Australia So Much to See

Bank building (1883), originally the Commercial Banking Corporation, then following a merger, the National Bank of Australia. This outstanding building is now privately owned.

Looking east along Bank Street with several old buildings on the right. These include the buildings hereunder, with from left to right being the present Real Estate agency, the former Bank building, the Post Office (with arches) and another two storey building which is now a café.

Post Office building dates back to 1879-80, with the second storey having been added in 1900.

Molong dates back to the 1820s, and was gazetted as a town in 1835. The old railway station, which dates back to 1886, is now the community library.

We chose to stay at the much smaller town of Molong to tour the Orange area, rather than in Orange which is 36 kilometres to the south east. It is believed that Molong is a Wiradjuri word meaning 'place of many rocks'. Molong has a population of around 2,000, whereas Orange has over 40,000.

In every shop I went into, I received a warm and friendly welcome. We made such a good choice to stay at Molong.

Other significant buildings include the Rural Lands Protection Board (1872), which was originally the Post Office Hotel and later a bank. This is just to the east side of the Real Estate building, but does not appear to have the original façade.

Unlike in many towns, the old buildings in the main street of Molong have retained their upper storey (living quarters) and facade. This is now used by a Real Estate Agency, but I do not know the history of this building.

Part of the appeal of Molong is its rich architectural heritage. Most of the buildings in Bank Street - the town's main street - are historic. Restoration took place on many of the historic buildings, most of which were constructed in the 1870s and 1880s, for the 1988 Bicentenary.

Freemasons Hotel, originally a single-storey structure erected in the c1856. The Hotel was rebuilt as a double storey building in 1911. For some years it was known as the Festival Hotel, but it was renamed to the original Freemason Hotel on 2010.

Looking west along Bank Street, with the Telegraph Hotel midway on the right. The Telegraph Hotel was established c1880. The hotel was extensively rebuilt in 1910 and remains in use as a hotel.

The buildings feature in the second photo are obscured behind the tree, with the Real Estate Agency just showing.

The Commonwealth Bank is in a single storey building of a much later date, with the residence semi attached. It is opposite the Yarn Market Craft Hut.

Connelly's Store was built in 1884 and operated as a grocery store until the 1960s.

The cottage which has become the Yarn Market Craft Cottage was built in 1860 by James Bowler, and was probably the earliest brick building in Molong.

The Yarn Market Association was formed in 1972. The association has restored the Cobb and Co buildings at the Village Green, and is responsible for the old grocery and butchers shops. This association also sought funding to build retirement units on land behind the Craft Cottage and Cobb and Co Coach house. Seven on bedroom self contained units were built, and are maintained by the Yarn Market Association.

The Bill Neville "Old Butchers Shop c1880.

This is also the home of the Bi-Centennial Embroidered Screen of Molong which is in situ in the Cobb & Co Coach House which sits on the Village Green together with the three remaining walls of the original horse stables. There are also three beautiful patchwork quilts representing the 40th Anniversary of the Yarn Market - with some seventy squares which have been embroidered, beaded, patchworked, painted, laced, and more, these present as a wonderful representation of the wide range of crafts that are covered in the Cottage.

On a cold day, I walked into the Coach House, to be greeted by friendly and talkative ladies working at various handicrafts, and to a warming open fire.

The three remaining walls of the original horse stables were stabilised, and represent one of the features of an Inn used on the Cobb and Co routes.

Cobb & Co Coach House Circa 1875 - This Coach House was part of the Royal Hotel built in 1875. The Royal Hotel, first licenced in 1875, was a first class hostelry and a staging post for Cobb and Co routes. The Hotel ceased trading in 1932 and was demolished in 1944 after extensive fire damage.

The Yarn Market purchased the dilapidated building in 1974 and opened it in 1975, repaired and renovated - all the internal timbers are from the first woolshed at Larras Lake and old timber road bridges, bricks from the old butter factory of Molong 1909 and beautiful original sandstone and bluestone walls, together with ceiling lined in solomite.

Follow our tour of the Molong and Ophir areas, and share our surprise and delight at experiencing snow on Mount Canobolas.

Molong Soldiers Memorial Town Hall. Although the town hall had been completed in 1888 it was added to after World War I when it became a memorial: The front of the Town Hall building was erected as a memorial to those from the district who served in World War One. The foundation stone was laid in 1922.

This building houses the administrative centre of the Cabonne Shire Council. The Cabonne Shire encompasses sixteen small towns.

The Craft Cottage in Bank Street has been operating for forty five years (2017). The Information Centre is incorporated in our beautiful 1860 Cottage and our volunteers are always available to assist. The ladies always welcomed us for a chat, and to tell us about what to see in the area.