Horgan Walk

In the early days of the town, no bridge existed in Jerilderie across the creek, although John Powell operated a punt to get people to the other side. Later, he built a timber bridge. The old bridge became unsafe with age, but a footbridge was erected in 1997.

This stately old homestead began its life in 1884 as a flour mill owned by Thomas and George Wise. The first ton of wheat was delivered for milling during the week ending 8 March 1885. Later in the same year, rail came to Jerilderie and then, with the town water supply available from 1894, Wise Bros relocated their flour milling operations onto railway land, connected by a spur line. Named after the weeping willows which used to grow along the edge of the creek, “The Willows” was built in two stages during the 1880s and 1890s for the Wise family. Utilising, in part, bricks from the chimney stack of the mill, the homestead was remodelled and occupied by Thomas Wise as his family residence until 1909. Between 1920 and 1959 the homestead was occupied by Dr Marcus Vicars Southey, DSO, as his residence and surgery. The homestead became derelict until purchased by the NSW Land Department in August 1975 and dedicated as a Reserve for a Museum.

The tiny Jerilderie Post and Telegraph Office was built during the 1860’s when Powell Street was considered Jerilderie’s main street. The Building is famous for it’s involvement in the Kelly’s Gang raid on the town in 1879. The gang cut the telegraph wires so that news of their bank robbery wouldn’t get out. Years later, the Office was used as a residence by a large family.

A ‘smithys’ operated at the site of the Plumbe and Neivandt’s Blacksmith’s and Undertakers shop at least since the 1870’s. In 1879, this shop was also visited by the Kelly Gang who had their horses re-shod there. Marcus Whitby, a wheelwrite, later built coaches on the premises. By the turn of the centry, funeral directors share the space. With the coming of cars, petrol bowers were eventually installed at the front of the shop in Powell Street.

Was first erected during the 1970’s, although the present building dates from 1876. With the school backing onto Billabong Creek, the creek has long been a favourite place for the children to ‘muck about’. One of the town’s most famous residents, Sir John Monash, used to build cubby houses in the bush on the north side of the creek. 

Until the construction of the Jerilderie Swimming Pool, the ‘swimming hole’, officially  known as Horgan’s Park, was maintained with a sandy beach, mowed lawns and changing sheds, situated above the flood line. There was a pontoon tied in the middle of the river, and once a year, the creek was divided into lanes for the swimming carnival.

At the end of Aston Street and used to supply much of Jerilderie’s vegetables.