Sometimes called Wittagoona, Wattagoona and Wuttagoona, the property is of significance for the known caves and waterfalls in the adjacent ranges, and large amounts of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage. The property was once owned by T.A Mathews, a significant figure in the development of the region and known as ‘The King of Louth’.
The location is notorious for an incident which was reported by the ‘Sydney Evening News’ in 1877 in which two drunk men engaged in a fight which resulted in death.
“DREADFUL OCCURRENCE.
– Sydney Evening News, 20th October, 1877.
A most dreadful occurrence took place last week at this place (Louth), and resulted in death. Two men went out to fight, they were both drunk – so drunk that neither could hurt the other. It was said, ” Law is too drunk to fight.” They had a few rounds without blows, both men falling at the same time, so it was laughed at by the bystanders as a harmless combat.
The name of one man is Thomas Lowe, a builder, of Louth, and known at all times as an industrious and good honest resident, and a very quiet man. The other man was somewhat notorious in the district-William Henry Cornish, alias Harry Brabham. He had been shearing at the Wattagoona shed, at Mr. Thomas A. Matthew’s, and had been arrested by Senior-Constable Twohey, and tried by A. Loughman Esq., J.P., for being drunk and using obscene and blasphemous language, for which he was fined by and cautioned by the magistrate not to come before him again, or he would be more severely dealt with. Even while in court he addressed the magistrate in foul language.
Mr. Twohey had cause to leave town on duty after the case had been tried, and then the sad affair took place. It was dreadful to hear his language as he called on the Lord to strike him dead if lie did not annihilate his antagonist, Lowe, and by way of showing his powers in combat he would strike his breast heavily with both hands, and give utterance to horrid expressions, and while in one of these attitudes, called out, ” Might God strike him dead if he would not perish the @&#^%$ crawler.” He then fell to the ground, in the presence of all dead. Yes, he was dead. He never breathed again.
The spectators stared, for there had been no blow at the time to cause him to fall, and the other man was at least seven yards away, beaten, and being led away by his friends, for he was a favourite on account of his uniform good temper. Astonishment soon turned to horror and dismay. Was it a fit of apoplexy, or the drink? No, that Divine Being who had been outraged and dared (this is strong language to use) had struck him unseen but surely. He was dead. When poor honest Tom Lowe was told he said, ” Good God, I did not do it: he was too many for me.” The fright sobered him, and he stood stupefied while the dead body was carried into the long room of the Louth Hotel. Mr. Twohey came while poor Lowe stood as if senseless, and then came that noble, manly feeling, and the blush of shame with tears of sorrow.
Grief took possession of honest Tom Lowe, he said ” Here I am Mr. Twohey, I did not do it. He struck me and called me foul names. I made a blackguard of myself, and fought with a blackguard. He then walked off to the police barracks in front of Mr Twohey, where he remains broken-hearted, for he cannot be released till the coroner has held an inquest on the body. Mr Twohey at once sent the black tracker to Bourke for the coroner, having no other assistant, owing to the horrid tragedy which took place in Bourke.”