Yanco homestead, ca. 1900-1919

XV/155

fonds

ca. 1900-1919

Graphic Materials, Photographs

910079

1 photograph - gelatin silver - approx. 51.5 x 82 cm, on mount 76.1 x 79 cm

In 1900, the pastoralist Samuel McCaughey purchased North Yanco station. He built Yanco, a red brick homestead, and constructed some 200 miles (320 kilometres) of irrigation channels to irrigate some 40,000 acres (16,660 hectares) of property stretching northwest from the Murrumbidgee River. Some of these channels are still in use today. In 1906, following a nine year drought and much political argument, the NSW government decided to create an irrigation area north of the Murrumbidgee River which would be supplied with water from Burrinjuck Dam. The North Yanco property was resumed from McCaughey in 1910. McCaughey retained a small area of some 700 acres (290 hectares) for his personal use under a rental arrangement with the state government. His death in 1919 saw this last parcel of his former lands revert to government control in 1920 after a clearing sale had been organised by family members. In 1922 it became the Yanco Agricultural High School.

Reference:
Old Yanconians. http://www.oldyanconians.org.au/content/school-history (accessed 16 July, 2013)

Forms part of MLMSS 4632

Out of copyright: Created before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Pic.Acc. Upgrade Project - Information transferred from Pic.Acc.4440 as part of the eRecords Project 2013-14

Date range based on date Samuel McCaughey purchased North Yanco Station (1900) and date of his death (1919)