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Quiz about Theres a Track Winding Back
Quiz about Theres a Track Winding Back

There's a Track Winding Back... Quiz


This is an Australian quiz about the iconic town of Gundagai, celebrated in verse and song for its wonderful history.

A multiple-choice quiz by em1958. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
em1958
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
320,733
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
589
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. "Gundagai" derives from which aboriginal word? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. What was the name of the aboriginal tribe that originally inhabited Gundagai? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Gundagai is on the route of a major Australian highway that is named after a famous explorer. What is this highway? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. In June 25, 1852, a terrible disaster almost destroyed Gundagai. What was it? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. In 1867 a bridge was built to connect North and South Gundagai. Until 1932 when the Sydney Harbour Bridge was completed, it was the longest bridge in New South Wales. What was it called? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Who was the future President of the USA who worked near Gundagai as a young man? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. This Marble Masterpiece, a miniature Baroque Italian palace was created by an Italian trained monumental mason, who lived in Gundagai for fifty years. What was his name? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Jack O'Hagan, the writer of bush ballad and song, wrote about Gundagai. Which of these did he NOT write?
Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. How far from Gundagai does the famous dog sit on the tuckerbox? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. In the lyrics of "Along The Road To Gundagai" what was the track winding back to? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. "Gundagai" derives from which aboriginal word?

Answer: gundabandoo - bingee

This means "cut with a hand-axe behind the knee", based on gunda meaning "sinews at the back of the knee" and bingee meaning "cut with a tomahawk". It is thought that this refers to the shape of the river bend on the fertile river flat near the town, which resembles a bent leg. Most of the original town was built here. Bad idea!
2. What was the name of the aboriginal tribe that originally inhabited Gundagai?

Answer: Wiradjuri

The Wiradjuri tribal group covered large areas of the South West Slopes in NSW. Large, well attended corroborees demonstrated the numbers of the tribes; the last big celebration was in in 1904. However government assimilation policies meant the tribes gradually disappeared in what was called the "lost generations".

The Worimi tribal nation is a coastal grouping around the Newcastle and Great Lakes area. The Murri tribal nation is further north and also are a coastal nation
3. Gundagai is on the route of a major Australian highway that is named after a famous explorer. What is this highway?

Answer: Hume Highway

In November 1828, Hamilton Hume journeyed with Charles Sturt into western New South Wales, where they discovered the Darling River, the Murray River's longest tributary. However, it was Captain Charles Sturt who travelled through the area in 1829 at the start of his journey, in search of an inland sea which was believed to exist in outback Australia. Sturt again passed through Gundagai on the return leg of this journey in 1830. Strangely enough this highway is called the Hume Highway rather than the Sturt Highway, which goes in a different direction.
4. In June 25, 1852, a terrible disaster almost destroyed Gundagai. What was it?

Answer: Flood

The June 25, 1852 flood swept the town away, killing at least 78 people, possibly more, of the town's population of 250 people. It is one of the largest natural disasters Australia has experienced. The town was moved "up the hill" after this.
5. In 1867 a bridge was built to connect North and South Gundagai. Until 1932 when the Sydney Harbour Bridge was completed, it was the longest bridge in New South Wales. What was it called?

Answer: Prince Alfred Bridge

The Prince Alfred Bridge is an iron truss bridge, with a timber viaduct leading to it, across the Murrumbidgee River's flood plain. The bridge has a total length of 921 metres and probably was the first truss bridge built in Australia. It is the oldest metal truss road bridge in New South Wales. It still exists as a tourist attraction.
6. Who was the future President of the USA who worked near Gundagai as a young man?

Answer: Herbert Hoover

Gold was identified around Gundagai in 1842. A gold rush hit the area in 1858 following further discoveries. The Prince of Wales Mine, where Herbert Hoover was a mining engineer in about 1900, was a few miles to the immediate west of Gundagai.
7. This Marble Masterpiece, a miniature Baroque Italian palace was created by an Italian trained monumental mason, who lived in Gundagai for fifty years. What was his name?

Answer: Rusconi

Frank Rusconi's Marble Masterpiece was made from 20,948 pieces of marble collected from around New South Wales, Australia. The work is 1.2 metres high and took 28 years to complete (1910 - 1938). It can be seen in the Gundagai tourist office.
8. Jack O'Hagan, the writer of bush ballad and song, wrote about Gundagai. Which of these did he NOT write?

Answer: Flash Jack from Gundagai

Gundagai, perhaps more than any other place in Australia, is mentioned in stories, songs and poems. Jack O'Hagan wrote "Where the Dog Sits on the Tuckerbox", "Along The Road To Gundagai" and "When a Boy from Alabama Meets a Girl from Gundagai".
The traditional ballad "Flash Jack from Gundagai" was written by Banjo Paterson.
9. How far from Gundagai does the famous dog sit on the tuckerbox?

Answer: Five miles

The position of the original Dog on the Tuckerbox has been debated over the years. The original text by Jack O'Hagan put the dog as five miles from Gundagai, however Jack Moses later put the dog nine miles from Gundagai. Presently the famous statue is located at Snake Gully, five miles (8 km) from Gundagai.
The story was inspired by a bullock driver's poem, Bullocky Bill (author unknown), which celebrated the life of a mythical driver's dog that loyally guarded the man's tuckerbox (lunch box) until death. It had no distance stated.
10. In the lyrics of "Along The Road To Gundagai" what was the track winding back to?

Answer: An old shack

First published in 1922, "Along the Road to Gundagai" sold over 100,000 copies in that first year. It also became a very popular World War II song. The chorus is:

There's a track winding back
To an old-fashioned shack
Along the road to Gundagai -
Where the blue gums are growing
And the Murrumbidgee's flowing
Beneath that sunny sky -
Where my daddy and mother
Are waiting for me
And the pals of my childhood
Once more I will see.
Then no more will I roam,
When I'm heading right for home
Along the road to Gundagai.
Source: Author em1958

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nannanut before going online.
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