Bookham

Postcode: 2582

Bookham is a small village in the Southern Tablelands of the Riverina Region of New South Wales, Australia and is a part of the Yass Valley Shire. It is about 29 km west of Yass on the Hume Highway. It has a population of about 100.

The general grazing area which now encompasses the viallage of Bookham was originally collectively called Bogolong and childhood memories of the races at Bogalong Racetrack inspired Banjo Paterson to write his poem Old Pardon the Son of Reprieve.

The name change came about in 1839 when Lady Jane Franklin - wife of John Franklin, Lieut-Governor of Van Diemen's Land between 1837 - 1843, became the first woman European woman to travel overland from Port Phillip to Sydney and stayed in the area in 1839. Shortly after a design for the village at Cumbookambookinah near Bogolong was drawn up and that name was shortened either through general usage or by design to the current name of Bookham. There are two churches: the Uniting Church and the Catholic Church, St Columbas still standing in the town.

The village of Bookham was named by Lady Jane Franklin, wife of the Governor of Van Diemens Land, Sir John Franklin whilst travelling overland from Melbourne to Sydney in 1839. Lady Jane Franklin stayed at an inn, which has since been demolished. Her diaries provide a personal record of the area and its people at the time. Formerly know as Bogolong, the grazing lands of the area were much sought after by the early pioneers.

Inspiration for “Banjo Paterson’s classic poem “Old Pardon the Son of Reprieve”, came from his childhood memories of races on the Bogalong Racetrack, which today is an open paddock a short distance from the village. Close by is the site of Julian’s old home, where bushrangers often sought or demanded food and shelter during that romantic and dangerous period of the 1860’’s.

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