COACHING DAYS
Before the discovery of silver in the Barrier Ranges,Thackaringa-pronouced 'Tacharinga' by the pioneers -was the junction for vehicles travelling north to Tibooburra, via Mundi Mundi, Corona and Fowlers Gap; north- east to Wilcannia after calling at German Charley's Mount Gipps hotel;or South-East Menindee, via Rockwell, Kars and Kinchega en route.
Cobb and Co.established a service between Wilcannia and Milparika in 1883,Robertson and Wagner being the agents at the latter township.
Other coaching services to operate in the district were Morrison Bros, Mcgowan's Royal Mail, Burton's and John Hill and Company.
For many years,Morrison coaches were a regular and reliable means of transport.
In a typical journey from Broken Hill to the queensland border,a coach would depart from the Cobalt Street depot beside the Southern Cross hotel,calling at the Mount Gipps well beside the Tibooburra road,Thomson Siding,Euriowie, Fowlers Gap, Bancannia, Packsaddle, Cobham, Coally Milparinka ,Tibooburra, Yalpunga Warri Gate at the border fence.
Well known coach drivers of the day were Will and George Cranston,Arch and Jack Falkner,Phil Tuck,Ern Cook,Neil Miles,Jack EnwrighT, Charles Burns, Jack Farrington, Paddy Holmes and Jack Davis. A touching tribute is recorded on a headstone at the original Mount Gipps Station Cemetery,situated below the present Stephens Creek reservoir- James Pritchard Pickering Fullard, of Saundhurst,Victoria,died October 22nd 1880,aged 27 years. Erected by his late Coaching Mates and Friends at Silverton, Mt Gipps, and Glen Lyon,as a token of Esteem. With rigid springs and hard,unyielding irn tyres, the coach bounced,lurched and sway over rough bush tracks,while the passengers were jolted and thrown together. Morrison Bros. later adopted a type of coach similar to that used by Cobb and Co.-some of the larger vehicles being driven by seven horses,holding up to 27 passengers. These were the more comfortable 'thoroughbrace' coaches which incorporated leather section in the springs,and gave the coach a steady, rocking motion.
Although lacking the high drama of the American Wild West,there were several stage coach robberies in the Wilcannia /White Cliffs area,where consignments of opals frequently took place. In 1901 a masked man held up a Morrison coach near White Cliffs and made his getaway on a bicycle. 1888-One immediate result of the rail link from Cockburn to Broken Hill was the collapse of John Hill and Company's coaching business which plied between Cockburn-35 horses and 5 coaches being offer for sale. 1892--a branch of Cobb and Co's.coaching service began at Broken Hill with a depot at Murthy's Wilcannia Club Hotel,at the corner of Oxide and Crystal Streets. A twice weekly run operated to Tarrawingee,Euriowie,Cobham,Milparinka and to Round Hill,Mount Gipps and Wilcannia.
Once a week, coaches departed for Sturt Meadows, Lagawirra, Mootwingee, Gnalta and Tarella. 1925- by the end of the year,horse drawn coaches on outback runs had ceased to operate,which practically eliminated the need for a series of wayside hotels,spaced at intervals of about 20 miles. On a journey by coach from Broken Hill to the Queensland border a horse change' stop would be made at following hotels;Yanco Glen,Euriowie,Fowlers Gap,Bancannia,Iduna,Cobham Lake,Milparinka,Tibooburra (family) and Yalpunga.
Phil Tuck and Arch Falkner were prominent drivers of Morrison Bros.coaches. 1937-hill and Company's stables closed in October,in acknowledgement of the supremacy of motor vehicles. Iin 1918,J.Whenan had taken over the business,originally established by John Hill in 1888 and,at one period,33 men were employed at the stables which consisted of 170 horses and 60 traps.
THE STAGE COACH BETWEEN MENINDEE AND WILCANNIA--service commenced about 1860-1870.-Service ended about 1914,when Sam and Jim Vigar started a Motor Mail service. It was twice weekly run taking about 22 hours. It left Menindee in the morning
and arrived at Wilcannia in the early hours of the morning-one driver doing all the driving.
There were four horse changes;-Balaka,Rocky pub and for miles below Campalin Station. Regardless of weather the coach must leave stages on time. Driver received 8 pounds per month ($16). Man looking after horses 7 pounds per month ($14) and keep themselves.
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