for settlement. A Military Depot was established not long after at Soldiers Flat near present-day Billimari. Arthur Ranken and James Sloan, from Bathurst, were amongst the first European settlers on the Lachlan. They moved to the area in 1831. In the 1850s many gold prospectors passed through headed for gold fields at Lambing Flat (Young) and Grenfell. References External links NSW Forecast Areas map Department of Local Government page for the region listing links to council pages "Open Directory" listing Regions of New South Wales Newell Highway