Budgee Budgee Inn

Old Land Title Certificates are full of historical information. The wording of them is quaint, to say the least. The Title Certificate for the Budgee Budgee Inn was issued in 1861 after a grant of land was sold at ‘upset price’ of £43 following an attempted sale by auction. It was part of a purchase of 43 acres of crown land.

Budgee Budgee Inn before restoration.

It read in part—‘Victoria by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith and so forth:- To all of whom these presents shall come Greetings.’ That was the preamble to the purchase of land on August 1, 1861 by George Leeding.

In 1864 the original three-room building, with outhouses at the rear was built of vertical slabs, between the top and bottom plates, with hip ended roof, framed up in timber rounds, and clad in shingles.

In 1865 the interior was decorated with wall paper. This would have been done after hessian or unbleached calico was nailed to the slabs. This would then have had newspaper pasted on to it as a base for the wallpaper. In 1865, Alex Chesterman was the ratepayer.

Two years later the inn was mortgaged for £200 to Richard Crossing, who operated The Settlers Store in Mudgee. By 1870 the Inn and the remainder of the land had passed to William Hill, a farmer.

Budgee Budgee Inn, at the junction of Cassilis and Wollar Roads, was from 1873 to 1890 owned by William and Sarah Gossage and their family who were the licensees. In 1881 two rooms at the southern end of the building were constructed.

The licensee was Edward Gossage from 1900 to 1908 whilst James McDonnell was the proprietor for the next three years when the Inn closed in 1911 for a short period. It is not known when the Inn re-opened but in 1919 the licensee was Arthur William Clarke.

In 1928 the Budgee Budgee Inn lost its liquor licence and the hotel closed but the Gossage family still lived there selling sweets and soft drinks. It is thought at one time it also served as a residence for a branch of the Kurtz family. In 1943 the property on which the Inn was located was owned by the Stanford family and the buildings were used as storage sheds for hay, oats and fertiliser. The buildings, because of their age, needed urgent repairs.

In 1988 the property was subdivided and the Inn with 5 acres of land was purchased by Simon Staines and Angela Leonard who began restoration. In 1989 a car accident demolished part of the building.

In 1990 the property as it stood was purchased by Ross and Jan Webb. Reconstruction was commenced and the blacksmith’s shop was completed by September, 1990.

Budgee Budgee Inn after renovation.

On March 23, 1991 Ross and Jan Webb re-opened the re-constructed Inn as a restaurant known as The Loaded Dog and a gift shop. The opening was by the late noted folklorist John Meredith, AM. The Budgee Budgee Inn is acknowledged as the location featured by Henry Lawson in his famous story The Loaded Dog. An acting version scripted by local Budgee Budgee resident Norman McVicker was performed three times on opening day by an acting group the Pipeclay Performers.

The kitchen where all the action took place no longer exists—but it is not hard to look at the present building and vividly imagine the mongrel dog with the stick of dynamite and the confusion caused among the teamsters and bullock drivers drinking in the pub.

The building is still known as the Budgee Budgee Inn but is now a private residence occupied by Adrian and Carol Terry.

Online Publication

Book cover, Tales from along the Wallaby Track

From time to time, selected columns will be published on this site. Watch this space for changes. Click here for the latest selection.

The book Tales from along the Wallaby Track was launched on the 27th March 2009. For more information about book, click here.

Tributes to Norman McVicker

Local state MP (Orange), Mr. Andrew Gee made a private member statement to pay tribute to Norman McVicker OAM, on the 13th June 2012.

Please read here: Andrew Gee MP private member statement

There is also an article written by Norman’s colleague, Tom Lee in the UK, published on the “Stage People”:

Please click here to read the Stage People UK

Finally, on the Sydney Morning Herald Timeline:

Theatre lover had a way with words

TRIBUTE TO NORMAN JOHN MCVICKER, OAM

Speakers	Gee Mr Andrew
Business	Condolence, Private Members Statements, PRIV

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20120613006?open&refNavID=HA8_1

TRIBUTE TO NORMAN JOHN MCVICKER, OAM

Page: 12714

Mr ANDREW GEE (Orange) [10.21 a.m.]: On Tuesday 29 May 2012 the town of Mudgee paid its last respects to Norman John McVicker, OAM, who passed away on 21 May at the age of 92. The late Mr McVicker retired to Mudgee in 1980 after a distinguished career as a freelance journalist and scriptwriter. He was born at Tempe on 19 January 1920. Norman McVicker went into radio in 1937 after completion of his secondary education at Canterbury Boys High School the previous year. From 1949 until his retirement he was the audit manager for Qantas Airlines’ audit department and in his spare time maintained his passion for drama. He founded and was a director of Pocket Playhouse Children’s Theatre, which operated from 1961 to 1973. In 1966 Prime Minister Harold Holt appointed Mr McVicker as a member of the Australian UNESCO Committee for Drama and Theatre, an appointment he held for five years.

Upon moving to Mudgee Norman quickly became involved in the arts community and was a foundation member of the Mudgee Arts Council and also gave his time to school musical productions at Mudgee High School and St Matthews School. In 1983 he began a long association with the local newspaper, the Mudgee Guardian, that wonderful source of information on all things in Mudgee, Gulgong, Rylstone, Kandos and places further afield. He started out writing book reviews and special articles and in 1989 began his regular column, “Tales from along the Wallaby Track”, which proved so popular with readers. For the next 23 years this column depicted the history of the Mudgee area, the State and the country. The day before he passed away marked the twenty-third anniversary of “Tales from along the Wallaby Track”—1,181 columns in all. At the time of his death he had written a further five instalments, which Mudgee Guardian Editor Robyn Murray has said will be published as per Norman’s wishes.

In 2009 Norman launched his book Tales from along the Wallaby Track, which featured many of his favourite history lessons on the Mudgee district. The Mudgee Guardian is part of the Fairfax Group and at the time of his death Norman was believed to be the longest serving columnist in that organisation in Australia. He had a great love for local history and after moving to Mudgee became heavily involved in studying the life of the legendary poet Henry Lawson who grew up in the area. Lawson’s work featured many local stories including his famous short story The Loaded Dog, which was set at the Budgee Budgee Inn on Ulan Road about 10 kilometres north-east of Mudgee. Lawson attended Eurunderee School near Mudgee and Norman worked for the retention and restoration of this school.

In 1990 Norman received the Mudgee Shire Council’s Australia Day Arts Award in recognition of his efforts in restoring the school. The fact that the Eurunderee School building is still standing today as a historical site in the Mudgee area is seen by many as a fitting memorial to Norman’s life in the district. He also designed the concept for and wrote biographies of Mudgee pioneers for the Wall of Reflection in the Mudgee Library. When he came to Mudgee, Norman felt he was too old to give his time to volunteer organisations such as the Rural Fire Service or the State Emergency Service. Instead, his gift to Mudgee was to use his words to write the people’s history. His gift in part led to his being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday honours list for service to the performing arts, particularly theatre, and to the community of Mudgee.

Norman served his country in World War II and in 2005 received the Commonwealth of Australia Medallion commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of the end of that war for his service to Australia. In January 2007 he received the New South Wales Premier’s Community Service Award in recognition of his outstanding service to the community for his history writing, theatre and arts work. There is insufficient time for me to talk about the many other awards and recognitions he received for his work. Needless to say, he loved his life in Mudgee and used his many talents to leave an indelible mark on that wonderful part of the Orange electorate. I express my condolences and that of my electorate to Norman McVicker’s family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

Eulogy for Norman McVicker, 29th May 2012

Norman McVicker at wall of reflection, Mudgee Library

By Iris Byrne

Norman John McVicker was born on the 19th January 1920, in Tempe. Eldest son of Harold and Winifred.

His interest in writing and performing arts began in the early years. In 6th class he wrote his first stage play and later a version of Cinderella for a Younger Set. After leaving school he wrote scripts about Australian history and episodes of radio serials for the 2UW Children’s Session. His first radio play was broadcast on the 19th of January 1937 from 2SM, on his 17th birthday.

Between 1940 and 1946 he was a member of the Australian Army Service Corps. He completed a course in journalism through the Army Education Service with Alan Marshall, author of “I can Jump Puddles”.

In 1947 he founded St Peters Community Players that evolved into the Pocket Playhouse, a unique Little Theatre. The theatre operated, without subsidy, until 1973 when it closed after eighty nine seasons. During this time the Pocket Children’s Theatre emerged playing matinees on Saturdays and a professional production of Spoon River for the NSW Arts Council toured 28 country towns.

 During these years he became a Council Member of the British Drama League of Australia and in 1966-71 a member of the Australian UNESCO Committee for Drama and Art having been appointed by Prime Minister, Harold Holt.

Between 1949 and 1980 he was audit manager for British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines (BCPA) later integrated with QANTAS. He freely referred to BCPA as “Ben Chiefly Private Airlines”.

He and Brendan Dunne retired to Mudgee in 1980. They were both actively involved in cultural activities in Mudgee. Norman was a foundation member of Mudgee Arts Council and assisted with musical productions at St Matthew’s School and Mudgee High School.

In 1989 he commenced writing the “Tales from the Wallaby Track” for the Mudgee Guardian whilst lobbying for the restoration of Eurunderee School. He continued writing for 23 years having written 1185 local and national articles, some of which are yet to be published by the Mudgee Guardian, as he often said, that he would still be writing from his grave.

In 2003, he received the Order of Australia Medal for ‘Service to the performing arts, particularly theatre, and to the community of Mudgee‘. This was followed by Life Membership of Mudgee Arts Council for services to the arts in Mudgee.

In 2007, he received The Premier of New South Wales Service Award for outstanding services to the community to be followed the same year by 2007 Seniors’ Week Achievement Award for outstanding contribution to the community in the field of Education and Lifelong Learning.

In those years, he made many friends of all ages and backgrounds, too many to mention, many are here today. He could spend hours talking to people, exchanging life experiences with them, this gave him great pleasure. He never ran out of interesting stories to tell which captivated his listeners. He was one of life’s treasures.

 When visiting Norman in recent years, you would be greeted by his security guard, a possessive cocker spaniel. He was very fond of cocker spaniels and had several throughout his lifetime.

His passion for words was also reflected in spending some of his leisure time watching Letters and Numbers Show and playing scrabble. You wouldn’t dare place a misspelt word on the board or you would get a vicious glare.

 Norman was a generous and remarkable man. He touched the lives of many people wherever he went. He gave young people a great start in their careers and he was a great mentor to many people. One example, he proofread Sof’s thesis and suggested that he should be the one receiving the doctorate.

His eccentricity was undeniable and often flexed any rigidity of daily lives. For example, he would talk to Telecross members every morning longer than he should, extracting stories from them which is not permitted. Rules didn’t apply to Norman.

In later years, Sof Lee moved to Mudgee and became his carer, a task Sof carried out with great expertise, making it possible for Norman to live in his own home while pursuing his interests in writing.

There are many other examples and stories about Norman and it’s impossible to tell all of them in this Eulogy.

His passing is an End of an era.
Norman is best summed up in one word, UNIQUE!
Maybe one day we will meet on the Wallaby Track.

Requiem notice for Norman McVicker, 21st May 2012

Norman McVicker (Qantas Years)

McVICKER,
Norman John OAM.
NX120293 AASC
On May 21st, 2012.
Late of “Wattle Grove Farm”, Budgee Budgee and formerly of Kurnell and Tempe. Eldest son of Harold George and Winifred Mary (both deceased), loved brother of Basil (deceased), brother-in-law of Joy (deceased) and uncle of Marilyn, Peter, Michael and their children. Long time friend and companion of Brendan (deceased). Special friend of Sof and Betty (deceased) and his extended family.

5th Generation decendant of
First Fleeter
Edward Whitton.
Founder and Director of The Pocket Playhouse, Sydenham.
Aged 92 years
Date of Birth
19th January, 1920

Relatives and friends are advised that a Mass of Christian Burial for the repose of the soul of the late Norman McVicker will be celebrated at St. Marys Catholic, Church, Mudgee, on Tuesday (May 29th, 2012) appointed to commence at 1 p.m.
At the conclusion of Mass, the cortege will proceed
to the Catholic portion of Mudgee General Cemetery for interment.

See also: http://tributes.smh.com.au/obituaries/smh-au/obituary.aspx?n=norman-mcvicker&pid=157777409

 

Our history was Norman’s gift, Mudgee Guardian 25th May 2012

Norman McVicker (1920 – 2012)

By Di Simmonds

BORN STORYTELLER: Norman McVicker turned his gift for language and love of a quirky tale to everything from radio plays to theatre and finally to recording keeping alive stories from Australian and local history

“Some people are volunteer fire fighters, some rescue squad. I am too old to be fighting fires or rescuing people, so I do what I can do – I write the people’s history.”

These are the words of the late Norman McVicker, local historian and volunteer writer of Tales Along the Wallaby Track for the Mudgee Guardian for 23 years, having written 1,180 local and national historic articles about the people who pioneered the land we live in today.

This was his gift – the legacy he gave us all – our own history.

Norman might have been too old to fight fires, but he was in the thick of community life from the time he arrived in Mudgee to ‘retire’ in 1980, while living an alternative lifestyle on his native bush herb farm in Pipe Clay Lane surrounded by his huge colony of kangaroos, wild parrots, and wild wattle trees.

Drawing from his immense experience in the world of theatre and art, he became a foundation member of the Mudgee Arts Council and organised their first art show, also becoming a mentor for Mudgee High School musical productions. Norman inspired many of our young actors to follow their dreams.

Not satisfied there, Norman lobbied for implementation of the Mudgee Shire Australia Day Arts Award, designing the Council Chamber’s Roll of Recognition for Australia Day award recipients and also designing and writing the Wall of Reflection in the Mudgee Shire Library.

A passion for history saw Norman lobby for the retention and restoration of the Eurunderee School site, where Henry Lawson attended school as a boy. Norman designed and arranged the sign posted history tour of Lawson Country, The Wallaby Track. The site was visited by Rear-Admiral Peter Sinclair AC Governor of NSW in 1993.

Norman began writing Tales Along the Wallaby Track for the Mudgee Guardian in 1989; first a single column on page 2 every week, later flourishing into the weekly full page story and photo features of today.

He was an expert storyteller, his work written in the quirky, interest grabbing language he learnt when he began his writing career in 1937 at the age of 17 when he did his first radio play ‘King Peter’ for 2SM in Sydney and then wrote and broadcast for 2UW’s Children Session.

Gone were the boring, dry history books. Norman’s history came alive for his readers and his latest publications, written at the grand old age of 92 still enthral and capture the imagination.

Norman was born at Tempe, Sydney, in 1920. During his early career as a freelance journalist and playwright, he was appointed the Unit Education Officer for the Australian Army Service Corps before joining BCPA and QANTAS Airlines Audit Department as audit manager.

He worked with QANTAS for the next thirty years and while constantly travelling the globe, Norman became a Council Member of the British Drama League of Australia and was heavily involved in tutoring and mentoring the theatre world. He was involved in the emergence of the Pocket Playhouse in St Peters, Sydney and founded and directed the Pocket Playhouse Children’s Theatre. In 1966 Norman was appointed by the Prime Minister Harold Holt as a member of the Australian UNESCO Committee for Drama and Theatre.

And these are the skills he ‘retired’ to Mudgee with, imbedding his crafts within our community.

Norman received a number of achievement awards for his contributions to art by the Mid Western Regional Council.

George Souris presented Norman with the highest possible state award for NSW in 2007, the Premier of New South Wales Community Service Award, for outstanding services to the Mudgee community for his history writing, theatre and art work.

On a National level, Norman was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2003 for his service to the performing arts, theatre and the Mudgee community, the award presented by the Governor of NSW, Professor Marie Bashir AC. Norman was also twice nominated for Australian of the Year.

Norman was the longest serving journalist at the Mudgee Guardian and served six editors over his time there. He grew from typing his stories by hand each week, to learning and mastering computer techniques in his mid 80s, always handing in impeccably presented work that no one would dare touch – nor did they need to even check it.

He saw the Guardian staff as his family and no matter how many staff changes occurred, each wave of new journalists adopted Norman as their own.

His history segment each week was a labour of love, given to the people of Mudgee, the town he loved and cultivated in the history, arts and theatrical world.

Vale Norman. Till we meet again one day. You will be sadly missed.

Norman McVicker’s funeral will be held at St Mary’s Catholic Church Mudgee on Tuesday at 1pm.