Quiet rural service town in the central west of New South Wales
Trangie is small rural service centre in the Macquarie Valley Irrigation Area. It is located on the Mitchell Highway between Narromine and Nyngan. Trangie is notable for its fine corner-block pubs and a townscape dominated by the Trangie silo - a testimony to the importance of wheat to district. The district is also known for fat cattle sales, vast cotton fields, sheep, wool, sorghum, soyabeans and corn. Over the years the town has been ravaged by fires and floods and, with the arrival of serious global warming, it is subject to heat waves in summer. In the summer of 2012/2013 the temperature in the town reached a new recorded high of 46.1°C.
Location
Trangie is located 461 km north-west of Sydney via the Great Western Highway, Orange and Narromine. It is 220 metres above sea-level.
^ TOPOrigin of Name
The area is thought to have been occupied by the Wongaibon Aborigines prior to white settlement. 'Trangie' is an indigenous word said to mean 'quick'. It was first used by Walker and Cornish when they took up land in the area and called their property Trangie.
^ TOPThings to See and Do
A Walk Back in Time
Located in the town library (in Dandeloo Street) on a wall is a collection of descriptions and information about interesting buildings in the town.
Railway Station
The township did not develop until the railway arrived in 1882, en route from Dubbo to Nevertire. The railway station was completed in 1909. It consisted of a 400 gallon iron tank, taupaulin, rule book, hand lamp and tin of oil.
Lindsay's General Store
John Lindsay arrived in Australia from Ireland in 1852 and opened a general store in Trangie next door to what is now the Imperial Hotel in 1883.
Trangie Post Office
Located in Dandaloo Street, the Trangie Post Office was opened in 1904. There had been a post office in town since 1883. The current post office was built at a cost of £723.15.0 and opened on 6 August 1904. Amusingly the town had five postmasters between 1887 and 1897 with all seeking a transfer because of the extreme summer heat.
Trangie Hotel
Variously known as the Trangie Hotel, Commercial Hotel and Jackaroo Hotel, a hotel has been on this site since 1883 when John Campbell proudly announced that it was opposite the railway station, had "Good stabling. Plenty of yards. Careful groom" and the porter meets all trains. It was destroyed by fire in the late 1920s and rebuilt.
School of Arts
Further down Dandaloo Street, and looking more like a hotel than a School of Arts, is a handsome building dating from 1929 which, at the time, cost £3050. It is now used by the local chemist.
Gin Gin Weir
Gin Gin Weir, built in 1896, is located 25 km north-east of Trangie on the Macquarie River. It is a popular picnicking, boating, fishing and bushwalking spot with a sandy beach. To access it take the Collie Road for 14 km and just before reaching the bridge turn right for 9 km and then look for the sign. It is a few kilometres further on a dirt road. The weir was originally constructed to divert the Macquarie River into Crooked Creek. A concrete weir was built but cut down to its present height of 5.5 metres after being damaged by the floods of 1903. It is 110 metres long.
Other Attractions in the Area
Cobb & Co Heritage Trail
In 2004 the legendary coaching company, Cobb & Co, celebrated the 150th anniversary of its first journey and the 80th anniversary of its last. The company's profound contribution to Australia's development was celebrated with the establishment of a heritage trail.
Cobb & Co's origins lay in the goldrushes of the early 1850s. At its peak Cobb & Co coaches were travelling 28,000 miles (44,800 km) a week. They had a total of 30,000 horses and were harnessing 6,000 horses every day. There was a total of 7,000 miles (11,265 km) of regular routes throughout Australia and the web of routes from Bathurst to Bourke were part of 2,000 miles (3,218km) of coach routes which stretched from southern Victoria to the Gulf of Carpentaria and criss-crossed eastern Australia.
The Cobb & Co Heritage Trail booklet explains that "known as 'whips', or Jehus, the drivers were Australia's heroes of the 19th century. They had to contend with heat, dust, bush fires, flies, mosquitoes, rain, fog, bog, snow, snakes, kangaroos, bushrangers, difficult passengers and post office schedules which demanded the mail be on time or a heavy fine would ensue ... Horses were changed every 16 miles (25.6 km) or so at changing stations, sometimes combined with bush shanties or inns where the passengers could get a meal, drink, or a few hours sleep."
There is a specific brochure on Trangie on the Cobb & Co Heritage Trail. It tracks the route through the shire from Dandaloo through Trangie to Gin Gin and on to Warren.
The notes point out: "Dandaloo was a coach stop and settlement on the road from Peak Hill to Nyngan and Cobar. The town boasted two hotels, a store, racecourse, post office, police station and Cobb & Co changing station ... the road from Dandaloo to Trangie follows the tracks of Cobb & Co" and "Cobb & Co operated the mail run from Dandaloo to Trangie. The mail coach left Dandaloo at 4.30 am for Trangie, returning at sundown. At the Boggy Cowell near Trangie water sometimes came up to the coach floor as the coach teams crossed the plain. Trangie's Royal Hotel dates from the days of Cobb & Co ... the Cobb & Co changing station was located near the former Post Office. This building is visible from the road."
History
* Prior to the arrival of Europeans the district was occupied by the Wongaibon Aborigines.
* The town developed on 'Weemaabah' station which was established in the 1830s. It was used for the grazing of cattle and, later, for sheep-grazing and horse-breeding.
* The Cobb & Co. coach service from Dubbo to Bourke passed through the property and stopped at the Swinging Gate Hotel, up-river.
* In 1866 Walker and Cornish established a property which they named Trangie.
* Trangie came into existence as a railway camp in 1881. It was where the workers set up camp while building the railway.
* A township did not develop until the railway arrived in 1882, en route from Dubbo to Nevertire.
* The first settler in the town was John Campbell who opened the Trangie Hotel.
* In 1898 A.K. Butter & Co opened as a stock and station agent in the town.
* In 1909 an experimental farm was established to develop wheat-growing and the breeding of merino sheep.
* The railway station was completed in 1909. It consisted of a 400 gallon iron tank, taupaulin, rule book, hand lamp and tin of oil.
* The town experienced a major fire on 14 December, 1927.
* An Angus beef cattle stud was established in 1929.
* In 1946 local horse Russia won the Melbourne Cup.
* Saleyards were built in the 1940s.
* In February, 1955 the town was so badly flooded that every house was affected.
* The first wheat silo was erected in 1962.
* Local agriculture expanded when Burrendong Dam was completed in 1967.
* In the summer of 2012/2013, dubbed The Angry Summer by the Climate Commission, the temperature in Trangie reached a new recorded high of 46.1°C.
^ TOPVisitor Information
The best place for information about Trangie is the local library in Dandaloo Street. The main information centre in the area is the Narromine Visitor Information Centre, 37 Burroway Street, tel: (02) 6889 9999. Open Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 3.00 pm.
^ TOPUseful Websites
There is a local website - http://www.trangie.net - which has details of accommodation and eating in the area.
^ TOP
If you visit Trangie while the cotton gin is operating (approx March to September) don’t miss the very informative talk and tour of the gin, which can be arranged by the gin or the very friendly owner of the Trangie Caravan Park who is accredited to conduct the tours.
The Wungunja Cultural Centre is also very interesting and although in its early stages of development has some wonderful displays.
My Dad was born in Trangie in 1924. The Starr Family.
Had never heard of Trangie before I found it in the NSW census taken in 1891. I was searching for a family connection who had sailed off from London for Sydney at the age of 15. His name was Charles Francis Upton, b.1875 in Hammersmith, London. He is a distant family connection on my father’s side.
My own family migrated to Sydney too, but not until 1973. We have been here ever since and I have driven through Dubbo and Orange many a time on my way south.
It was very interesting to read about Trangie and its history. Thank you.
What is the prospect of buying a home there.
Searching for any information on Starr Cordial, (not sure if the name is correct) and possibly anyone who may have one of the bottles or any pictures…..
When did David Coffee go into the bakery in Trangie
David Coffee was my father. He worked in his Dads bakery in Trangie up until 1957 when he moved to Bourke to open his own bakery. He was back in Trangie by 1961 after the Bourke bakery burnt down. He turned to shearing after that. Not sure of the year, but definitely by 1964. Note: dates are a bit of a guess based on my memory.
I Found the young woman (sorry forgotten her name) at the Information Centre (Cultural) Very Knowledgeable & Polite. No One was there whilst we were (18/6/21) & we spoke for about an hour & a half. I loved seeing the Original Aboriginal Items & listening to the Town History – Great Day for a Cold Day. The Carved Trees & the Original Hut was Great to see – all this brought my Primary School Studies to Life. Actually visited Trangie (never heard of before) for the Big Billy & Left the town with a whole lot of History – Thank You
The post office was in Derribong Street before it was moved to Dandaloo Street. My sister used to be on the exchange which was attached to the side of it
My Great- Great GrandFather John Edward Kelly (1840-1896) built the Homestead Myalamundi near Trangie in 1881.
He also had mining interests and owned Copper Hill, near Molong and was the general manager for Peak Hill Pty Ltd.
I’d love to find out more about my Father’s descendants. My great grandfather name was Alexander Brown Kelly and was one of seven children.
He was a bore contractor in and around the Carinda area which is where my grandmother’s family the McNamara’s owned the sheep station “Darra”.
If any one has any information they could share I’d really appreciate your assistance.
Thank you
Patricia Kelly
My Dad Les Page and his sister were born there 1926, 1928 and 1930.
Did Trangie have a local private hospital in early 1900s? Was it known as the Cheadle hospital after the death of Constable Cheadle?
The things you find out using Ancestory! Never heard of this place before until now. My Great Great Grandfather & his family lived here in & around 1895. Must visit Trangie!
I’m looking for a Colin Claude Gardiner whose records show he once lived in Trangie, I was wondering if anyone knows anything about him. He is my cousin.
Hi
Does anyone have information on Andrew Collie who lived there or one of his sons, John Alexander Duncan Collie? (Doug, Mavis, Ray, Valma) I am researching family history
Thanks
My mother was born in Trangie in 1907. She was Olive Eileen Mullins. Her parents were Paddy & May Mullins who lived on a property called Glen Eve, just out of Trangie. The Mullins family were well known for their generosity.
My father was apparently born and raised in Trangie. His name was Michael Curren. I wonder if anyone knew my father or his family. My father was an only child. He married and had 2 sons. He passed away about 30 years ago.
Searching for any information on a William ALLEN Born c1820 in Hampshire, UK, according to records he resided in both the Trangie/Dubbo areas, he had two children to a Ellen CLARKE, and six to a Mary Ann Shippey, William died in 1889 in Dubbo. Hoping some one may have any info on the listed persons. Regards, Lionel Smith.