Today

Tarago lies in a valley through which the Mulwaree Ponds flow towards Goulburn. The major industry in the area was the Woodlawn Mine that operated for about 20 years, producing copper, lead and zinc. It has now been converted to Woodlawn Bioreactor that is using the latest technology to treat and dispose of waste material transported by rail from Sydney. Bioreactor technology is a waste treatment process founded on the principles of anaerobic digestion. The Waste will become the fuel for producing considerable volumes of landfill gas to generate green electricity sufficient to power a city of 30,000 people for more than 50 years. Sheep and cattle production have been the mainstay of the district’s development. The Tarago and District Show is held in March and includes a dog show, horse show, shearing competition and entertainment for all ages.

Yesterday

Along Braidwood Road lies the village of Tarago. The village boasts a number of historical buildings, particularly the Anglican Church, the Railway Station dating from 1884, and the Loaded Dog Hotel established in 1848. The hotel is an important part of Australia’s heritage. It was the meeting place and ‘safe house’ for many bushrangers, including the notorious Frank Gardiner and Ben Hall. Much of the hotel is still in the original stone, brick and wood of that era. For many years Tarago was a staging post and railhead for the southern line.