the town was officially listed in 1850. it was an important stop on the way for people going to look for gold at lambing flat. the school was started in 1861. gold also meant that there were bushrangers in the area. the grave of john gilbert is near the town in the field where the police kept their horses. he was a member of frank gardiner's gang and later ben hall's gang. he was shot dead by police in 1865.