How Queen Street has changed over the years
History Notes
Most readers will have seen a photo of Barraba’s Queen Street in the very early days- horses and carts, sometimes bogged, and a few gentlemen wearing hats, perhaps a lady or two dressed in long frocks – very different to today’s scene with cars and trucks everywhere and a few pedestrians on the footpaths.
The early days were rather tough for residents, shopkeepers and their families and businesses and Barraba kept its rough appearance for quite a while. Telephone poles appeared at the start of the 19th century – not nice straight poles but sturdy branches found in the bush.
The road was gradually graded into shape and at the beginning of the next century the footpaths were formed, and the bricks appeared on the edges of the footpaths. The First World War soon began, and most improvements were put aside while everyone supported our soldiers at the front.
Soon after the war it was decided to put trees down the centre of the main street in memory of those who lost their lives in France. Each pepper tree planted in memory of a soldier was spaced down the street so that cars could turn between them. It took two or three years to get all the trees in place and growing well – sadly there are not many photos showing the trees in their prime.
As the number of cars grew there were stories about drivers on the wrong side of the trees and oncoming cars diving in between the trees to avoid a collision. Some even tried a bending race when all was quiet at night!
The trees died from old age and ill treatment and were not replaced – the last of the tree guards were removed late last century and then the arguments began about replacements. Finally, two types of tree were purchased – one group ended up in Rodney Street, providing an avenue up to the showground.
The second group – Plane Trees – line the main street creating a shady green avenue which Rupert Richardson had told everyone they would do although he did not live to see his vision. When the discussions about putting in Plane Trees were taking place, several people noted that the roots would be a problem and sadly this is the case although the vision and the shade in summer provide some compensation.