Blacksmith Shop

Mr. William Craig Blacksmith Shop

The first blacksmith’s shop was owned by Mr. E. Anderson, who had an employee by the mane of Dam working in his business.
Shortly after this Mr. William Craig erected a blacksmith and wheelwright’s business in East Warwick.
Mr. Craig had arrived at Dungog, New South Wales, from Scotland in 1836 and remained there for nearly 10 years during which he built some of the best buildings in the town.
It was around this time that he made a 500 miles ride on horseback to Rosenthal station just out side Warwick, to see what the prospects were in the New Eldorado were he meet up with a Mr. Fred Backer.
A meeting was arranged and Mr. Backer agreed to employ him at Rosenthal until such time as Mr. Craig was ready to establish a business in the district as blacksmith and wheelwright.
On Mr. Craig’s return to Dungog he mustered up his cattle and sold the for 18/- ($ 1.80) per head, but brought his horses to Rosenthal, including the very first draught mare to come to the Southern Darling Downs.
Mr Craig, his wife and five children sons arrived safely at Rosenthal in 1847, and soon after Mr. Craig bought land at Hudson’s Hill and on it erected his shop.
Later on, however, he transferred this building to Victoria Street in Warwick, and established one of the largest and up to date blacksmith and wheelwright’s business ever seen on the Downs.
Later his bullock drays helped to build up Warwick to what it had become in 1870 when the railway arrived and altered travelling conditions dramatically.