit: Merlin Beaufoy, Commercial Bank, Macquarie Street, Dubbo, c.1873, Local Studies Collection, Dubbo Regional Council, D0000311.
1866
January. Dubbo’s first newspaper, the ‘Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent’ is established. Owned by Thomas and Martin Manning, the first editor was William England Morgan.
1867
A temporary public common is dedicated at the junction of Cobra and Darling streets. This land would later become Victoria Park.
1866
14 January. Bushranger John Dunn escapes from the Dubbo police barracks. He is recaptured one day later less than two miles from Dubbo. John Dunn was executed at Darlinghurst Gaol on 19 March 1866.
1866
24 May. A new bridge spanning the Macquarie River in Dubbo is officially named. With some dispute over the naming of the bridge, (it was christened both the ‘Oxley’ and the ‘Albert’ in the space of an hour) , the official name would remain the ‘Oxley’. Locally, it would be referred to as the ‘White Bridge’.
1867
Western NSW experiences a disastrous flood. Low lying areas of Dubbo, Wellington, Narromine and Montefiores are flooded. Thousands of stock are lost and many are forced to evacuate their homes.
1870
The Dubbo Hospital is officially opened. Dr Tibbits is appointed the first medical officer, while Mr and Mrs McDonald are selected as the first Overseer and Matron.
1872
19 February. Dubbo is gazetted as a Municipal Council. The first council election is held on 17 April, with Mr James Samuels elected as Dubbo's first Mayor.
1884
28 April. At 4am a disastrous fire breaks out behind shops on the eastern side of Macquarie Street. A number of shops are damaged or destroyed, including the second story of Serisier & Co. It was the biggest fire Dubbo had ever experienced.
1881
2 February. The railway line between Dubbo and Wellington is officially opened with the arrival of the first train in Dubbo.
1887
Designed by James Barnett, Dubbo's new Post and Telegraph Office, located on Macquarie Street is officially opened.
1891
The 1891 census records the official population of the Dubbo municipality as 3,563. With the inclusion of West Dubbo and Newtown, the population is 4,584.
1889
8 April. The new Dubbo Courthouse on Brisbane Street is officially opened by Sir Frederick Daley, Chief Justice of New South Wales.
1894
26 April. Dubbo’s new waterworks are officially opened by Sir George Gibbs. A 60ft infiltration well pumped into a newly built reservoir is able to supply the town with 360,000 gallons of water.
1897
5 June. A volunteer Fire Brigade is established in Dubbo, with William Stewart selected as the first captain. At the time of its establishment the Fire Brigade has no equipment.
Image Credit: Photographer Unknown, First Dubbo Volunteer Fire Bridge, c.1900, Local Studies Collection, Dubbo Regional Council, D0001535
1892
25 September. Dubbo experiences a severe flood, with waters rising to an estimated 14 metres, flooding many buildings in Macquarie Street.
1895
The winter of 1895 sees the start of serious drought across the western plains. Harsh, dry conditions persist until 1903. The period is considered one of the worst drought’s experienced.
1897
22 June. A procession through town celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The procession ends with the unveiling of a new fountain in the enlarged pond at the centre of ‘Queens Park’. The pond was officially dedicated as ‘Victoria Lakes’.
1897
16 November. The Dubbo Telephone Exchange is officially opened by Mayoress, Mary Ryan. There were 26 subscribers to the Exchange.
1898
5 November. An Aboriginal Reserve in the District of Dubbo is gazetted. The site at the junction of the Macquarie and Talbragar rivers covers an area of 18 acres. It would become known as the Talbragar Reserve.
1900-1949
1901
17 May. The Dubbo Co-operative Milling Company Ltd opens its new flour mill. The mill is still in operation, run by Ben Furney Flour Mills.
1901
17 December. Eleven major fires occur on this day in and around Dubbo, destroying a number of buildings, including the Occidental Hotel on the corner of Talbragar and Darling streets.
1905
13 February. A new bridge across the Macquarie River opens. Replacing the old bridge built in 1866, it would also be known as the ‘White Bridge’.
1903
26 September. The Dubbo Town Band is officially formed. The band supplied music at civic and community events in Dubbo for many years. Also known as the Dubbo District Band, it was officially renamed the Dubbo Citizen Band in September 1911.
1906
17 March. The increasing population of the region sees the creation of the Talbragar Shire Council, proclaimed under the Local Government Shires Act, 1905. On 24 November, Isaac Roberts is elected as the first President of Talbragar Shire Council.
1911
Alexander Riley joins the NSW Police Force as an Aboriginal Tracker.
1912
November. Tripp and Henderson’s drapery and clothing store opens on Talbragar Street. This store still operates today as Henderson’s Menswear.
1906
7 March. Dubbo's first bowling green, located in Victoria Park, is officially opened.
Image Credit: Photographer Unknown, Dubbo City Bowling Club, Wingewarra Street, Dubbo, 1921, Local Studies Collection, Dubbo Regional Council, D0000899
1915
August. An Australian Infantry Force (AIF) military training camp is established at the Dubbo showgrounds. The camp was closed in November 1916.
1917
4 July. Dubbo High School is officially opened. It is now the site of the Western Plains Cultural Centre.
1921
3 April. The national census records the population of Dubbo as 5,093.
1920
12 May. A new fire station located on the corner of Wingewarra and Darlings streets is officially opened.
1919
April-August. An emergency hospital is established at the Dubbo showgrounds to assist during the outbreak of Spanish Influenza in the region.
1925
25 April. Electricity is officially switched on during a ceremony at the Dubbo Town Hall.
1931
13 May. North Dubbo Primary School is officially opened.
1934
25 February. Dubbo’s first radio broadcast takes places as part of a fundraising appeal for Dubbo Hospital. Lasting one hour, it was directed by Mr Douglas Holmes at the Tamworth Street Radio station, VK2MX.
1934
30 April. Western Air Services begins the first commercial passenger air service between Dubbo and Sydney.
1935
2 December. The Dubbo Olympic Swimming Pool is officially opened by Minister for Works, Mr Spooner. The pool had opened to the public on 30 November.
1935
December. A school is established for the community at the Talbragar Reserve.
1940
5 September. The first soldiers arrive at the newly built Dubbo Army Camp. The camp was designed to house and train up to 3,000 men serving in the Second World War.
Image Credit: Group of WWII Soldiers seated in a hall, c.1940, Local Studies Collection, Dubbo Regional Council, D0000418
1937
27 June. The Aborigines Progressive Association is formed in Dubbo. Local Aboriginal activists Bill Ferguson and Pearl Gibbs are founding members.
1942
December. The RAAF Stores Depot No.6 is officially relocated inland to Dubbo. The new depot was constructed by local building firm, Wallace and McGee Pty Ltd.
1944
5 July. Dubbo District Hospital is gazetted as a base hospital.
1950-1980
1950
31 March – 5 April. Dubbo experiences heavy flooding along the Macquarie River. 1950 will be documented as the wettest year on record.
1950
4 July. Following his final election speech as an independent candidate for the federal election, Aboriginal activist William Ferguson collapses at his home. He later dies at Dubbo Hospital of hypertensive heart disease.
1954
17 September. The Dubbo Municipal Abattoir and Country Killing Works is officially opened. The abattoir would later become part of Fletcher International Exports.
1955
25 February. The worst flood in Dubbo's history occurs, when the Macquarie River floods large areas of the town, including most of the central business district.
Image Credit: Photographer unknown, Man on a Canoe in Brisbane Street in the 1955 Flood, 1955, Local Studies Collection, Dubbo Regional Council, D0000554
1965
13 February. University of Sydney students undertaking a bus tour of regional NSW to highlight the living conditions of Aboriginal people arrive in Dubbo. The tour was instrumental in highlighting the discrimination faced by Aboriginal people in regional NSW. Today it is known as the Freedom Ride.
1954
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh visit Dubbo for the day. During their time they visit Victoria Park and the Dubbo Show.
1954
Aboriginal activist Pearl Gibbs, is the only women to be elected to the Aborigines Welfare Board. Finding it difficult to implement the decision and change that would benefit the community, Gibbs resigns in 1957.
1958
5 July. The first Westhaven school is opened, the Westhaven School provides education and care services for disabled children.
1962
17 February. Dubbo receives the ‘test pattern’ telecast from CBN Channel 8, based at Orange. The first television programme is broadcast on 17 March 1962.
1966
31 August. The Dubbo Gaol is officially closed.
1971
30 August. The air terminal at the Dubbo aerodrome is officially opened. The Dubbo City Council had taken ownership and management of the airport in September 1969.
1969
26 September. The L H Ford Bridge, spanning the Macquarie River, is officially opened, replacing the old White Bridge. The bridge was named in commemoration of Mayor and State Member, Leslie Hunter Ford.
Image Credit: Photographer Unknown, Vehicles and pedestrians on newly opened L.H Ford Bridge, Dubbo, 1969, Local Studies Collection, Dubbo Regional Council, D0000346
1967
18 August. Burrendong Dam is officially opened by Premier, Sir Robert Askin.
Image Credit: Image Credit Photograph Unknown, Aerial view of intake tower and wall during the construction of Burrendong Dam, c.1967, Local Studies Collection, Dubbo Regional Council, D0001802
1978
10 August. Dubbo local, Katrina Gibbs, a member of the Dubbo Amateur Athletics Club, wins gold for high jump at the 1978 Commonwealth Games.
1979
15 May. Dubbo’s first radio station, 2DU opens a new ultra-modern studio in Carrington Avenue. The station is still in operation today.
1976
17 July – 1 August. Dubbo locals, Peter Coughlan (swimming) and Brian Tink (boxing) compete at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
1978
7 September. Dubbo Square, the first fully-enclosed, air conditioned shopping centre in the region, opens to the public. The centre includes a Coles supermarket and 30 speciality stores.
1979
12 June. Orana Mall Shopping Centre officially opens for its first day of trading. The $11M shopping complex includes 160,000 sq. ft. of shopping space, incorporating a Woolworths Supermarket, Big W store and 30 speciality stores.