1860 William Greenwood- Publican License - The Currency Lad Araluen

Currency Lad

A map showing the location for William Greenwood - Portions 354 and 357 at Crown Flat
William Greenwood – Portions 354 and 357 at Crown Flat

Licensee
1860-1864 – William Greenwood with his license number given as 815 (NRS 14403 [7/1513]; Reel 1242) in 1860

Location
Crown Flat1Myles Hannan, Where were they and what were they doing in 1872?  Triple D Books, Wagga Wagga, NSW:, 2007, pp 61-63

The New South Wales Government Gazette 2New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 – 1900), Tuesday 25 June 1867 (No.103), page 1499 details in June 1867 that William Greenwood was approved to purchase Portions 354 and 357.

In the News

William Greenwood (1812-1867) was born in Sydney in 1812. His parents [James and Ann] and two elder brothers [John and James] arrived in Australia from England in 1811 on the Friends [as free settlers]. Having been born in Australia, William was a ‘Currency’ Lad, whereas his two brothers, born in England, were ‘Sterling’ Lads.

William’s daughter Ellen Greenwood married Michael Madigan in 1865 at Braidwood. Michael Madigan was listed as an innkeeper of the Currency Lass (1867-1872), at Bourketown, Araluen.

An advertisement for the Araluen Grand Bazaar - fundraising for St Bede's Catholic Church, Braidwood September 1862
The Araluen Grand Bazaar, fundraising for St Bede’s Catholic Church, Braidwood September 1862

Richard Kennedy (1848-1923), JP of Reidsdale had many anecdotes of the roaring days of the field, which he shared under the non de plume of Old Hand,  through a series of articles written in 1907 for the Braidwood Dispatch, dealing with the early history of Araluen.  He says ‘About twelve months after the first rush on the Creek broke out, the late Billy Greenwood came from Harold’s Cross and opened the second pub on the field close to the Falls where the first rush took place, and I need scarcely say did a good business and remained in the hotel for some years, when he removed to Crown Flat (Araluen), and started an Hotel on the hill where he was so well known in later years in the Valley‘. 3Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW: 1888 – 1954), Saturday 11 April 1908, page 2

In 1862 the Freeman’s Journal 4Freeman’s Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 – 1932), Wednesday 27 August 1862, page 6 reported on ‘A bazaar, in aid of St. Bede’s Church, will be held at Araluen on Saturday, the 6th of September [1862], and the place selected for the Fancy Fair will be Mr. William Greenwood’s Crown Flat…[offering] a great quantity of the most costly articles from the old country, which will be forwarded direct to Araluen unopened.

The NSW Government Gazette in May 1864 detailed5New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832–1900), Friday 6 May 1864 (No.100), p 1136 ‘the Insolvent Estate of William Greenwood, now of Araluen, in the Colony of New South Wales, lately residing at Crown Flat, formerly a publican, at present out of business.

An advertisement for The Currency Lad Public House, for sale in 1867
The Currency Lad for sale in 1867

William died in July 1867 as a sawyer, and as a result of a fatal accident driving a horse and cart and crushing his leg following violent contact with a stump. 6Goulburn Herald and Chronicle (NSW : 1864-1881), Saturday 6 July 1867, p 4

The Braidwood Independent Newspaper7Braidwood Independent (NSW : 1867), Wednesday 5 October 1867, p 1 advertised the Currency Lad hotel for sale, by Williams’ son-in-law Henry Crossley, in October 1867.

References

  • 1
    Myles Hannan, Where were they and what were they doing in 1872?  Triple D Books, Wagga Wagga, NSW:, 2007, pp 61-63
  • 2
    New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 – 1900), Tuesday 25 June 1867 (No.103), page 1499
  • 3
    Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW: 1888 – 1954), Saturday 11 April 1908, page 2
  • 4
    Freeman’s Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 – 1932), Wednesday 27 August 1862, page 6
  • 5
    New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832–1900), Friday 6 May 1864 (No.100), p 1136
  • 6
    Goulburn Herald and Chronicle (NSW : 1864-1881), Saturday 6 July 1867, p 4
  • 7
    Braidwood Independent (NSW : 1867), Wednesday 5 October 1867, p 1