Molong
Molong is a rural village in the Central West of New South Wales located in the rolling hills of the Macquarie Range only 37km from Orange and 289 km north-west of Sydney via the Mitchell Highway. This rural village/town is surrounded by rich agricultural land known for its production of fine wool, wheat, orchards, vineyards and beef. It is a town with an impressive collection of historic Austen-European architecture buildings along the main street (Bank Street) and a well preserved Cobb & Co buildings maintained by the local volunteers of the Molong Yarn Market Association.
The meaning of the name Molong
The name Molong is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning ‘many rocks or place of many rocks’.
On the main street of the town centre is a park called the Village Green it has a couple of very large limestone rocks one of the local volunteers of the Molong Yarn Market Association said they were dug up when Bank street was being made. These days the large rocks sit in a beautifully maintained park where they are climbed on by the local children and children traveling through the town with their families.
Molong Village Green.
Photo taken on 30 December 2021 by Nadine Travels West.
Visiting Molong
On 30 December 2021 on a very hot summer day I picked up my new camera from from the friendly staff at Camera House located in Orange. Once I put the lens on the body inserted the SD card and the battery was fully charged, I knew I wanted to test it out. I jumped in my ute and drove 27 minutes to go and check out Molong. I was recommended to visit the small historic village/town by a friend who knows I how much I love to visit these small towns and villages with a lot of history for me to discover. Molong very recently was hit by flooding through town not long ago but the town rallied together to sand bag homes and businesses to save them from flooding.
So I thought I would visit this town and share it as far and wide a blog post on the internet can go to say you need to visit the friendly locals of Molong. I was shocked by how big and vibrant the arts and crafts scene is in Molong. The town is home to a number of galleries and homewares stores. The local volunteers of the Molong Yarn Market Association run a number of art event and they also provide tours with tea and lunch so it is best to call or email to book in advance to go on one of these tours. I will add the details of the Yarn Market Association below.
Yarn Market Craft Cottage and Cobb & Co Coach House
Facebook: Yarn Market Craft Cottage and Cobb & Co Coach House
Phone: (02) 6366 8260
Email: bstrong@bigpond.net.au
I parked under a tree on Gidley Street opposite the Village Green as I found it was a perfect spot walking distance wise to walk up Bank Street to photography the old buildings and explore the Village Green and the Cobb and Co Coach House.
Bank Street, Molong
The row of shops from the Yarn Market Craft Cottage to the town hall were built in the boom which followed the announcement that the railway would be extended to Molong. The railway arrived, and terminated, at Molong in 1886. The town hall was built in 1888.
Molong Soldiers Memorial Town Hall
Although the town hall had been completed in 1888 it was added to after World War I when it became a memorial: "The front of the Town Hall building was erected as a memorial to those from the district who served in World War One.” The foundation stone was laid in 1922.
In 1921 the Molong Express wrote: “The new front, which will come on to the footpath alignment, will be at once ornate and dignified, and prove in every way a fitting memorial to the brave men who, from this district, went abroad to fight in the cause of right, liberty and justice. The construction is to be of terra-cotta bricks and with two supporting columns in the Gothic design, with large arched windows and doorway 8ft. wide, with collapsible iron gates. Over the arched doorway is to be inset a large Australian Coat-of-Arms (the Rising Sun) in manganese bronze, surmounted by a flag pole. The vestibule hall, 12 feet wide by 22 feet in length, is approached by white marble steps, and tiled in black and white. The memorial tablets are to be inserted in the walls on the left and right of the inner doors in marble, on which will be inscribed the names of those whose heroism is to be thus perpetuated."
The total project cost £2000 with most of the money being subscribed by the local community.
The Town Hall seems to be in need of a restoration as there is a lot of cracking on top of the building and is in need of a paint job/clean.
Post Office
The post office was built 1879-80 and opened for business on 15 September, 1880. The second storey was added by James Hull in 1900. At the time he also made extensive alterations to the ground floor of the building.
The Post Office is now home to Suki Boutique. Suki Boutique is run by a mother and daughter duo, striving to give women of all shapes and sizes (6-22) affordable clothing and accessories that are stunning and effortless.
Website: www.sukiboutique.com.au
Molong Stores, 40 Bank Street
Molong Stores is located in a stunning 1876 heritage building in the main street. It harks back to the original store, which sold haberdashery, ironmongery and even the odd hat. With his passion for retail and design, Robert is bringing it back with a contemporary twist.
With a focus on original, artisan and hand crafted wares, Molong Stores is a premium retail space showcasing a range of local and international products, hand plucked and curated by Robert. Keen to support makers and not mass produced, the store features hand forged items from Alex the Blacksmith, hand woven panama hats from Ecuador, Berets from France and even small batch chilli condiments Aussie grown, from a Nonna’s recipe. With a hat section and a focus on the discerning man, you won’t regret making the journey to uniqueness.
Note from my visit: Robert had such a kind and beautiful personality and made me feel so welcomed stepping inside his store. The store defiantly was unique and reminded me of the old wild west store in America. I would defiantly recommend to visit this store on your visit to Molong, I would come back to visit this store in a heartbeat.
Website: www.molongstores.com.au
The Yarn Market Craft Cottage
The Yarn Market Craft Cottage is located at 79 Bank Street, made from soft-red hand made bricks. In 1860 James Bowler received a Crown Grant in ‘new’ Molong. Here he erected one of the earliest brick buildings in Molong for his wife Mary and young family.
Since those days the cottage has seen many changes. It was the local Post Office in 1870 - 1877, a photography studio, a Dentist Surgery, a newsagency and a private home. In 1905 it was purchased by the Cole family whose descendants sold it to the Yarn Market Association in 1972. Many members of the Yarn Market Association helped restore this lovely little cottage.
The cottage now sells hand-crafted goods including weaving, woodwork, toys, crochet, knitting, paintings and a large range of jams, honey and cakes. There is also a genuinely fascinating Lace Cabinet in the Craft Cottage.
Note from my visit: The two ladies that were volunteering their time on the day of my visit where so kind and helpful. They Unlocked the Coach House so I could have a look around and even gave me a private tour explaining the history of the building, the town of Molong and the items they have in the Cottage in Coach House. They really went above and beyond and was one of my highlights of this trip.
The Yarn Market Craft Cottage is open daily from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm.
I have put in all the details regarding the Yarn Market Association in the Visiting Molong section of this post above.
The Church of the Sacred Heart and
St Lawrence O'Toole
Located in Riddell Street, Molong.
Mass Times Sunday:
St. Lawrence's, Molong - 10.00am
Molong Railway Station
The railway station is located on Watson Street (Mitchell Highway), opposite Bank Street. The station was completed in time for the arrival of the first train in 1886. Molong became the terminus of the main western line from Sydney from 1886-1893. The Gatekeeper's Cottage (late 19th century) is adjacent the level crossing. The railway station closed in 1992 and is now used as a local library.
While taking photos in town a local explained that the Molong Railway Station is now on the National Trust list as it is one of two stations in New South Wales designed a certain design in timber. I am trying to find out more information on this building.
You will also see some silo’s in the pictures below. The Silo’s were built in the late 1920’s to take the districts grain harvest. The Silo’s are located next to the Mitchell Highway on the Orange side of town.
I will do a seperate blog post on the Cobb and Co Coach House as I found out a lot of information on the building and it has a lot of gems inside I want to share as well.
As always please leave a comment below if I have any information incorrect so I can amend it or if there are any key factors I have missed that I should add to this blog post.