Excerpts from a long article by the Examiner Special Correspondent, March 1,1920….
‘As far back as 1878 Red Range consisted of a small store and dwelling, owner by Mr
Trotter.
A few settlers had come here on the properties once included in Shannon Vale Station –
amongst them being Messrs D Pogson, Jno Marshall, J Taylor, Cheney and J Heaney.
A large lagoon, now on Mr J Ryall’s property was the boundary dividing Red Range from
Shannon Vale.
On 1870 the school was transferred from a building on Mr J Taylor’s to a new schoolhouse
built by Mr Ruming and Mr John Lancaster.
The descendants of the early pioneers are still here, staunch hard-working men and women
who are taking their part in development work to-day.
At that time wheat was grown extensively and usually thrived.
In 1863 Mr Donald McIntyre brought some of the first sheep into the district, for Kingsgate
Station, but the project was not successful.
About 1878 Kingsgate mines were discovered by three men, John Feeney, John Rush and
Jas. Say, the last mentioned following the occupation of a hawker.
These three held it in equal shares. Mr Feeney sold his share and a few prominent people in
Glen Innes obtained possession. The late Mr Sachs acquired an interest in the mine.
A visitor to the village would be surprised to find an up-to-date butter factory, with complete
equipment. But here it is, surviving, in spite of most severe handicaps through weather conditions, as
well as the initial difficulties always to be overcome in launching an enterprise of this kind.
It was erected nine years ago, the building and plant costing £2,500.
At the present time some 70 suppliers send their cream in, and the number is growing.
Since the breaking of the drought the pastures have grown wonderfully, and the milk yield
has more than doubled.
Mr C Hawker came here seven years ago as manager and secretary.
Numerous holdings abound on every hand. The large area owned by Mr Ryall, the network
of farms just out of the village at Mr V Cornish’s, Messrs Taylor Brothers and the splendid
potato properties owned by Kwong Sing and Co.
But this much must be said in its capacity for stock raising, its reliability for dairying and the
growing of oats and potatoes it is one of the soundest parts of Central New England. …’
