Rylstone, NSW

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About Rylstone, NSW

Objectives of this Group - to collect quality images of Rylstone and district, including Dunns Swamp, Capertee, Running Stream, Ilford, Kandos, Cudgegong River and Lake Windemere.

Rylstone is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, in the Central Tablelands region within the Mid-Western Regional Council local government area. It is located on the Bylong Valley Way road route. At the 2006 census, Rylstone had a population of 615 people.

The name 'Rylstone' has no clear origin however several possible origins are promoted.

Michael Hayes who built the Shamrock Hotel and other buildings at The Junction (where the Cudgegong River and Tong Bong Creek meet) claims responsibility. On travelling through the area he mentioned sleeping on 'that Ryle Stone' his Irish accent converting what was actually said 'Royal Stone'.

A small village also known as Rylstone in Yorkshire England is near to where wool was sent from properties in the Rylstone area. Another tale suggests the Scots had a weapon called a Ryle Stone. This weapon being used when the Scots were at war with the Picts (England) and Scottish shepherds built their huts at the location of the current village of Rylstone.

A petition was sent to Governor Gipps asking for a village to be called Tong Bong to be established at the present site of Rylstone. Governor Gipps granted permission for the village to be surveyed but he insisted that the village be called Rylstone and not Tong Bong. There is no evidence of any connection between Governor Gipps and the English village of Rylstone. Early maps spell Rylstone as Rylestone.

The district was originally known as Dabee (under various spellings). There are many contemporary newspaper references to the town being referred to as Ryalston in the period 1846 to mid 1850's then referred to as Ryalstone during the late 1850's. Rylstone town was laid out in 1846 by surveyor Davidson. By the 1850s Rylstone was becoming a well established town with post office, hotels, school, mills, and police lock-up. The Rylstone district was declared as a police district in 1854. Rylstone was formally proclaimed a town on 20 March 1885.

Rylstone is predominantly an agricultural community with wool, sheep, cattle, wine grapes, and olives, being among the main pursuits. Coal mining and cement production are also significant employers in the community with these works being located in the nearby town of Kandos.

Attractions
Dunns Swamp - is a camping and picnic area on the banks of the Cudgegong River on the western edge of Wollemi National Park. Dunns Swamp is 20 kilometres from Rylstone. The area has bushwalking, fishing, swimming and canoeing which can all be done from the camping area. In 1929 the Kandos Cement Works replaced a smaller weir built lower on the River with a second wall to store water for piping to the Cement works, this wall created the water storage area known as Dunns Swamp.
Ferntree Gully - is a scenic rainforest area 17 kilometres north of Rylstone. Well formed walking tracks take you down into cool narrow fern tree-studded valley floor and unusual rock formations
Wollemi National Park - is the second largest national park in New South Wales, and contains a large part of the Wollemi Wilderness area.
Nullo Mountain - is a high mountain plateau to the north of Dunns Swamp with spectacular views over the Wollemi Wilderness and the Widden Valley.
Lake Windemere - a large water supply dam with camping facilities, popular for water sports and fishing
Historic streetscape - The town has many fine old stone buildings, especially in Louee Street
Rylstone has retained its original character buildings from its beginnings, a few buildings of note are the Bridge View Inn, the Globe Hotel, the post office, the police station, the courthouse and the shire hall. The old town granary was built in the early 1840s.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rylstone,_New_South_Wales