WHAT'S IN A NAME: 22 DECEMBER 2018

Riddell Street, Molong

Molong's Riddell Street was most likely named after Campbell Drummond Riddell, who was born in 1796 in the United Kingdom. He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, but did not graduate.

He was NSW Colonial Treasurer from 1830-1835 and again in 1856. He was appointed a member of the NSW Legislative Council from 1856-1858.

He apparently had grievances about his pay and other matters. The Australian Dictionary of Biography notes: "He began duty with grievances about his salary and soon had others: about a building allotment grant he did not get, about home leave and promotion he did not get soon enough, about extra duties for which be did not get extra pay."

He died in 1858.

On the corner of Riddell and Gidley Streets, directly opposite each other, stand a couple of significant Molong buildings ... The RSL Club and the Molong Historical Museum, buit in 1856 as the Golden Fleece Hotel.

NEXT WEEK: The village of Cumnock.