
The cedar cutters who arrived in the area in the early 1840s originally called the settlement Rocky Mouth but this name was already being used on the Clarence river so the name was changed to Woodburn by William Gollan, the town’s first postmaster.

In 1847 a local timber merchant named Billy Wright who had set up a depot on the riverbank, employed two shipwrights, Davis and Fred West, to build two large boats, the Dart and the Prince of Wales. These vessels were launched in the early 1850s and began to ply the Richmond River trading goods and timber to Sydney and Melbourne. In the early 1860s, with the passing of the Robertson Land Act, a township began to form, shipping activity increased and more people were attracted to the rich farming land. William Cravigan, who was working for Clark Irving on Tuckombil Station and took up land in 1863, was the town’s first settler.
Throughout the 1860s and 1870s people settled on the river bank near Cravigan’s house. Brothers William, Robert and James Gollan, along with John Lang and William Trustum, arrived from the Shoalhaven district and selected many acres of land on the north side of the river. This tiny community flourished when William Gollan opened a general store and post office agency in 1868 and became the town’s first magistrate, although the first policeman was not appointed until 1879. Following Gollan’s lead, a number of shops including a butcher, baker, tinsmith, blacksmith and general store plus four hotels and boarding houses were established on the north side. Shortly afterwards the first significant building on the south side of the river, the Presbyterian church, was built with a school operating out of its rooms. A hand-winched toll ferry was operating, a tedious and sometimes treacherous method to cross the river.


The 70s saw the growth of the sugar industry bringing a new source of income and requiring much manual labour. In 1876 Alexander Meston arrived at Woodburn with milling equipment which had been shipped from Scotland. It was the first mill using horse drawn rollers to crush the cane. Meston, along with his brother-in-law Mr W Miller purchased land from James Gollan and grew sugar cane with their processing mill on the bank of the river and operated as Meston & Miller. Seven years later Miller sold his share in the mill to Thomas King. A new mill was erected and new machinery was bought in Scotland – it now became Meston & King. During the down time between cutting seasons, Thomas King, who had trained as a shipwright under William Yabsley, built a small steam ship Mabel. In 1893 Meston bought out King’s share and continued to run the mill until its closure in 1905.

At first, many small farms set up their own processing mills but when the CSR erected their huge mill at Broadwater in 1881, the smaller mills were phased out. All cane was transported via the river by tug with 10-12 punts loaded with cane, stretched out behind.
The Gollan brothers proved to be astute businessmen. Robert built the Woodburn Hotel in 1877 and appointed William Winton as manager – it was often referred to as Winton’s Hotel. As well as running the Post Office and store, William built the first Court House and lock up in 1878. The brothers also had interests in sugar mills, sawmills, a coach service to Lismore and opened the first bank. As the dairy industry flourished, Ossie Gollan’s Butter Factory Co-op began operations in 1889.
Woodburn was situated on the southern most point of the Richmond river and the closest point to the Clarence river where travellers, wishing to get a steamer to Sydney, could more safely navigate the Clarence bar than the Richmond bar. There were four coach lines operating between Woodburn and Chatsworth Island with the mail also being transported more reliably overland. Messrs J & A Lang, who had arrived on the river with the Gollans, ran the overland mail/ coach service, distributing the parcels by boat to other riverside towns.
In 1882 some of the survivors of the ill-fated Marquis de Rays expedition arrived to settle in an area south of Woodburn, to become known as New Italy. Gradually, with the improvement of the road south; a new steam ferry; the building of a brick school; and the population increasing at New Italy, the southern river side became the focus of more businesses. The Clarence and Richmond Hotel provided accommodation for the dusty travellers with an Oyster Bar and fruit shop set up by Mr W Norman and a butchery, bakery and general store established by Frederick Davis.
As the town grew and the farming was prosperous, more settlers built fine hotels and shops. With the wide, calm river on their doorstep, Woodburn Rowing Club hosted many large regattas attracting thousands of spectators to watch the competition of World Champion rowers.













Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 – 1954), Saturday 15 March 1879, page 2
Woodburn. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT).March 10.
Not having seen anything from Woodburn for some time, and thinking it somewhat strange that the regular correspondent has not put in an appearance of late, although several matters of importance appears too greatly neglected here. For instance, the road from Woodburn to Selman’s saw-mills, on the Clarence River, has become one of the most, important roads of the district, being classified a second-class road for some time, and nothing has been done to improve it in any way although there is a line of coaches running on it every day, which plainly shows the importance of the road between these two places, yet the powers that be think that one maintenance man is all that is required to make a road whereon not a penny of government money has been expended. It would be well if the road Superintendent of the district would come and lay the road out, as people are taking up land along the present road, being led to believe that the present one will be the road, and when surveyed perhaps may be miles away from their residences; as I have no doubt that when the road is laid out, that many of the present bends will be cut off, which will alter the course of the road materially. The road at present is almost impassable for the coaches through the scrub in the township of Woodburn, and other parts, and if something is not done to it at once, something serious is likely to happen. I should recommend that if the Road Superintendent of this district has not time to attend to this important matter, someone else be authorised to do so.
We have a splendid punt now at work here, which is of great convenience to the public, and is certainly kept going backwards and forwards. Although the punt is a first-class one, the puntman has not been supplied with a boat to work in connection with it; he is obliged to take the large punt across with a single passenger, which, with a strong wind and tide at times, is no easy matter, and I suppose this unfortunate individual is afraid to apply, for about thinking he may fare the same fate as his predecessor did with instant dismissal for his impertinence. It would be a good thing for superintenders if they had to serve a month on these large punts, and be compelled to put up with such ill conveniences through not having a boat, then a little consideration might be shown to those whom they consider serfs under them. Now the approaches to this punt is something disgraceful, nothing has been done, only a cutting by the first puntman of a small outlet up the bank, which is impassable in wet weather for vehicles which are obliged to remain on the south side of the river just the same as if no punt was stationed here, foot passengers are obliged to plunge through mud over their boot tops in order to reach the punt. How long are things to remain in this state? I wonder the inhabitants do not call meetings to represent the matter to the proper authorities in Sydney.
Things are still moving ahead in the building line; Mr. R. Gollan is making extensive additions to the Woodburn Hotel. There is also a butcher’s shop commenced, which will be a great convenience to many of the inhabitants. Mrs. Tyler, late of Wardell, has opened the Richmond Hotel, where the wants of the inner man are attended to by the best eatables and drinkables. It is to be hoped that she may succeed in her plucky venture, and she is deserving of every support. Mr. Robert Priddle has also commenced to erect a large building, which I believe, is intended for an Hotel. May he succeed also as he is not a bad sort, although he has more ups and downs than any other man in the district. There is also a Black-smith’s shop in full-swing doing the work of the district, the proprietor of which is a first class tradesman, and turns out his work to the satisfaction of the inhabitants. A Shoe-maker’s shop is also spoken of, and I think in a few weeks we shall have all the requisites which constitutes a township.
The Telegraph Line is now almost completed, and by the next trip of the Richmond the necessary appliances to open office are expected. We are also having two additional Sugar mills erected here, one by Mr. Jas. Buchanan with machinery on the ground and the buildings well on for completion, the other by Mr. Morrison, who is now busy preparing for the reception of the machinery. May every success attend their efforts to advance their own interests and likewise the interests of the district, as serious losses have happened this season for the want of sufficient mill-power.



