Mossgiel, New South Wales

In about 1864 the Desailly brothers (Francis and George) established 'Mossgiel' and 'Booligal' stations. 'Mossgiel' run was a back block station so a great effort was required to provide water for stock. The Desaillys employed a large cohort of men to fence, dig tanks and sink wells, "and imported the first centrifugal pump and steam engine in the Riverina".{{cite book|chapter-url= https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/desailly-george-peter-3882/text5161/|title= 'Desailly, George Peter (1823–1876)|website= Australian Dictionary of Biography |author= K. J. Swan |chapter= George Peter Desailly (1823–1876)|publisher= National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |access-date=22 February 2021}} Water raised by whims and by the steam-driven pump was fed into iron troughs at each well.'The Back Blocks', Empire (Sydney), 12 February 1866, page 3.

In about October 1868 Thomas Grace and John Kilbride began a coach service between Booligal and towns on the Darling River, extending as far as Mount Murchison township (Wilcannia).Advertisement, Pastoral Times (Deniliquin), 24 October 1868, 1(5). In late 1868 Robert Riordan built a hotel at Mossgiel (on the coach route to the Darling). He was granted a publican's license for the Mossgiel Hotel in February 1869.Pastoral Times (Deniliquin), 27 March 1869, page 2. At about the same time it was reported that George Williamson, the proprietor of the Post-office Store at Booligal, was "about to put up a large general store at Mossgiel".'Lachlan' (correspondent’s report), Pastoral Times (Deniliquin), 13 February 1869, page 2. In December 1869 William Carter was granted a hotel license for the Wool-pack Hotel at Mossgiel.Pastoral Times (Deniliquin), 18 December 1869, page 3.

In January 1870 a post-office was established at Mossgiel with J. Herbert Taylor as postmaster.Pastoral Times (Deniliquin), 15 January 1870, page 2. By December 1872 a blacksmith, William Barns, and a saddler, J. J. Allen, had started businesses in the township.Hay Standard, 18 September 1872, page 3; Hay Standard, 8 January 1873, page 3. In April 1873 the Hay Police Court refused an application by Henry Jonsen for a publican's license at Mossgiel on the grounds that "there are two [hotels] already there and no town whatever, only the Mossgiel station". It was added: "The drinking there is said to be fearful".Hay Standard, 9 April 1873, page 2.

In 1878 Isadore Galland opened a "large and commodious store" at Mossgiel selling "Grocery, Drapery, Boots, &c., &c.". Galland also had "two hawker's waggons constantly on the road with a large and varied supply of goods".Riverine Grazier (Hay), 14 August 1878, page 2.

A public school began at Mossgiel in 1886 (initially given provisional status). It was upgraded to full public school status in 1890.{{cite book |last=Beissel |first=Ian |date=2019 |title=Hay Public School: 150 Years of History 1869-2019 |publisher=Hay Historical Society Inc. |page=115 |isbn=978-0-646-99712-4}}

The Federation Drought of 1901 to 1903 had a devastating impact on Mossgiel and district. After the long drought there was few if any stock left in the district and stations had closed down, with only caretaker staff in charge. The normal supply routes by teamsters were disrupted so flour, fodder and other essentials had to be brought by camel teams from Wilcannia to Ivanhoe and then on to Mossgiel by coach. By early 1903 the Government tank supplying domestic water to Mossgiel was dry and water had to be carted eleven miles from 'Lignum Park' station.'A brief history of Mossgiel from 1891 to 1919' by Mrs. M. Thompson, Riverine Grazier (Hay), 26 August 2009, page 10.'A Drought-stricken District: Water Supply Exhausted', Sydney Morning Herald, 9 April 1903, page 5.

In February 1904, not long after the drought had broken, Mossgiel was subject to a sand storm from the south-west that "raged at hurricane speed for sixty hours without intermission". The storm was "the worst witnessed by the oldest residents". In the aftermath many of the buildings in the town had "sand-hills on all sides". Galland's store could only be accessed from one end of the verandah, with "a perfect mountain of sand" being kept back "by placing sheets of galvanised iron along the verandah posts".'The District: Mossgiel', Riverine Grazier (Hay), 19 February 1904, page 2.

In November 1915 it was stated that the population of Mossgiel "including school children and babies, was about 30 or 40".'Hay Quarter Sessions: Alleged Sheep Stealing', Riverine Grazier (Hay),19 November 1915, page 4.

In 1936 it was reported that "in consequence of the railway passing through Ivanhoe, 35 miles distant, Mossgiel township has dwindled so greatly in importance, that the cottage hospital and the only hotel have been closed".'Mossgiel Township', Sydney Morning Herald, 1 May 1936, page 9.

The threatened Mossgiel daisy (Brachyscome papillosa) is named after the Mossgiel region, one of the locations where it is known to occur . It is a multi-stemmed, perennial herb, having mauve flowers with a yellow centre. The Mossgiel daisy occurs in scattered sites across the Riverina Bioregion, primarily in clay soils in association with bladder saltbush (Atriplex vesicaria) and leafless bluebush (Maireana aphylla).{{Cite web|url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10106 |title= Mossgiel Daisy - profile| website=Threatened species | publisher= Office of Environment & Heritage, NSW Government|access-date=5 March 2021}}

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Category:Towns in New South Wales

Category:Ghost towns in New South Wales

Category:Carrathool Shire