During the Great Depression and in gold rush times, people travelling country roads in search of work, food or just a place to sleep the night, used a secret code of symbols to communicate the ‘lie of the land’ to fellow travellers. This secret language was used internationally – by the tramps and gypsies of Europe to the hobos of America and the swaggies of Australia.

Chester Nealie, a local identity and well-known Gulgong potter came up with a creative concept for decorative paving in Gulgong when approached by the council. The symbols, of which Chester chose 16 from a possible 50 or so, were deemed appropriate for Gulgong’s gold rush and ‘battler’ past.

The Gulgong Symbol Trail comprises around 70 tiles, placed in a random ‘swaggering’ pattern throughout Mayne Street and Coronation Park. See if you can find the tiles as you wander the streets of Gulgong.