Eugowra – in the heart of bushranger country
Eugowra is famous as the place where bushrangers held up the gold escort coach on 15th June, 1862, on its way to Bathurst. This turned out to be very worthwhile for the gang, who got away with fourteen thousand pounds worth of gold and banknotes. It was the biggest gold robbery in Australia’s history and in today’s money would be worth about $8 million.
Eugowra is a small township on Central Western Slopes adjacent to Mandagery Creek in the Lachlan River Basin. An early European settler established ‘Eugowra’ station in the area in 1834 and the town takes its name from the property.
The town is filled with large scale, hand painted murals that depict Eugowra’s rich history of bushrangers, sawmills, working draught horses, colonial life, pioneering women, war heroes, school life, rural work and Aboriginal themes. There are 15 murals in all – each one telling a significant moment in the town’s history.
Eugowra’s claim to fame in most history books is as the place where bushrangers held up the gold escort coach on 15th June, 1862, on its way to Bathurst. This turned out to be very worthwhile for the gang, who got away with fourteen thousand pounds worth of gold and banknotes. It was the biggest gold robbery in Australia’s history and in today’s money would be worth about $8 million.
The Eugowra show is held in September.
Image Gallery
Key Highlights
- Granite from Eugowra was used in Parliament House.
- Escort Rock – the site of Australia’s largest gold heist
- The hand-painted large murals depicting Eugowra’s past
- Nearby Nangar National Park
Other Shire Towns to Explore