The four stations that encompassed the area to be known as Pleasant Hills were Brookong, Mittagong, Wallandool, and Mahonga/Urangeline.

Mr Robert Rand purchased Mahonga in 1859 from the Huon’s who held large tracts of land all the way to the Murray River at Albury. (At one time AA Huon leased Wallandool). In 1864 Robert Rand bought 107,000 acres from Brookong station and this was called Urangeline. It is this area that makes up one segment of ‘The Four Corners’.

Brookong Station held by the Osborne Brothers was a very large holding. In 1866 it consisted of 303,600 acres. Free selection took place on Brookong from 1867 onwards. Mr H Hughes selected a portion of Brookong that made the second segment of ‘The Four Corners’. It is interesting to note that his property at the time was known by that name. It then became “Summer Hill” and later the name was changed to “Carolens”.

Mittagong Station made up the third segment. The New South Wales Government Gazette of 1848 listed the Mittagong Lease as belonging to Isaac Vincent. It was a 16 year lease with an annual fee of 25 pounds, estimated area of 64,000 acres.

Wallandool, the fourth segment of the Four Corners had had a number of leases until 1871 when Mr Lancelot Ryan purchased the property along with Munimbla. He died in 1891 leaving three sons and six daughters. In 1909, 34,000 acres of Wallandool was auctioned. There were 40 purchasers and prices paid varied from 4 pounds 17/6 to 5 pound 5/0 per acre. Wallandool remained in the family until 1961 when it was sold.

Junction of Stations

There is another junction of Stations in the area, although it only joins 3 stations. You have to drive to the southern end of the Alma Park road and turn onto the road that takes you to Walbundrie. At the second ‘T’ intersection where the dirt road goes up to the hill, right there is where the Walla Walla, Walbundrie and Wallandool stations met.

Tax Evasion in the Gold Rush

One last fact, the County Boundary road was the boundary of two countys. During the gold rush, the Chinese miners would camp and work along this road. The miners needed to pay taxes for the right to mine the area. In order not to pay the taxes, when the collectors came to collect the miners would cross the boundary in order to avoid payment. They would say they were working in the other county. It proved to be a very effective method of avoiding the taxes.

Fiona Beckett