Central West New South Wales 1891-1893 'A Regional History from Below'

Abstract

The last decade of the nineteenth century is widely viewed as one of the most momentous in Australian history. There are many studies which focus on the period, thematically or as broad historical narratives of the Australian colonies. There are none that explore how the events and themes were manifested in rural NSW, nor are there any analyses which reveal the experiences of ordinary people. This thesis explores the suppositions about the early years of the 1890s in Central West NSW through the lens of ordinary people. What is evident in this study is that it was day-to-day affairs that dominated the lives of most people who were concerned that the stability, trust, cohesiveness and prosperity of their communities, characteristics associated with Tönnies’ concept of gemeinschaft, were not undermined. This is an account of the Central West during this period. As a regional history, a genre that has been largely ignored in recent years, it is a worthwhile narrative on its own account but it also enables an analysis of larger themes and their impact on daily life. In addition to concentrating on a specific area, I have focussed on a short span or a ‘slice’ of time – 1891 to 1893 – as a means of more effectively dealing with a multifaceted and almost overwhelming eventful decade. It is a history ‘as lived’ highlighting everyday experiences without the benefit of hindsight, but without neglecting a full historical analysis. Ordinary people are habitually overlooked in most traditional and social histories of colonial NSW. Biographers have chronicled individual lives but there are few collective biographies, the study of which could shed light on wider historical issues. Hundreds of individuals appear in and are pivotal to this study. They come from a broad range of occupations and different socio-economic backgrounds and represent diverse communities of interest. Hitherto many have been chiefly anonymous and often there are scant personal details. Nonetheless, it is their stories that enrich and enlighten this study.