History The area has a strong indigenous heritage with a number of significant sites scattered around the Shire. The first recorded European settler to the region was the explorer John Oxley who, in 1818, described the rich pasture lands as: 'The finest open country or park imaginable'. However, it was not until the early 1830s that settlement on the New England began in earnest. In 1835 Alexander Campbell took up the magnificent 'Guyra Station', which encompassed the land of the later township and in 1838 George and John Everett established 'Ollera' which still exists under this name and has an historic cemetery you can visit. At the same time, other settlers selected land at Wandsworth, Tenterden, Moredun, Guyra, Llangothlin, Falconer, Clerkness, Oban and Aberfoyle.

The advent of the railway in 1883 brought development to the area and on March 20, 1885 the village was proclaimed. With the railway station, Guyra then acted as a link to the markets and coastal cities for surrounding settlements with much produce such as peas and potatoes, wool and livestock sent daily. Early development was based on agricultural pursuits with rich basalt soil for potatoes, peas, beans, fat lambs, cattle and wool. Nowadays road transport takes tomatoes, light manufacturing and wool to their destinations via the New England highway.

Rich mining history
In the late 1800s and early 1900s the region had an extensive mining industry centred around gold and tin, and there was even a diamond mine on the lagoon. Most of the mines were situated on the eastern side of Guyra towards Backwater and Wards Mistake.
Evidence of these old mining towns can still be found today, however, most are on private property with limited public access. Bear Hill, Kookabookra and Paddy’s Gully were all gold mining towns of around 500 people with facilities such as hotels, dance halls, churches and schools.

To the west of Guyra, tin was discovered at Tingha and Elsmore. Tingha was founded in 1872 and in the 1870s thousands of people flocked to the Tingha tin fields. At the height of the rush it was reported that 6,000 to 7,000 people lived in the area including 2000 Chinese. Evidence of some of the Chinese businesses still exists in Wing Hing Long store which is now a museum but used as a general store until recently. Tingha is well worth a visit.

Today there are still active mines in the region mining for gold, tin and diamonds.
You can fossick for sapphires, jelly bean crystals, grass stones and topaz in the creeks throughout the Shire (see the self-drive tours link for more information).