History

The town had its beginnings when Colin & Rosana Ross arrived in August 1853, to start a store for the settlers who had moved into the district during 1839-40. Ross Hill is named after the family.

However, the man who was to give Inverell its name and lay the foundations for todays modern community was Alexander Campbell. A Scottish immigrant, Campbell came to Australia in 1824 and was employed by Peter MacIntyre in the Hunter Valley.

In March 1835, Campbell set out on what proved to be a long and hazadous journey to explore the new country known as the New England.

After travelling through Guyra & Bundarra, Campbell established a property for his employer, calling it Byron Station and established Inverell Station for himself. The Station can still be seen today, on the Ashford Road, just north of town.

The name Inverell means: "Inv" a meeting place & "Ell" swans, so named because of the many swans in the area at that time. Today you can see the swans at Lake Inverell on the eastern edge of town.

During the early days Inverell was known as Green Swamp and was a favourite camping place for bullockies. The location was most favoured for crossing the Macintyre River.

Green Swamp was an obvious site for the village and with many travellers passing through and families settling in the district Inverell was named in 1856.

May-July 1827 Allan Cunningham’s exploratory journey

1836 Settlers occupied the Gwydir River

c. 1837 Alexander Campbell, on behalf of Peter Macintyre, discovered and claimed Byron Plains

1839/4 The whole of the present Inverell Shire settled by squatters

1846/47 Wellingrove, Warialda became administrative centers

August 1853 The Ross family arrived at Green Swamp, started an inn, store, flour mill on Ross Hill

September 1856 Survey of ‘Inverell’ by P.H Henderson

1857/59 Arguments about the location of the township, Green Swamp Vs Byron

March 1859 Sales of town blocks at Inverell and Byron

October 1859 First store – John Moore’s – opened in present business area

1860 First Inverell Races: Inverell became a police and district place for holding court

August 1862 Opening of first public school, Inverell

1866 Beginning of Free Selection in the Inverell district

May 1867 Thunderbolts raid on Bonshaw

1867 First P & A Society Show; arrival of telegraph

1871 First newspaper – The Courier

June 1871 Joseph Wills’ tin discovery at Elsmore publicised and tin rush began

March 1872 Inverell incorporated as a municipality

December 1872 Serious flood

May 1875 First issue of The Inverell Times

September 1876 Opening of bridge over the Macintyre

December 1877 Inverell Hospital opened

May 1878 Railway decision – Armidale, not Inverell, to receive line from Tamworth

December 1880 First elections for the seat of Inverell

September 1887 Opening of new Court House

1888 Great agitation in favour of railway line to Glen Innes

1888 (winter) Worst drought to this date

1889 G A Cruikshank became Inverell’s Member of Parliament

March 1891 First town street lighting

May 1892 Opening of Ross Hill Infants’ School

September 1892 Inverell’s biggest snow fall – 4 to 5 inches in town

April 1893 Bank Crisis – beginning of depression

1896 Beginning of large – scale diamond mining at Copeton

July 1896 Opening of new Macintyre Bridge, costing 9859 pounds

1898 John Howell began to exploit Bora Creek silver lode

1901 Tin dredging began, heralding a new tin boom

November 1901 Opening of Inverell’s railway line from Moree

1902 Major drought: arrival of rabbits; first car seen

1902 Otho Street fire; opening of butter factory

May 1903 Telephone exchange started

1904 Fire brigade formed; state seat of Inverell abolished; completion of new Post Office

1904/05 First Closer Settlement subdivisions, including Myall Creek

August 1905 Opening of Town Hall

June 1906 First meetings of Shire Councils

1909 Beginning of foundry; first Boy Scout troop formed

February 1910 Opening of Municipal saleyards

December 1911 Official opening of the Electric Lighting Scheme

1912 Suspension bridge built; picture palace opened; Tennis Club courts opened (Sinclair Place); closure of Howell Mine

1914 Formation of Bowling Club; new flour mill; drought

April 1914 Inverell won District Trophy, Royal Easter Show

August 1914 First volunteers departed for World War 1

January 1916 Departure of “The Kurrajongs”

1916 The Weir built; beginning of sapphire mining

1917 New fire station; showground moved

1918/19/20 Drought (off and on)

1919 Pneumonic influenza epidemic; visit of first “flying machine”

1919-25 Cunningham, Lucien Lawrence elected to parliament - Federal Member for Gwydir

1920 New State movement; water supply debate; first Rugby League match
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Major Events in the History of the Inverell District 1921 – 1996

Oct. 1922 Municipal Jubilee 1872 – 1922

Sept. 1924 Ambulance Society formed

Nov. 1924 War memorial dedicated in Otho Street

1925+ Golf links made at Sheep Station Gully

Feb. 1926 Great Tingha fire

April 1927 Capitol Theatre opened

July 1927 Inverell’s newspapers amalgamated

1929 First town water connections to homes

1929-31 Cunningham, Lucien Lawrence - Federal Member for Gwydir

Nov. 1929 Unemployment began to be felt

1931+ Rise of Ashford tobacco industry

June 1932 Ben Wade elected to State Parliament

Oct. 1933 Big Flood Yetman

1934 Silos completed (Inv., Del, Mt Russell)

1935 New Hospital opened

1936 Inverell’s first radio station (2LV)

1937 Inverell Rotary Club founded

Dec. 1936 Inverell High School completed

1937 Opening of Glen Innes Road aerodrome

1938 Inverell celebrated its Centenary

1938 Water supply dam completed

Nov. 1940 Bannockburn/Macintyre amalgamation

Jan. 1941 Funeral of first war casualty

1942 Preparations for possible invasion

1944 Formation of Boys Club

1944 Brigadier Varley presumed to be dead

April 1945 Formation of North West County Council

Oct.1945 Opening of Ambulance Station

Dec. 1945 Formation of East – West Airlines

Jan. 1947 First soldier settlement : Gragin

Sept. 1947 Opening of Soil Conservation Station

Mar. 1948 Opening of Inverell’s sewerage scheme

Oct. 1949 First Eisteddfod

March 1951 Beginning of North West Abattoirs

1952 Closure of Butter factory

Dec. 1953 Ian Allan elected member for Gwydir

Feb. 1955 Flood

June 1955 H.N. McLean home for the aged opened

Nov. 1955 Opening of aerodrome at Gilgai

1957 Opening of Homes for the Aged duplex

May 1958 Ashford Power Station is opened

Nov. 1958 Inverell War Memorial Baths opened

Oct. 1959 First Floral Week

Dec. 1960 New Police Station

Dec. 1960 Gwydir Highway completed to Grafton

1961 Growing interest in sapphire mining

Sept. 1961 First Grafton – Inverell cycle race

Dec. 1961 New saleyards complex

March 1962 J.C. Bruxner elected State Parliament

1962 Beginning of open – cut tin mining

Feb. 1963 Holy Trinity opened for 110 boys

Dec. 1963 Munincipal Council moved into White House

Jan. 1964 First Aborigines moved into Inverell

April 1964 Jubilee of Wood Parades

April 1965 First good local TV reception

1965 Serious Drought

April 1967 New State referendum – district 76% Yes

Feb. 1968 P & A Society Centenary Show

Jan. 1969 Pindari Dam completed

Oct. 1969 Inverell now in Ian Sinclair’s electorate

1970+ Sapphire boom

Mar. 1970 Beginning of Pioneer Village

Sept. 1971 Automatic (STD) phones – Inverell

April 1972 Opening of RSM Club

Oct. 1973 First Sapphire City Festival

1974-5 Capitol Theatre controversy

Aug. 1974 First classes held new Macintyre High

Nov. 1974 New building for Northaven

Feb. 1976 Official opening of Copeton Dam

Nov. 1978 Convent children moved to Holy Trinity

1st July 1979 Amalgamation of Inverell Municipality and Ashford and Macintyre Shires

1979-83 Drought on and off

May 1981 Goonoowigall Wilderness reserve open

May 1982 Closure of old Macintyre Bridge

1983 Opening new R.C. Church, Shire Administration building

Nov. 1983 End of passenger rail service to Inverell

Nov. 1985 New fire station opened

1985 Virtual end of tin industry

Oct. 1986 Vietnam veteran’s memorial dedicated

July 1987 Opening of Catherine Campbell Centre

1988 Community effort – Bicentennial Memorial

Nov. 1989 Elsmore tornado

1989-94 Finish of tobacco industry

1989 McLean Village extensions

1990 Snackfood factory constructed

1990 Tourist Centre moved to Water Towers

Feb. 1991 Major flood on MacIntyre River

April 1991 Library extensions opened

May 1991 Beginning of Business Enterprise Centre

1991-95 Drought on and off

1994 25th anniversary of Sports Council

1995 State government takes over NWCC

April 1996 Tom Roberts Festival

1996 Redevelopment of CBD began

(Source: Holding its own: The Inverell District since 1919 / Elizabeth Wiedemann (1998) ISBN: 0646348558)

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Name of Station	Earliest known settler	First official licensee	1841 census	1850 stock numbers	Subsequent ownership to 1900	Approx acreage
Auburn Vale	William Murray Borthwick c. 1838	W.M. Borthwick 1839	4 free males, 4 free females	44 horses, 1155 cattle, 8219 sheep	John Borthwick 1851; Ann Borthwick 1862; Theo Cooper 1872; Stirton and Beauchamp 1907	76000
Bannockburn	John Cameron c.1838	John Cameron 1839	9 free males, 5 free females, 11 male convicts	82 horses, 1308 cattle, no sheep	William Waterford c.1843; James Hale 1845; W. Durham 1858; Fraser and Anderson 1867; G.A. Cruikshank 1879; Andrew Murray 1882;1901 Richmond & Scott; 1903 P.H. Morton	32000
Bonshaw	Rev Irving Hetherington	W.C. Hetherington bro. Rev Irving 1840	2 free males, 2 male convicts	10 horses, 2500 cattle, 4000 sheep	1854 J.H. Keys & Hetherington. Remained in Hetherington family – by 1889 Charles Tindal	140000
Bukkulla	John Gaggin (or Gegan) c.1838	George Wyndham 1839	3 free males, 1 convict	300 horses, 2000 cattle, 7000 sheep	Subdivided by Wyndham Bros. – Karoola, Redbank, Arthur’s Seat, Dinton Vale, Westholme, etc	100000
Byron (Plains)	Alexander Campbell c.1836	Peter McIntyre 1837	47 residents (about half convicts)	7 horses, 1600 cattle, 12000 sheep	Mary McIntyre 1841; Fraser and Anderson1873;G.A. Cruikshank 1879; subdivided 1906	115000
Cope’s Creek	Terence Hughes c.1838	Esther Hughes 1845	Not known	1250 cattle, no sheep	J. Perfrement 1860; Capt. E.G. Swinton 1871; Theo Cooper	22000
Egerton (or Edgerton previously Charing	Thomas Collins 1840	Wilks & Merton 1842	1 free male,6 male convicts	40 horses, 1400 cattle, 5400 sheep	D. & J. Dickson 1844 (storekeepers, Maitland); J.H. Keys 1854; J.S. Fitzgerald 1859; R.P. Abbott 1881	64000
Elsmore (also known as Elsmore, Ellmore originally Glenmore	John Campbell 1838	Campbell & Muir 1839	5 free males, 1 free female, 3 male convicts	66 horses, 1300 cattle, no sheep	Brown & Alcorn 1843; Alexander Campbell of Inverell Station 1852 – Part of Inverell Station till 5000 acres sold to H.W. Hughes 1900	50000
Frazer’s Creek (Originally Mypoolba)	Gregory Blaxland Jnr. April 1840	G. Blaxland, May 1840	6 free males, 6 male convicts	73 horses, 4300 cattle, no sheep	E. Ashbee 1846; Samuel Moffatt 1855; John & Hugh McDonald c.1865; J.&D. Fletcher; John Sinclair & John Swan 1901	60000
Inverell (Known first as Swanbrook)	Alexander Campbell	Alexander Campbell 1842	At least 1 stockman	14 horses, 40 cattle, 1700 sheep	Held by the descendants of Alexander Campbell	60000
King’s Plains (also upper Frazer’s Creek)	J.Vivers 1838	William Vivers 1839	5 free males, 1 free female, 6 male convicts	57 horses, 1300 cattle, 12500 sheep	Thomas, William & Robert Vivers (nephews) 1857; remained in William’s family	106000
Mandoey Creek	W.C. Hetherington	W.C. Hetherington 1847		4 horses, 7100 sheep, no cattle	J.H. Keys 1849; always run with Bonshaw	50000
Newstead (formerly Frenchaye, Glencorse)	Joseph King for Clerk & Rankin 1838	E.G. Clerk & John Rankin 1839	2 free males, 3 free females, 1 female convict	20 horses, 145 cattle, 21090 sheep	John Rankin 1840; Colin Anderson & Duncan Sinclair 1841; C. Anderson alone 1847; remained in Anderson family	72000
Nullamanna	Thomas Collins 1840 John Goodwin 1841	D.J. Dickson 1845		12 horses, 5000 sheep	George Wyndham 1848, run with Bukkulla; owned later by A. Cruikshank, then Inverell Station till 1900	32000
Paradise Creek	Tom Hewitt for H. Dangar early 1839	Henry Dangar	With other Dangar stations	8 horses, 50 cattle, 6500 sheep (usually more)	Mrs Dangar 1861; Dangar Bros 1868; 2 lge prop. 1884 – G. McLean & Anne Munzie; 1900 Paradise Cr. Sold by H.W. Hughes to G.A. Cruikshank	52000
Pindari (previously Darlington)	J. Isbel 1840	J.B. Isbel 1841	5 free males	2 horses, 6000 sheep	George Polhill c. 1845; A. Campbell & B. Buchanan 1855 (run with Wellingrove) ; remained in Campbell family (of Inverell Station)	50000
Strathbogie	H. Gordon 1840	Hugh Gordon 1841	2 free males, 3 free females, 6 male convicts	10 horses, 60 cattle, 15000 sheep	Remained in Gordon family till 1901, when sold to E.C. Body	90000 With Rocky Creek
Texas	John McDougall 1840	J.F. McDougall, June 1840	1845 – 2 free males, 1 free female, 2 convicts	1854 – 45 horses, 3000 cattle	Morehead & Young 1862; Scottish Aust. Investment Co 1875	80000

Historic Properties - Gwydir Portion of Shire

Beebo (sometimes with Wymoo) originally Kittah Kittah	John ‘Tinker’ Campbell 1840 (Jan.)	C. Abercrombie	1846 – 5 free males, 1 convict	1846 – 12 horses, 2100 cattle, no sheep	E.W Hargraves; C. Abercrombie; Campbell & Smith 1846; Miles O’Connell 1852; William Lalor 1870	76000
Blue Nobby		William Russell & George Burgess 1846		3 horses, no cattle, 11000 sheep	Run as part of Wallangra till sold 1921	35000
Boonal	George & Samuel Dight c.1837	G. & S. Dight	4 free males, 1 convict	4 horses, 1600 cattle	Run with Merawah or Yetman. Sold by Dights after 1890 flood	53000
Eena	Benjamin Singleton 1839	B. Singleton 1840	With Trigamon	3 horses, 350 cattle, 4000 sheep	Singleton insolvent 1842, sold to W.M. Russell and George Burgess, then runs with Wallangra from 1850	50000
Gragin	Capt John Pike c.1839	Capt Robert Mayne 1840 with Warryalda	1 married couple, 4 children, 1 free male, 11 convicts	15 horses, 2300 cattle	P.J Elwin (Mayne’s partner) took over 1843; Cheeke & Broadhurst 1846; 1864 Gordons of Strathbogie, who retained it	90000
Graman	John Balfour 1839	J. Balfour 1840	1 married couple, 2 children, 7 free men, 6 convicts	17500 sheep	P.J. Elwin by 1844. Always afterwards run as part or Gragin. Gournama was in same ownership 1849-65	80000
Gunnee (Reedy Creek)	Francis Dickson	Dickson & Nagle 1840	2 free males, 8 convicts	200 horses, 2000 cattle	By 1845 owned by James Kelly & Henry Rose; W.J. Cobcroft 1850; Rossiter & Knapp; J.J.R. Gibson 1860-1900	60000
Mundoe (later Coolootai)	Richard Byam Ottley by 1841	R.B. Ottley August 1843		20 horses, 2500 cattle	Run with Bangheet (Bingara), Ashton Joyce Ottley 1849; C.J. & A. Codrington 1862	70000
Myall Creek	Boundaries marked 1837 by Dangar’s men	Henry Dangar	1 free male, 1 ex-convict, 2 convicts	60 horses, 1400 cattle, 10000 sheep	W.J. Dangar 1869; retained by Dangar family till 1894, sold to Young family	150000 (with Delungra and Keriengobeldi
Trigamon	Benjamin Singleton 1839 or earlier	With Eena	2 free males, 2 convicts	4 horses, 52 cattle, 16000 sheep	R. Percy Simpson 1842; held by Simpson family till bought by W.R. Campbell c.1880	95000
Tucka Tucka	G. & S. Dight c.1837	Capt Russell 1844		6 horses, 2100 cattle	George Burgess 1849; J.F. McDougall 1853; J.R. Smith; purchased White Bros. 1905	60000
Wallangra	Allen Hickey c.1838	1842 P.W. Flower (mortgager)	1845 – 16 free males, 3 free females, 8 convicts	1846 – 20 horses, 50 cattle, 10000 sheep	Capt. William Russell bought station 1850; J.R. Black became partner, took over 1876	90000
Yetman	Goerge & Samuel Dight 1837	Hannah Dight (mother) 1840	5 free males	20 horses, 1900 cattle	Still held by Dight family (descendants of George)	76000

(Source: World of its own: Inverell's Early Years 1827-1920 / Elizabeth Wiedemann. (1981) ISBN 0908467028)
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ARRAWATTA: Aboriginal ‘tired leg’

ASHFORD: First used for Frazer’s Creek township 1851, although first maps of Ashford are entitled Egerton. Named after the village in Kent, England, very close to Egerton, the native place of William Wilks, first settler in the district. The English Ashford was famous for its sales of high quality sheep.

AUBURN VALE: Named by a squatter W. Borthwick, journalist and man of letters, presumably after Auburn, the village immortalised in Oliver Goldsmith’s poem ‘The Deserted Village’.

BALFOUR’S PEAK: Named after John Balfour, first settler at Graman, 1839.

BANNOCKBURN: Named by John Cameron in memory of his Scottish home in the country of Stirling.

BEAULIEU: French word meaning ‘beautiful place’, named by Dr Louis Segol, who established a vineyard there, after his father’s home in France.

BRODIE’S PLAINS: Named after Peter Brodie, partner of Thomas Haydon, who occupied the area briefly as a squatting run in 1839.

BONSHAW (originally Boneshaw): Named after the Irving family estate near Annandale, Scotland. Irving was the Rev Irving Hetherington’s mother’s maiden name. He was the first to take up Bonshaw Station.

BUKKULLA: Aboriginal, many divergent interpretations – most likely ‘high black stump’.

CHERRY TREE HILL: Name given to this selection by Owen McCosker because of the dense wild cherry tree scrub there, so dense said one old resident “ that a dog couldn’t bark in it, and a wallaby had to get out to scratch himself”.

COPE’S CREEK: In 1839 this was known as ‘Johnny Cope’s Creek’. In one account Johnny Cope was the manager of Cope’s Creek Station for Terence Hughes of Barraba. Another interpretation is that it was named after the popular song known as ‘Johnny Cope’.

COPETON: The miners called the area Boggy Camp. By 1899 it was becoming a famous diamond field and a new name was needed so the editor of the local newspaper (the Bora Creek, Boggy Camp and Tingha Miner) decided to hold a competition for a new name. Dr Thompson of Boggy Camp won, with his name Copeton.

CUNNINGHAM’S HILL (just south of Inverell): Not named by or after the explorer, but after Eugene Cunningham, early police constable in Inverell, who had a farm on this hill.

DELUNGRA: Aboriginal – a water weed or water reed. Name given to the Hall family’s squatting run, Delungra, which later became part of Myall Creek Station. The name was resurrected for the town established to serve Myall Creek Closer Settlement Subdivision. The railway station, previously called Reedy Creek (after another nearby pastoral station, also called Gunnee) was renamed Delungra in 1906.

DINTON VALE: Dinton, England was the birthplace of George Wyndham, whose sons settled Bukkulla Station, of which Dinton Vale was a portion.

DUMARESQ RIVER: Named by Allan Cunningham after Colonel Dumaresq, Governor Darling’s assistant and son-in-law.

ELSMORE (originally ‘Glenmore’): From 1846 this was modified, variant forms being Elmsmore, Elmore, Ellmore, Elsmore. From the time of the discovery of tin there the village was always known as Elsmore, and the station was after 1900 always called “Ellmore”.

FLETCHER’S SEAT (hill): After Angus Fletcher, early manager of “Byron”.

FRAZER’S CREEK: Often written ‘Frazier’s’ in the early years, probably after the Vivers’ overseer in the 1840’s. At that time the western portion of Kings Plains Station was known as Frazer’s Creek Station, as was Blaxland’s Station seven miles north of modern Ashford.

GILGAI: The aboriginal word ‘gilgai’ referred to small hollows in the ground, usually in the black soil, also known as ‘melon holes’. The word also meant a water hole, the most likely meaning in this case.

GOONOOWGALL (pronounced ‘gunny-wiggle’): Aboriginal, “the wallaby rocks” or “plenty rock wallabies”.

GRAGIN: Aboriginal, “big hill”, referring to Gragin Peak.

GRAMAN: Aboriginal, “big plain”. The aboriginal word “gra” or “goorah” usually means “big”.

GUNYAN: A native hut made of bark, now called a “gunyah”. This has also been rendered “where a black gin child died”.

HOWELL: Originally Bora Creek (because an aboriginal Bora ground was there) it was renamed in 1901 after John Howell, mine manager and metallurgist.

KEERA: Aboriginal “shrimps”, named by Allan Macpherson, squatter.

KING’S PLAINS: (and King’s Gap, Bundarra Road): Both named after Joseph King, Superintendent at Clerk and Rankin’s station on King’s Creek, who explored much of the district.

KOLOONA: The railway siding and post office were called Gragin in 1901, but this was confusing as the pastoral station also had a post office. The railway commissioners asked the local Farmers and Settlers’ Association to suggest another name, but they could not, so the commissioners selected Koloona (aboriginal meaning unknown) in 1914.

LEVIATHAN: Originally the name of a tin mine near Auburn Vale. Means something of huge size, often a monster or a whale.

MACINTYRE RIVER: Known in the early days as McIntyre’s River, named by both Alexander Campbell and Allan Cunningham after Peter Macintyre of Scone (although they named different rivers, the intention was there).

MANDOIE: Aboriginal, “big toe” or “big foot”. There were two stations with this name in the Inverell District in 1848, which probably resulted in one being re-named Coolatai.

MOUNT RUSSELL: Probably named after John Russell, fencer on Gragin Station in 1851, who had helped to mark out Myall Creek Station in 1837. Mount Russell is on the boundary of Myall Creek, Gunnee and Bannockburn Stations.

NEWSTEAD: Named by Dr Colin Anderson after the family seat of Lord Byron. It means “new place, new home” (as in homestead).

NULLAMANNA: Aboriginal – “large water hole”.

OAKWOOD: Named after Jacob Hunt’s 1869 selection – so called because of the she-oaks growing on the banks of the gully.

PARADISE: 1. “It is surrounded by basalt hills, and the tracks going into it were very bad before roads were made, so it was called Paradise because one had to go through Hell’s Gates to get there.” 2. (More likely) “The first white people came when the season was very bad, and the country looked so wretched that they called it Hell’s Hole. Next time they came there had been such a transformation that they re-named it Paradise.”

PINDARI: Aboriginal “high ground” or “rough ground”. Various spellings, but it was pronounced “pin-dry” by the aboriginals. The pastoral station was always known as Pindari in the 19th Century, although this is now spelt “Pindaroi”. The original spelling was chosen for the dam.

ROB ROY: Referred first to Rob Roy Gully. This is the name of a book by Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott. Name has been used since the earliest days.

SAPPHIRE: Originally Swamp Oak. When a school was established there in 1885 considerable confusion arose, as there was another Swamp Oak near Tamworth. The inspector asked the teacher for another name. She suggested “Sapphire” and the school’s name was changed in 1886, although the name was not used for the area until later. The teacher said “after a shower of rain the ground would glisten with small blue stones and the children used to bring them to me in match boxes”.

SEVERN RIVER: Named after the one in England.

STANNIFER, STANBOROUGH: Both based on the Latin (scientific name) for tin – stannum. Stannifer means, “tin bearing”. Stanborough means, “tin town”.

STRATHBOGIE: Named after Hugh Gordon’s home in Aberdeen Shire, Scotland.

TEXAS: The first holders of the pastoral station, the McDougall brothers from Singleton took up other land too, neglecting their Dumaresq River Station (called then by the aboriginal name Collebelaa). This resulted in a dispute in 1843, which was finally settled in favour of the McDougalls, because they had arrived first. The station was then re-named Texas, presumably because in the year that the ownership dispute was settled – 1845 – Texas became part of the United States, after prolonged negotiations.

TOPPER’S MOUNTAIN: (near Tingha): Probably named after brothers E. and W. Topper, employees of the Wyndham family in the 1850s. At this time the Wyndham family owned New Valley Station, which included Topper’s Mountain.

TUCKA TUCKA: Originally Tucoi Tucoi, aboriginal name for “big fishing hole”.

WALLANGRA: Aboriginal, “long water hole, big water hole” – same origin as Wallangra.

YETMAN: Probably borrowed from the English manor Yeatman (pronounced Yetman), but no connection between this place in England and the Dight family has yet been established. They originally called this station “Grundy”, but it was Yetman by 1848.

(Source: World of its own: Inverell's Early Years 1827-1920 / Elizabeth Wiedemann.(1981) ISBN 0908467028)
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Name of building or original owner / present occupier (as at 1998)	Date	No.	St	Use in 1940
Coles Supermarket	1976	12	Byron	Capitol theatre, McBeans Garage, Barber, Milne’s Bakery
Inverell Motors/F&G/FDB	1915	32-34	Byron	Inverell Motors (previously Glenister and McKenzie)
Inverell Motors drive-thru/Lehman Ward	1915	36	Byron	Kimmorley stock and station agent
Pastoral Chambers, Borthwick and Butler	?1895 1915	44	Byron	Professional chambers – solicitors and accountants; E. Wilkinson optometrist
Rural Bank/ Colonial State Bank	1970	46	Byron	Small shops in wooden two storey building
National Bank	1955	50	Byron	Girle’s butchery – tiny shop, very old
Bank of NSW/” The White House”	1890	56	Byron	Bank of NSW
Bank of NSW/ Westpac	1963	68	Byron	Bank Manager’s Garden
Ernie Roos’ Store/Premier with yard, bulk store	1901	72	Byron	Fuller and Meyer; later Fuller and Gunson, Joe Ferris, Ferris Family
Wooden Shop/ Premier’s Farmhouse	c.1880	76	Byron	Owned Fuller and Meyer – rented Mark Daley
Commercial Bank of Australia/ Florist	1940	86	Byron	Commercial Bank of Australia
Lawrences Furniture Store/Arcade	1963	88-92	Byron	Wooden Shops – Counsell, Cramer, W. Haupt
AMP Building	1968	100	Byron	Central Hotel built 1900
EA Clarke’s General Store/Patches	1933	102	Byron	Ted Clake’s offices
H Foley’s shop/Gem Centre & Just Music	1934	108	Byron	Miss Brighty’s café/Model frock shop
Cloonan Bros./ Camping World & Pete’s Place	1922?	112	Byron	Cloonan’s butchery
ES and A Bank/ANZ Bank	1958	114	Byron	Old wooden shop – Os Daley (prev. Kramer’s)
WF Jack and Co./ Boulus’ and Kodak	1935	120	Byron	Jack’s furniture
Finlens Menswear	1973	124	Byron	“Bub” Thomas, painters etc.
Paddy Davies/ Julie Frock & MBF	1937	126	Byron	Saddlery, residence
Brissetts/ Retravision	1958	132	Byron	William Irvine, blacksmith & farrier
S. Fong Lee (Brissetts)/ Country & Workin Gear	1923	138	Byron	Fong Lee’s store (part of Hong Yuen)
Dry cleaner (now Payne’s)		140	Byron	Blacksmith, later Coorey’s dry cleaner
Lennon’s/ Burtenshaw’s butchery	1931	142	Byron	Lennon’s butchery, owned P. Davis
Credit Union building	1997	144	Byron	Deans’ bakery 1931-68
Jack’s Arcade	1960	146	Byron	D.W. Fergusson plumber
WF Jack & Co/ Taylors Furniture	1956	152	Byron	Spare block; Blondie Brown’s residence
Campbell Bros./Cinema Complex	1939	168	Byron	Campbell Bros. + Harry White
Bakery/Bob Jamieson & Wongs	c.1919	174	Byron	William Leach bakery (prev. Ted Sharp 1924+)
N.A. Gardner	1936	182	Byron	Gardner – machinery agent, builders supplies
Jack O’Briens/Kefts/Anaiwan	1938	196	Byron	Car showroom (later Hytten’s)
Empire Hotel, built Dr Lane	1903	1	Byron	Hotel run by Ocean Beach Hotels
Mah’s Bamboo Bar/Golden Chicken	1952	9-11	Byron	Roger Nasser’s fruit shop
CES	1982	13	Byron	Trim’s garage
Wayne Daley’s Arcade	1976	15-19	Byron	Delbridge’s skin buyer
TAB	1966	21	Byron	Hotel garages, stables, baggage room
Sapphire Chinese Restaurant	1952	23	Byron	Spare ground, hotel drive-through
Surgery, belonged to Hotel Inverell	c.1915	25	Byron	Dr Cookson’s surgery
Imperial Hotel and Shops	1889	Cnr	Byron	Barney Jones barbers in By. St Former sample rm.
Shop owned by hotel/HJ Finlen	1941	41	Byron	Commercial Bank of Aust. Pre1870 building
Murray and Eather/chemist & Inv News.	1935	43-45	Byron	Les Miller chemist, Murray and Eather agents
Burge Bros. Emporium, including shops, auction mart, bakery/payless supermkt.	1912 1935	53+	Byron	Burge Bros. department store; Pennyworths and later Coles were in the present liquor dept.
Fardouly’s café/ Ditton’s chemist	c.1901	77	Byron	Regent Café/ Fowler and Burgess auction mart
Shop built by hotel/Rockmans	1901	79	Byron	K.V. Willis frock salon
Australian Hotel	1910	81-91	Byron	Hotel - licensee E.L. Flood; S.J. Parmenter
Hong Yuen Furniture/ Crazy Prices	1976	103+	Byron	Fay’s Cash and Carry; Yee’s fruit mart, milk bar
Hong Yuen	1904	103+	Byron	Hong Yuen Store (residence upstairs)
Hong Yuen Hardware/Supermarket	1960	103+	Byron	Hong Yuen yard and Furniture Department
Mart”n”Place arcade	1960	121	Byron	Harry Kent agent; Sullivan’s printing
Tatts Hotel	1910	123	Byron	Hotel – licensee F.C. Thomas
Glendowie Centre/Hunt’s & saddlery	1984	139	Byron	Harry Hall’s garage (with b’smith in side street)
Wooden shops/Bill Chivers & Pet World	c.1885	143	Byron	W.G. Gilhome undertaker; Buxton boot rep./ Strahley’s cycle shop
Rural Co-Op/Tiles & Repco	1949	149	Byron	Kewpie Dance Palais (outdoor)
Imperial Hotel	1889	6-10	Otho	Hotel – licensee C.W. McFarland
Hotel shops/Toy World & St. George	1907?	12-16	Otho	Hotel, Len Mulroy tailor, Miles Mercer
W.F. Jack’s/Mather’s, Daseys, Jeweller	1935	18-22	Otho	2NZ up. Moran and Cato, baby shop, Cloonans
Asher’s Jewellery/Inv.Real Estate,Carols	1936	26-28	Otho	Australian café
Knaptons building/Syrett’s newsagency	1934	30-34	Otho	Syrett’s Newsagency/ La Hood?
EA Thomas’ Chemist/ Scardoni Chemist	1907	36	Otho	E.N. Ditchfield chemist/Ina Ferris
Fossey’s/ Young World	1960	40	Otho	Bennett and Wood garage; 1941 E.J. Rumble
McLean’s Shop/ Payless Shoes	1903	44	Otho	John Hunter and son (moved in 1926)
McLean and Lydiard/ Nesbitt’s	1903	46-50	Otho	P.J. Nesbitt and son (moved in 1926)
Jindabyne House (Mrs Body owner)	1903	52-66	Otho	Various shops
Knaptons/Sam Kee, Art supplies	1902	68-74	Otho	Inverell hardware, Finlens
Knapton Estate/ Little Dane	1937	78-80	Otho	Inverell Argus Newspaper office to 1918
Phoenix Chambers (McLean & Davis)	1903	82-86	Otho	H. Fardouly: Cadwell’s wines
Groves shop/Blinds, Ian Miles	1899?	88-90	Otho	Horace Hills shoes
Kautz’ bakery/Office Supplies, Mair	c.1909	92-94	Otho	Kautz’s bakery, tea room
Byron Arcade ( G. Cruickshank)	1903	96+	Otho	Alby Sargent Electrics, HJ Brissett radio, elect and cycles store
Royal Hotel/ Transit Bar	1885	104+	Otho	Guesthouse – owned Gabriel Williams
Insurance Building/NZI, Oslo’s	1951	118	Otho	Ayland’s fruit and produce
Aust. Bank of Commerce/Wilks	1911	120	Otho	Garage and tyres – J.E. Giblin
Court House Chambers/A. Johnston	c.1901	132	Otho	Avern McIntyre, Warner solicitors
AMP Building/Colonial Mutual, Kumon	1921	136	Otho	AMP
Inverell Shire Council	1983	144	Otho	Roman Catholic Church, presbytery
Hotel Inverell/ The Bridge	1914	1-5	Otho	Hotel, Dunlop’s, Ted Lumbewe etc.
Inverell Hotel Extension/shops	1937	11-15	Otho	Hotel upstairs, shops downstairs
Inverell Pharmacy	?WWI	17-19	Otho	Crossley chemist (Cloonan’s mercery 1926-35)
Grove House/Page’s, solicitors etc	1914	23	Otho	Wiltshire, Manning, Anderson solicitors; bank
Argus House/Kloshe Merle, Health Food	1916	27-31	Otho	Brooks shoe store/Britz Jeweller/La Hood
Commonwealth Bank/Nova, Wesfarmers	1932	33	Otho	Commonwealth Bank
Commonwealth Bank	1983	35	Otho	Dr Snows room (1933)
Marcus Clark’s store/ Sports Store	1915	39	Otho	Marcus Clark (furniture and clothing store)
Rumble & Kilminister’s g’ge/Devine	1915	41-43	Otho	Varley and Parker/chemist – W.R.Squires
Rialto Theatre/ Red Shield Centre	1919	45	Otho	Vacant 1940, then Inverell Furniture Co.
Inverell Motel	1961	51-59	Otho	Cansdell’s dept store took up whole lot
Oxford Hotel	1886	61-67	Otho	Hotel – leased by Mrs RE Wilson
St Elmo’s Chambers – doctors	1937	69	Otho	Dr Punch up, chemist down
Queensland Insurance/QBE	1937	73-77	Otho	Queensland Ins.
Union Bank/Tavern	1911	79	Otho	Union Bank
Comm. Bank of Sydney/Colour Copy	1891	83	Otho	Bank
Town Hall	1905	91	Otho	Town Hall, council chambers, Dr Vernon
Post Office	1904	97	Otho	Post Office, Residence
Government Savings Bank/ Offices	1912	107	Otho	Rural Bank
Police Station	1960	109	Otho	Police Station (old building)
Inverell Court House	1886	121	Otho	Court House
Government Offices	1967	127	Otho	Police sergeant’s residence
NWCC/Northpower – Leased out	1954	129	Otho	Former School Yard/military parade ground
Gaukroger’s Garages/Shepphards	1927	20-24	Vivian	Gaukrogers garage; Thom’s butcher in Byron St.
Burge’s bulk store/Fishing World	1924	26	Vivian	Burge’s bulk store, produce store
Gaukrogers shop, spare parts/NRMA	1964	26	Vivian	Inverell Harvester
New Gaukrogers Garage	1972	28-30	Vivian	Small shops – bakery, blacksmith etc.
Harvey Norman	?1994	Cnr	Vivian	Federal House built 1900 by Egans. Delicensed 27
Salvation Army Citadel	1957	35	Vivian	Citadel (old building)
Times Office	1939	37	Vivian	Inverell Times Office – one storey till 1968
Enchelmiers	1959