The Corowa Free Press, Fri 18 Dec 1885 ¹

    THE COROWA COURT-HOUSE.—Corowa is to have its new Court-house at last. Tuesday’s Gazette contains the announcement, and tenders, to be lodged at the office of the Colonial Architect, Sydney, on or before December 29, have been called for the work.

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Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 2 Mar 1889 ²

MR JG GOUGH,
MLA For Young.

    Mr John George Gough is a native of Melbourne (Victoria), and was born on November 5, 1848. His mother was a native of New South Wales, and his father of Wiltshire (England). His mother died when he was an infant; and his father removed from Melbourne to the old Lambing Flat diggings (now the flourishing town of Young), where he died in 1861, thus leaving John an orphan at the age of 13 years. The lad determined to find employment; and as a new rush, known as the “Ten Mile,” broke out shortly afterwards, he obtained his first employment there. A year later he decided to try his luck as a miner, and began work on the old “Three Mile,” known so well as the Young district. This occupation he followed with varying success for a period of twelve years. He was one of the first to try his luck at Grenfell and other gold rushes. Five years later, finding gold-mining a precarious occupation, he abandoned it, and turned his attention to the building trade, first as a journeyman, and four years later as a contractor on his own account. This proved highly remunerative; and Mr Gough has pursued it with the greatest success in Young and its neighbourhood. Among the large contracts carried out by him, may be mentioned:

    The new courthouse, Young (costing £13,000); railway station buildings, Young (£14,000); Cowra railway station and water supply (£7000), and new courthouse, Corowa (£10,000). Two years ago he took a partner into the building trade (a Mr Holworthy). They erected a large steam saw mill and joinery works near the good sheds, Young, and also run a brick factory. Mr Gough has always taken an active part in local politics, having been a member of the various progress committees of Young before it was incorporated. He was also one of the prime movers in obtaining the incorporation of the borough, and was elected as one of the first aldermen. Mr Gough was the first to introduce steam power for sluicing purposes into the Young district; and the venture is known as the Victoria Hill Steam Sluicing Company. Mr Gough came forward at the late general election at the express request of the working classes, with which he has been hitherto so largely identified; and as such and as a protectionist he defeated Mr Gordon, the popular freetrade candidate. Our portrait [see p. 31] is from a photograph by Mr Collins, of George-street, Sydney.

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¹   The Corowa Free Press, Fri 18 Dec 1885, p. 3.

²   Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 2 Mar 1889, p. 13. Emphasis added.

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