History
Temora began as a pastoral station in 1847 but was not officially named as a town until it had become a hotspot for gold miners in 1880.
Gold was first found in the region in 1869 and by 1879 over 20,000 people had descended on the town in an effort to stake their claim. The population dropped dramatically at the end of the gold rush, but the town of Temora had been established and some of the buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s remain, at least in part, in today’s landscape. Take a wander through the streets and you will see Edwardian, Federation and some Art Deco period buildings. Be sure to visit Ariah Park where you’ll find some impressive architecture and streetscaping dating back over a century.
To get the best overview of Temora Shire’s history, you can’t go past the Temora Rural Museum where you will learn about the area’s humble beginnings and the road to where we are today.
Bundawarrah Centre
29 Junee Rd, Temora
6977 5921
Pre-1836
Our Wiradjuri Story
Before European settlement, the area of land now known as Temora was occupied for some 40,000 years by the Wiradjuri people, whose nation spanned an area reaching as far north as Nyngan, right down to Albury in the south, and from Hay in the west to the foothills of the Blue Mountains in the east.
Temora values its Indigenous past. Willo’s Wiradjuri Keeping Place (pictured) at the Bundawarrah Centre, pays respect to traditional Wiradjuri culture, working to preserve an understanding of the society that was part of Temora’s landscape prior to white settlement. ‘Willo’ was a Wiradjuri youth who befriended one of the first European settlers to lease ‘Temora Station’.
Many creeks, forests and townships around Temora bear names resembling Wiradjuri words.
1836
First white settlement at Narraburra Pastoral Station
John Bray was the first European to lease land in the district, claiming “Narraburra Run” in 1836. “Temora Run” was first leased in 1847.
Land and gold attracted settlers from across the world.
Ever wondered about all of the German street and surnames you’ve heard mentioned in Temora? German settlers formed a fundamental part of Temora’s pastoral identity, and have been associated with the land here from as far back as the 1870s.
When the community began to form during the gold rush, it was a German, Henry Margules, a mining registrar and land agent who selected the site to become what we now know as the town of Temora.
Fellow Germans, surveyor Adalbert Schleicher, and unofficial town Mayor, August Ludwig Deutscher, also played significant roles in developing the town as more than simply a field to be mined.
After WWI, due to lingering ill feeling, Temora lost some of the emphasis upon its German heritage. Schleicher Street was renamed for Michael Crowley and the newly developed “O’Donnell’s Subdivision” celebrated the names of prominent allied military personnel of the era.
Temora’s egalitarian mindset, early multicultural population, social resilience and enterprising nature have commonly been recognised as owing much to the contribution of its German heritage.
Look out for the many German street names and surnames found in Temora.
1879
Gold-hungry miners descend on Temora
During the early 1880s, Temora’s population ballooned to around 15,000! The rapid growth in occupancy was due to the proclamation that the barren fields of Temora were in fact gold fields.
In 1881 more than 35,000 oz. (that’s just under a tonne!) of gold was mined from the fields, mostly in many small findings, however one big discovery did go down in history for decades to come.
The unearthing of a 308.35 ounce – nearly 9 kilogram – gold “nugget” at the Mother Shipton mine, made Temora a hot spot for miners looking to score big, with the nugget valued at $8600 in 1885.
The nugget broke into three pieces during excavation, the smallest of which was gifted to Queen Victoria in 1886. In 1906, the larger pieces were on display in the window of the Orient Steamship Co. in London, from which they were stolen and never recovered.
Did you know that during the early 1880s, despite woeful conditions, Temora was responsible for producing half of the gold mined
in NSW?
Want to know more about the Mother Shipton Nugget? Ask about the replica at the Temora Rural Museum when you pay a visit.
1893
All aboard, first stop Temora!
Following years of arguments, suggestions, submissions and discussions, Temora secured its place as a wheat and wool growing centre in the Riverina region with the construction of railway lines connecting it directly to other towns in the region.
When a petition in 1886 called for a train to run from Cootamunda on the Southern Line via the fastest route, it heralded a new era of economic prosperity for Temora’s wool growers and farmers.
The line became a reality in 1893, and still serves a freight line to this day.
Take some time to explore Temora’s Railway Precinct including the Railway Museum located in the former railway station building.
1910
A knock-out success
It might be decades since an annual show played host to the boxing tents that were once one of their main attractions, but that doesn’t mean the legends died when the amusement.
The widely acclaimed Sharman Boxing Troupe, led by Temora’s Jimmy Sharman, came to prominence in 1910 when Jimmy himself won the title of ‘Riverina Lightweight Champion’.
Making its official debut at the 1912 Ardlethan Show, the Sharman tent continued to attract audiences for some 60 years beginning the careers of many prominent boxers during this time.
Visit the Temora Rural Museum and you’ll find a wide array of Sharman Troupe memorabilia, including backdrops, match bells, drums, boxing gloves and photographs of the troupe throughout the years.
1924
Watering holes stricken with a different sort of drought
During the gold rush era, Temora’s hospitality industry was forced to expand alongside its growing population – and those hard working miners needed a cold beer by the end of a long day on the fields.
However, very few of the town’s gold rush hotel buildings survived past the 1920s.
You will notice quite a few existing pubs as you pass through Temora, and each of them have their own rich history and story. Historic Hotels of Temora is available for purchase from the Visitor Information Centre. It contains detailed information on Temora's pubs, past and present, and provides you with a map so you can take a self-guided pub crawl.
1928
Temora’s big screen debut
The film industry flourished globally during the roaring 1920s, and Temora was certainly not exempt from this worldwide phenomenon.
In 1928 a melodrama film entitled The Adventures of Dot, directed by Cyril J. Sharpe and shot by cameraman Reginald Young, was produced in Temora, telling the story of an attractive school mistress arriving to town, only to be pursued by two rival suitors.
Featuring a cast of locals who filled both supporting and lead roles, the old 35mm nitrate film came to form part of the National Film & Sound Archive as a 16mm movie film.
May 1941 - March 1946
Tiger Moths over Temora
When you’re standing at the Aviation Museum looking out at the runway, imagine what the space must have been like during WWII. This was when the No. 10 Elementary Flight Training School was established in Temora by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
No. 10 EFTS was the largest and longest established flying school in the Commonwealth throughout WWII, and saw more than 10,000 personnel involved in training more than 2,400 pilots to defend our nation.
Now, picture this – at its peak the unit contained 97 de Havilland Tiger Moth aircraft, requiring the establishment of a further four satellite airfields around Temora to cope with the demand!
View a scale model of the No. 10 EFTS at the Temora Aviation Museum.
1946
Aviation is in our blood
Not ready to leave behind its rich aviation history in a hurry, Temora continued to develop its flying heritage with the establishment of the Temora Aeroclub.
The town became renowned as an ideal airfield for aviation activities including parachuting, aerobatics, gliding, model air crafting and ultralight operations, drawing in aviation enthusiasts from all over the nation, and even the world.
Find the Temora Aeroclub in one of the remaining original Bellman hangars built at Temora airport by the RAAF.
1969 - 1989
Our biggest equine celebrity
Gold wasn’t only found in Temora in the mines, but on the racetrack too. Having maintained a strong reputation breeding pacers for many years, Temora truly burst onto the trotting scene during the 1970s, with Paleface Adios.
More affectionately known as “The Temora Tornado”, Paleface Adios was known and loved nation-wide as a prolific and prominent pacer, but nowhere more so than his hometown of Temora.
The champion pacer, owned by Col & Shirley Pike, claimed two Lord Mayor Cups at Harold Park, two UHR Championships in Brisbane, and perhaps the greatest of his victories the Winfield Cup in Melbourne at just eight years of age.
Head to Paleface Park on Hoskins Street to see a life-sized monument of the champion and his driver, Col Pike.
1982
The birth of a new era for recreation in Temora
More than 400km from the nearest coastline, Temora wouldn’t typically be pinned as a hub for water sport and jet-boating enthusiasts; however the creation of a manmade lake in the early 1980s made all of that possible.
Lake Centenary, a 55 hectare expanse skiing and boating paradise came to fruition in 1982, and since then has become a breeding ground for competitive water skiers, fishermen and speed boaters from right across the region. Grant funding from the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation in the mid-1970s, and a strong enthusiasm from a dedicated group of local ‘lake advocates,’ set the gears in motion for a recreational lake near Temora.
By the late 1970s, the Temora Agricultural Research Station was chosen as the only suitable location for such a build, and Lake Centenary was officially opened in 1982 by NSW Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Mr Jack Hallam, following a series of winter rains which filled it almost entirely.
Lake Centenary is a great place to ski, sail, fish, swim, watch the jet-boats or have a picnic with the family.
1986 - 1996
The gold rush continues
For a 10 year period, the gold rush in Temora was revived, with the opening of the Paragon Gold Mine at Gidginbung, 12 kilometres north of the town’s centre.
During its decade in operation, Paragon was the single largest, open cut gold mine in NSW.
Discovered by Paragon Gold N.L, the mine was later drilled by CRA (Rio Tinto) and Cyprus Gold. No drilling has taken place since 1998. Mineralisation at the site extends into the exploration lease held by Newcrest Mining Ltd over the old Gidginbung silvergold mine (historically produced 700,000 ounces gold) which ceased production in 1996.
2000
Aviation history lives on in Temora
It is no surprise that when businessman David Lowy expressed interest in developing an aviation museum dedicated to the personnel and aircraft that defended the nation throughout history, Temora was on his radar. In fact, in offering up a long aviation history, flat terrain, and uncontrolled air space below 20,000 feet, Temora was the ideal location.
Construction began in 1999, and by June 2000, the museum, comprising a hangar full of Australian flying masterpieces, was on show for the public. By 2002 a new larger display hangar was complete, and Temora earned its name as “the place to go” to learn about Australia’s aviation history. In fact, Temora's population more than triples during the world renowned Warbirds air showDownunder Check the Warbirds Downunder website to find out how you can experience this amazing event.
The Temora Aviation Museum is open 365 days a year from 10am-4pm and aircraft displays happen regularly. So, look up, you may spot one of the only two flyin g Spitfires in Australia.
2005
There will always be a friendly face waiting for you in Temora
Although the residents of Temora Shire have always known it to be the case, in 2005 the rest of the nation became aware of just how wonderful, hospitable and caring Temora locals are.
Temora was proclaimed the “Friendliest Town in NSW”, by the Sydney Morning Herald’s ‘Column 8’, spurred on by an influx of letters stating the above-and-beyond compassion for those around them, demonstrated by Temora residents.
Test the theory. Stop for a chat to anyone you pass on Hoskins Street – we guarantee you’ll agree.
Present
Warm welcomes and old fashioned service
Temora is now a thriving country town that prides itself on strong values and community spirit.
With a bustling central business district, the numerous museums, several tourist sites and friendly townsfolk, Temora provides an ideal spot for tourists to visit, families to settle and retirees to relax.
Locals will tell you that Temora is the best place on earth to live. For the most part we have sunny skies and pleasant temperatures. Temora has had its fair share of hardship, however, with severe droughts one year, and devastating floods the next. Despite the inevitable weather cycle, Temora continues to grow as we welcome more and more tree changers who have discovered our little slice of paradise and want to call it home.
Temora's largest industry is agriculture. The favourable weather and landscape make the ideal environment for grain, lamb, wool, pork, eggs and beef, as well as a world-class agricultural research facility, farm machinery retailers, grain corporations, wool brokers, Australia's 3rd largest honey producer and, of course, a farmer or two.
Enjoy your visit to Temora.