FROM bridges and parks to mountains and lakes their names live on, but have you ever wanted to know more about the people behind these place names….

THE names have almost become interchangeable but both Indigenous and European heritage is recognised at Boultons' Crossing within the Gumma Reserve.

The Gumma Crossing Reserve, as it’s also known, is located on the banks of beautiful Warrell Creek.  Tourists and locals come here to enjoy fishing, swimming and bird watching.

According to local historian Geoff Minett the Boulton name belongs to a well-known family of early European settlers who owned land in the Nambucca region, one of the most noteable being Mary Boulton.

Before white settlers came to the area the Gumbaynggirr people were the custodians of the land.

Tiger Buchannan an Aboriginal Elder in 1980 stated that Gumma came from the Aboriginal word Gumming meaning red clay.

Local historian Geoff Minett adds: “A Red Hill where members of the Boulton family still reside, consisting of red volcanic clay is where the Indigenous people crossed.”

The crossing was used to make their way to a bora ring situated on Bald Hill, a hill forming part of Mount Yarrahapinni.

The Boulton name lives on not just at the crossing but in street names and at the Mary Boulton Pioneer Museum.

Mary Boulton lived and worked in the Nambucca district all her life. Her grandfather, Thomas Boulton owned the first hotel in town which was situated near the site where the Pioneer Cottage/Museum now stands.  The original hotel building still exists minus the top story.

Mary decided to develop the Cottage after seeing a similar concept in America. Opened in 1970, the Cottage was built from century old recycled timber slabs.

Over the years an impressive collection has been accumulated, and it is a credit to Mary’s many capabilities. In 1999 Mary very generously donated the whole complex to the Nambucca Shire Council for the people of the district.

The replica pioneer cottage is of wood construction with a wooden shake roof (similar to shingles). It is furnished throughout with period furniture and articles used by our early pioneers. The award-winning cottage gardens within the grounds are green and pleasant and are used at times for morning teas and wedding ceremonies. 

She was named the Citizen of the Year for Nambuuca Shire in 2000.

Mary died in May 2003.