The Budgee Budgee butcher’s shop, c1860, was once owned by Roland Underwood. He had in his employ Jacky Underwood, who slaughtered cattle for him. This was before Jacky Underwood joined Jimmy Governor and his gang. The gangs’ three and a half months rampage resulted in eleven brutal murders in 1900. For his part in what was known as the Breelong Massacre Jacky Underwood was hanged at Dubbo jail.
Jacky Underwood lived at Budgee Budgee after arriving from North Queensland on a cattle droving trip undertaken by the five Underwood brothers.
In those days fresh meat was carted from the Budgee Budgee shop to outlying areas such as Eurunderee, Pipeclay, and the local gold fields and to Wollar.
The butcher’s shop was a good business as Budgee Budgee had been settled between 1830 and 1860 by early pioneer settlers and later gold seekers. Small acre farms were also dotted along Pipeclay Creek.
At one time two butcher shops operated. The Huxley butcher’s shop just north on the Ulan road was predated by the Budgee Budgee butcher’s shop which supplied the Budgee Budgee Inn opposite.
Records at Australia Post show upwards of 19 wagons often pulled by 20 bullocks and Cobb and Co coaches were seen assembled outside the Inn. Teams of 12 horses were also seen. This meant good business for the butcher’s shop.
The butcher’s shop is constructed of local stone and clay and is thought to have been built about 1860 with a stringy bark roof and saplings. It was last used as a butcher’s shop in the 1920s.
In more recent years it housed beautiful pottery made on the site but this activity has finished. The shop remains intact and is visible from Ulan Road.
Norman McVicker's Budgee Budgee site 