GOORAMADDA CUSTOMS HOUSE

CHILTERN HOWLONG ROAD, SOUTH OF HOWLONG, MURRAY RIVER

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    GOORAMADDA CUSTOMS HOUSE - History

    The customs house in Gooramadda operated from 1885 until 1910 (with the closure of all customs houses on the border after the abolition of duties on goods between the two States). It included an office and customs officer's living quarters (with fencing added in 1886). The first customs officer was likely George Edgar Brown, who took up the position on 28 April 1885 and had previously been the officer of customs at Howlong, until it closed on the same date (Corowa Free Press, 7 August 1885:6).
    
    One of the ways that the Commonwealth Government could afford to provide public infrastructure was by levying of tariffs and excise on goods moving between the Colony of Victoria and New South Wales. Initially only applied to alcoholic beverages, tobacco, sugar and sugar products, tea, coffee and chicory, gold was also subject to an export duty. By the 1870s the number of items increased as did the complexity of the tax system. Some duties were based on a percentage of the overall value of an item and other taxes comprised flat rates for specific items. By the second half of the 1870s ‘customs and excise was providing about twice the revenue coming from Crown lands’ (Peel 1974:143). By 1892, goods were monitored through a number of customs houses at river crossings on the Victorian side of the Murray River (Cobram, Echuca, Koonfrook, Mildura, Narrung, Swan Hill, Tocumwal, Wahgunyah, Gooramadda, Yarrawonga, Wodonga and Tintaldra). 
    
    In 1907, it was gazetted that the land was to be transferred from Commonwealth ownership to State. On 29 July 1927, a fire destroyed most of the structure. The property was then sold as freehold land to T. Norman on 9 August 1928 (Parish of Gooramadda, County of Bogong, 1962, Department of Lands and Survey, Melbourne). In 1930 a plan of the allotment titled ‘Customs Reserve’ was surveyed and the location of the bridge crossing the Murray River shown immediately adjacent the site. The bridge replaced a punt that was used to cross the river. 

    Historical Significance

    GOORAMADDA CUSTOMS HOUSE - Historical Significance

    Customs house/stock collection point - busy point on river.

    Reputation as a busy customs house.

    Used as a stock collection point, 19th century pastoralism.

    Contribution to commercial history of Australia.

    Interpretation of Site

    GOORAMADDA CUSTOMS HOUSE - Interpretation of Site

    As noted the site could not be inspected in detail, but given the extent of the fencing it is likely to be in unchanged and/or similar condition to that prior to the nearby VicRoads bridge reconstruction works.

    Archaeological Significance

    GOORAMADDA CUSTOMS HOUSE - Archaeological Significance

    The Gooramadda Customs House remains are one of a few remnants of the 19th century division between NSW and Victoria, south of the Murray River. Being isolated, it is also one of the few such archaeological remnants that is comparatively intact and may retain both sub-surface features and a more complete artefact assemblage which will allow for further analysis of the plan, chronology and function of this place.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    GOORAMADDA CUSTOMS HOUSE - Heritage Inventory Description

    The site is fenced within a paddock facing Howlong road and marked with wooden signage. However, at the time of the inspection, the grass was too high and visibility was less than 10%. As a result it was not possible to determine if previously registered features - in situ bricks, pebbled concrete, glass and nails - remain within the paddock. The recent removal of the adjacent Howlong Bridge and replacement by a newer one - part of a linear series of bridges that cross the Murray, north of Howlong Road - did not appear to cause disturbance in this location.

    In situ bricks, pebbled concrete, glass and nails. No substantial above ground remains.

    Heritage Inventory Significance: Historic significance as customs house/stock collection point. Potential scientific archaeological deposits.

    Informants: Mr I. Nicholls (AH) 057 55 1551 (BH) 057 55 1544, Australian Customs Service Recorded by: Iain Stuart, Meg Goulding and Cath Snelgrove Date Recorded: 00MAY1992

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