Barry O’Mara with Bowning Public School principal Belinda Brown and students Grayson and Emlyn Hudson at Old Bowning Town. Photo: Sally Hopman.
When youngsters from Bowning Public School began studying the Gold Rush, there was talk of organising a trip to Bathurst.
“I thought we could do better than that,” said long-time Yass local and history buff Barry O’Mara. “We can show them what it was like – and they only have to go across the road.”
In 2017 as part of a project by the Yass branch of CanAssist, Barry and mates built Old Bowning Town behind the equally historic Rollonin Cafe in Bowning village, about 14 km west of Yass.
They then staged a re-enactment event with hundreds of visitors witnessing the “robbery” of the Old Bowning Town’s gold store – and raised $7000 for the cancer charity.
Since then, other re-enactment events have been held to raise money for local charities including the Yass Valley Supporting People In Need (SPIN) Foundation. A non-profit organisation, SPIN offers financial support for medical expenses in the Yass Valley.
Old Bowning Town, which Barry describes as like a movie set with facades of old buildings such as a blacksmith shop, hotel, Cobb and Co station, general store and Royal Mail, was originally built on the side of nearby Bowning Hill.
It was built as a one-off for a history re-enactment, but when the former owner of the Rollonin Cafe Renata Ryan heard it was going to be demolished afterwards, “she suggested we bring it here instead”, Barry said.
“It took us a few months of weekends but we had a lot of fun doing it,” he said. “We’d camp out there at the weekends with family and friends; we had a great time.”
There will be even more fun on the cards on 12 December when Old Bowning Town springs back to life, giving local youngsters a chance to experience everyday life in a 1860s working mining town.
Not only will they dress and live the lives of a blacksmith, saddler, publican, trooper and storekeeper, they will also try their hands at gold mining. There might also be a visit by a bushranger or two.
Grayson and Emlyn “take stock” of their principal Belinda at Old Bowning Town. Photo: Sally Hopman.
“The children will be able to dig for gold,” Barry said. “We’ve done re-enactments here before, this time we wanted to do it for the kids.
“We’re going to do things like hide gold in the ground, when they find it we can weigh it, we’re going to build a miner’s tent – we can even ‘lock’ kids in the stocks.”
For their efforts, the children will receive gold (chocolate) coins and special certificates.
Bowning school principal Belinda Brown, whose family stretches back many generations in the region, said everyone was excited about bringing the old town to life again.
Everyone is welcome to Old Bowning Town on Friday 12 December, even if you’re a bit sheepish. Photo: Sally Hopman.
Her students come from Burrinjuck, Bookham and Bowning, with a recent new enrolment taking the school population to 28.
“This school has a rich history,” she said. “We celebrated its 175th year last year and we believe it is one of the oldest inland schools still open today.
“To be able to just go across the road to see history come to life is wonderful for this community.”
Friends and family of the Bowning School are invited to watch the event from 9 am to 11 am on Friday 12 December. The Rollonin Cafe, which is in front of the site, will be open for refreshments.
