A colourful history emerges from the goldfields at Lambing Flat

At the heart of the great Southwest of New South Wales, the celebrated town of Young lies 1416 feet above sea level, picturesquely situated amidst a circle of hills which have witnessed a passing procession of some of the most significant events in the history of Australia.

For three-quarters of a century from the days of Australia's first white settlement in 1788, there was little more than quiet settlement to the Southwest, where life was far removed from the more populous settlements of the colony. Staunch hearts they were who first removed their stock to those distant places where no rivers flowed and dry creeks and lack of waterholes at times made life hard to bear and grazing well-nigh impossible. These 'squattages"' were beyond the areas of early maps. In 1842 a map of the Colony of New South Wales mentioned the "Burrangong Station" of J. White. Hardy, resolute and patient this original pioneer accumulated sheep and large herds of cattle, he added to his wealth by mustering and breaking horses, which were sought after over hill and dale to be yarded on the little plain, which lay beside the Burrangong Creek.

This magnificent facade of the original Court House at Young stands as a reminder of the turbulent past of the town when riots saw Chinese miners expelled from the Lambing Flat gold fields.

With the passing of time sheep raising discontinued and the flat known as "Lambing Flat" once used to shelter ewes at lambing time, became the centre of horsebreaking activities.

Early European settler James White and his family helped to establish the area which has now become known as Young.

James White and his family were amongst the first European Settlers to arrive at Burrangong (Lambing Flat/Young). White was notable for his settlement of the area in harmony with the local Koori people. The early years of settlement saw agricultural pursuits carried out but these quickly gave way in the mid 1800's to the mining of gold and Lambing Flat soon became renown for its rich goldfields. With a huge influx of miners a shanty type town soon sprung up.

The Main Street of Young or Lambing Flat as it was then known, a thriving mining town as the Burrangong goldfields gave up their wealth during the 1800's.

One day blended to another as the stockmen carried on their duties. However, this way of life was shattered one day at the end of June 1860. The stockmen had camped at Lambing Flat on the banks of Burrangong Creek and one of the men was struck with the gold bearing appearance of the place and washed a few spadefuls of earth in a billy and secured a good prospect of gold.

The news that gold had been discovered was published in the Sydney Morning Herald on August 4, 1860 and thus began one of the biggest gold diggings in Australia.

Soon miners, disappointed with their finds in other areas, travelled to Lambing Flat in the hope of making new finds. By the end of September it was noted that a great number of Chinese were on the diggings which was expected to be a favourite with them as the labour was only "light".

This photo is an artist's impression of the scenes during the riots at Lambing Flat (Young) in 1860, where European miners drove out Chinese miners. The unrest ultimately led to the framing of the White Australia Policy. Photo courtesy of the State Library of New South Wales.

The Chinese kept their distance from the European diggers well aware of the ill fate that had befallen their countrymen on Victorian goldfields. However, their presence at Lambing Flat was destined to bring about the greatest anti-Chinese riots the continent had known. By November an element had appeared on the diggings demanding the exclusion of the Chinese and, as the law was not organised on the field, the diggers themselves drove off the Chinese. A resident commissioner and two troopers were appointed to reside as near as possible until suitable buildings were erected for a police camp. The population on the diggings had grown to 3000 by then and the appointment of the resident commissioner served to protect the Chinese who were arriving in increasing numbers.

On December 12 the miners in driving off the Chinese were reported to have injured several of the Chinese diggers and to have cut off several pigtails.

Sydney was disturbed, the Sydney Morning Herald Leader asserted that the Government should foresee and provide against such emergencies. International relations between the British and Chinese Governments threatened to become strained. Captain Zouch, commandant of the Southern Police Patrol, was rushed to the diggings with a contingent of troopers. Captain Zouch reported that he could find no trace of any Chinese said to have been injured.

Although their arrival brought the police force to eight mounted and two detectives, riots broke afresh on the last Friday in January 1861 when the Europeans assembled and with threat of arms drove off the Chinese and threatened the police barracks if the police interfered.

Demonstrations continued throughout the day, several Chinese had their pigtails cut off and a cart loaded with goods of the Chinese was burnt in Boorowa Street. Control of the miners was slipping from the Miner's League. Mining ceased, barbarity was rife, and detectives kept the Chinese out of town for fear of further violence.

The Government of NSW on February 25 dispatched a contingent of troopers comprising cavalry, 20 mounted police escort for artillery with three 12 pounder field guns and 130 men of the 12th Regiment of Foot under Captain Atkinson.

The troops arrived on Monday May 11, they set up quarters on Camp Hill, erected buildings and dug trenches and fortifications at the corner of Campbell and Berthong Streets from which their guns were trained over the town.

The Premier of NSW, Hon Charles Cowper, left Sydney for Burrangong to inquire into the position arriving on Saturday, March 2.

The Miners' Protective League had been formed at a meeting of 80 miners on January 31. It published its aims as the expulsion of the Chinese, its leaders asserted that the Chinese wasted water which was very precious on the field and cost sixpence per bucket when the creek was dry.

The leaders offered an address to the Premier but permission was refused after he had examined its contents. The Premier moved freely without escort among the miners, addressing meetings but refused to recognise their leaders. He said that his Government favoured restriction of the Chinese, but affirmed they must not be injured in person or property.

He explained that the Government was bound both by the decisions of the Legislative Council and Britain's treaty with China which admitted Chinese to British territories with secured privileges.

The Young Historical Society has a very comprehensive collection of items from the past history of Young at its Lambing Flat Folk Museum in Campbell Street.