100 heritage signs

As a visitor to the town, it is hard to describe how interesting and informative the signs that adorn the streets of Balranald are.

To see the rich and varied history of the town, from its war history, and much more, is fascinating.

Recently, a milestone was achieved for the area and its signs.

A sign celebrating the Port of Balranald that operated between 1860 and 1930 marked the one hundredth sign.

David Eastburn (above left) has created every sign, interpreting the natural and cultural heritage of the town and district produced to date.

David collaborated with Balranald graphic artist Zoe Griffiths (right) to produce the sign along with eleven others in the Balranald, and district cultural heritage series.

Balranald was a major river port at the height of the Murray-Murrumbidgee-Darling rivers trade.

Transport of wool by river steamer began in the Balranald district.

On 28 September 1853, the PS Lady Augusta and barge Eureka collected the first load of wool (220 bales) from ‘Poon Boon’ Station, on the Wakool River near Kyalite, south of Balranald. Balranald storekeepers John Cramsie and John Bowden also owned and operated a fleet of river steamers and barges at the height of the river trade. Balranald and Echuca were also the last commercial river ports on the Murray-Darling system.

In addition, a plaque for WWI soldier Gunner Jack Butler (later the proprietor of the Shamrock Hotel) was unveiled next to his former work place on Anzac Day.

His became sign number 47 researched and produced by David.

This honours an individual local service man or woman on the Balranald Military Heritage Walk.

Over the past 15 years, David has contributed and volunteered more than 4000 hours of research time into the history of the western Riverina.

He has also sorted and catalogued more than 100 boxes of records from ‘Clare’ and ‘Manfred’ stations for the Butlin Archives at the Australian National University in Canberra.

He has also produced major documents on ‘Paika’ and ‘Clare’ stations, and ‘The flooded country below Hay’ (Low Bidgee and Great Cumbung Swamp).

On this website, he has compiled a database of more than 2000 employees, contractors, goods and service providers, selectors and others associated with ‘Clare’ Station.

A comprehensive list ,it includes the type of work that each carried out, the time period, and selected brief biographies.

Thank you just isn’t enough, David.

Without amazing people like you, integral parts of the area’s history could easily slip through the cracks.