Discover The History of Bungonia NSW

The history of Bungonia is closely tied to the earliest colonial development in Australia.

The earliest known white visitors to the area was an exploration party in 1798 led by Henry Hacking who was the quartermaster of the Sirius. The group of 3 went as far as what is now known as Marulan.

In 1818 explorers James Meehan, Charles Throsby and Hamilton Hume as part of a much larger group, reached Bungonia Creek. When they arrived, there were already illegal squatters living in the area before legal permissions were granted. However, the Bungonia district was formally settled soon after in the 1820's.

On the 25th November, 1820, Governor Lachlan Macquarie issued a General Order giving permission to occupy the 'new' country. This was only 30 years or so after Governor Phillip had landed at Port Jackson so it was pretty early on in the development of the new colony.

Official leases were not issued until 1822 and Tickets of Occupation issued in 1823 to free settlers.

Around this time, Bungonia was the main town in the region, surpassing Goulburn. Situated on the the main road at the time, all the traffic passed through, making it a key stopping point. All that changed when what is now the Hume Highway was surveyed and Goulburn became the main town.

For an excellent and full account of the early white exploration and settlement of the area, we recommend downloading "Settlement in the Marulan—Bungonia District. by James Jervis

Discover more about the impact European settlement had on the Bungonia region, NSW

Looking for Bungonia Specific History Archives? They are held in Goulburn Workspace by courtesy of Goulburn Mulwaree Council. Please use our contact form to arrange supervised access. You cannot do it through the council or the library.

Street scene of Bungonia NSW covered in snow!

Click an image for extra fun facts

The Old parsonage of the Church of England in Bungonia NSW

Fun fact!
Until 1836 Bungonia was actually called Inverary and the name comes from an Aboriginal world meaning “Sandy Creek”. Inverary was the name of James Style's proeprty which he later changed to Reevesdale. Prior to being called Inverary the area was also known as Parramarago which was the name of a local Aboriginal community.

Now, part of the Goulburn Mulwaree LGA, the Bungonia and District Historical Society has created this website as a free, independent resource that enables you to discover any part of the Bungonia History that may affect you.

The pages have extensive resources that we have drawn on and you can cite our references, here.

You can contact us via our contact page.

Bungonia history before white settlement

Of course, well before white settlement, our first nations people were well established in the area.

The Goulburn Mulwaree LGA Aboriginal Heritage Study (2012) reported that:

The earliest dated excavated archaeological site in the vicinity of Goulburn Mulwaree LGA is Birrigai rock shelter in the northern foothills of the Australian Alps, approximately 80km south east of the study area. Radiocarbon dates obtained from charcoal in occupation deposits at this site have established that Aboriginal people have lived in this region for at least 21,000 years.

You can read more detail and access the full report by accessing our Aboriginal Heritage around Bungonia page.