Seeing the light. Uralla first switched off the gas street lamps 100 years ago when JP Henry offered to use the engine and dynamo in his engineering workshop on the corner of Hill and Maitland Streets, to generate enough electricity to light street lamps at six intersections in 1918.

This form of electric street lighting continued for twenty years until 240 volt AC electric power poles were erected to conduct street lighting and household power, supplied by the Armidale Power House.

The amalgamation game. Thirty years later, Gostwyck Shire Council and Uralla Municipal Council were amalgamated on  January 1, 1948, to form the present Uralla Shire Council that is now operating in its 70^th year. Uralla had been proclaimed as a municipal district by Governor Loftus in 1882 with an office in Bridge Street. Gostwyck Shire was proclaimed as one in 1906 with an office around the corner in Bridge Street.

Bicentenary benefit . The State Government granted  $70,000 from the Commonwealth and State Bicentennial Commemorative Program to Uralla Shire Council 30 years ago to provide a lasting memorial to the Bicentenary. The money was used to commission a bronze statue of Captain Thunderbolt by Dennis Adams, and this was unveiled on September 4, 1988. The original idea to have a statue of Captain Thunderbolt came from local girl Deborah O’Brien when she was just eight years old.

Community spirit. This year the Thunderbolts Festival marks 20 years of civic pride celebration. In 1998 the first street parade was held, and two decades later it is bigger and better than ever. The festival is now held in conjunction with a motorbike charity fun run and a rough riding rodeo.

Memorabilia and stories surrounding each of these Uralla milestones will be shared at Friday nights dinner.