The town was named after Sofala in Mozambique from where King Solomon supposedly gained his gold.
To date there are 60 entries for Sofala.
The following extract is from Samson 1867 PO Directory-
SOF ALA.
This township is on the Turon river,30 miles from Bathurst, and is the centre
of a large gold field. The gold escort arrives every alternate Monday from
Mudvee, Hargreaves, and Tambaroora, and leaves the following morning for
Bathurst to the Mint, Sydney.
Magistrates : H. Bridson , police magistrate ; J. Walford. Acting Clerk of Petty Sessions and Registrar of District Court : H. Bridson ; Bail iff : W. J. Bradshaw.
Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages : T. Corbett. Officer in Charge of Police : Sergeant W. C. Casey. Postmistress : M. Smith Poundkeeper: N. Flynn
Commissioner for Affidavits – H. Bridson. Clergy-Church of England: Rev. G.
J. Styles. Hotels: Foreman’s Barley Mow; Grice’s Sofala inn; Williams’ Globe
| Surname | First Name | Place | Salary/Pension/Rent of lease | Notes 1 | Occupation | Year | Appoint/Reg /Pension Start | 1st Appoint/Date purchase | Sources/ Notes 2 |
| Beath | J. | Sofala District | – | Paid 10/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1880 | – | – | GG 23 July 1880. |
| Bowers | George | Sofala District | – | Paid 10/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1880 | – | – | GG 23 July 1880. |
| Bridson | Hugh | Sofala | 350.0.0 | – | Police Magistrate | 1868 | 1/07/1866 | – | Formerly Assistant Gold Commissioner 2nd Class |
| Bridson | Hugh | Sofala | – | – | C. P. S. | 1870 | – | – | Blue book 1870 |
| Bruce | G. | Sofala District | – | Paid 10/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1880 | – | – | GG 23 July 1880. |
| Burns | William | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Callaghan | Mrs. | Sofala | – | Denison St. | Dressmaker | 1890 | – | – | Sands Directory 1889 – 90 |
| Clay | W. | Sofala District | – | Paid £1.0.0 for license to quarry on crown land. | – | 1880 | – | – | GG 23 July 1880. |
| Coops | Ronert | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Corney | J. | Sofala District | – | Paid 10/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1880 | – | – | GG 23 July 1880. |
| Credland | Charles | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Daveson | Daniel | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Flyn | Nicholas J. | Sofala | – | Globe Hotel. Billiard License. | Licensee | 1885 | – | – | gg 1885 Bathurst Licensing District. |
| Flynn | Nicholas | Sofala | £95 | Contract for conveyance of mail – Sofala & Tambaroora; two times a week; horseback. | Mail contractor | 1871 | – | – | Blue book, 1871- Postal Contractors and renumeration. |
| Forbes | Alexander | Sofala | – | Appointment as Inspector of Slaughterhouses & of Cattle intended to be slaughtered. | Sergeant | 1862 | – | – | GG 26 Sept. 1862 |
| Fulton | James | Sofala | £40.0.0. | Police quarters. | Landlord – Owner of premises rented by Police Dep’t.. | 1893 | – | – | V. & P. Leg. Assembly NSW 1893 – Premises rented by Government. Colonial Secretary – Police Department. |
| Giles | Edward | Sofala | £0.7.8. per diem | Pension commenced:June 1859. | Sergeant – Major, Gold Police. | 1889 | – | – | V. & P. Blue Book 1889. Pensions paid from the Police Reward & Police superannuation Funds. |
| Griffith | Patrick | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Hayes | Alice M. | Sofala | £40.0.0. | Duties- assists the Postmaster in the duties of the office generally; | Temporary postal assistants. | 1889 | – | – | V.& P.- Blue Book 1890. Post Master General. Listing of wives or near relatives of the officers in charge, or who are officals of the Railway Dept. |
| Hayes | J. P. | Sofala | £170 + quarters valued at £28. | Postmaster General, Post & Telegraph Masters; | Post & Telegraph Master | 1887 | – | – | Civil Service. |
| Heath | John | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Hill | J. | Sofala | – | Paid 5/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. (PDV 5/- = $26.00) | – | 1877 | – | – | GG 1877. Licenses issued during Quarter ending 31st Dec. 1876. |
| Hodges | A. | Sofala | – | Paid 5/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. (PDV 5/- = $26.00) | – | 1877 | – | – | GG 1877. Licenses issued during Quarter ending 31st Dec. 1876. |
| Hodges | J. | Sofala | – | Paid 5/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. (PDV 5/- = $26.00) | – | 1877 | – | – | GG 1877. Licenses issued during Quarter ending 31st Dec. 1876. |
| Hyland | Martin | Sofala | – | Royal Hotel | Publican | 1882 | – | – | Bathurst Licensing District |
| Johnson | Whittingdale | Sofala | – | Sofala Distirct | Guardians of Minors | 1869 | – | – | V.& P.- Blue Book 1869. Gentlemen appointed as Guardians of Minors to give consent in cases of marriages in the Colony. |
| Kneale | John | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Laffan | J. P. | Sofala | £60.0.0 | – | School teacher | 1867 | – | – | Roman Catholic School (Supplemental School) |
| Lonerigan | P. | Sofala | – | Paid 5/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. (PDV 5/- = $26.00) | – | 1877 | – | – | GG 1877. Licenses issued during Quarter ending 31st Dec. 1876. |
| Lourey | W. | Sofala | – | Paid 5/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. (PDV 5/- = $26.00) | – | 1877 | – | – | GG 1877. Licenses issued during Quarter ending 31st Dec. 1876. |
| Lowrie | J. | Sofala District | – | Paid 10/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1880 | – | – | GG 23 July 1880. |
| McCabe | J. | Sofala District | – | Paid 10/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1880 | – | – | GG 23 July 1880. |
| McCloy | William | Sofala | – | Globe Hotel | Publican | 1882 | – | – | Bathurst Licensing District |
| McNab | James | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Page | A. | Sofala | 84.0.0 | – | School teacher | 1867 | – | – | C. of E. School (Perm. List) Sydney Diocese |
| Page | Mrs. | Sofala | 50.0.0 | – | Assistant school teacher | 1867 | – | – | C. of E. School (Perm. List) Sydney Diocese |
| Perryman | John | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Pickering | George | Sofala | – | Wesleyan Methodist Church – Minister registered for the Celebration of Marriage. | Minister | 1862 | – | – | GG 4 Feb. 1862 |
| Porter | George W. | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Reed | George | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Robery | W. | Sofala District | – | Paid £1.0.0 for license to quarry on crown land. | – | 1880 | – | – | GG 23 July 1880. |
| Rogers | William | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Seach | J. | Sofala District | – | Paid 10/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1880 | – | – | GG 23 July 1880. |
| Shawcrass | Thomas | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Skinner | Charles | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Smith | Charles G. | Sofala | 180.0.0 | Electric telegraph | station master and line inspector | 1866 | 1/05/1861 | 1/05/1861 | NSW Blue Book 1866 . Secretary for Public Works; Internal Communications; Electric Telegraph Branch |
| Smith | J. | Sofala District | – | Paid 10/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1880 | – | – | GG 23 July 1880. |
| Smith | J. J. | Sofala | – | Paid 5/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land | – | 1877 | – | – | GG 1877. Licenses issued during Quarter ending 31st Dec. 1876. |
| Smith | Margaret | Sofala | 30.0.0 (PDV £30 = $2746 ) | – | Postmistress | 1863 | – | – | V.& P. PMG Report1863; Post Offices. |
| Smith | Margaret | Sofala | 35.0.0 | – | Postmistress | 1866 | – | – | |
| Swain | S. W. | Sofala | – | Oddfellows Hall Hotel. Billiard License. | Licensee | 1885 | – | – | gg 1885 Bathurst Licensing District. |
| Swain | Stephen W. | Sofala | – | Oddfellow’s Hotel | Publican | 1882 | – | – | Bathurst Licensing District |
| Tobin | J. | Sofala District | – | Paid 10/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1880 | – | – | GG 23 July 1880. |
| Walford | Joseph | Sofala | – | Sofala Distirct | Guardians of Minors | 1869 | – | – | V.& P.- Blue Book 1869. Gentlemen appointed as Guardians of Minors to give consent in cases of marriages in the Colony. |
| Walker | W. | Sofala | – | – | Stamp-seller | 1866 | 13/05/1864 | – | V.& P . 1866. Postmaster General. Stamp-sellers at 31st Dec. 1866. |
| Williams | Charles | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Williams | John | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Wilson | J. | Sofala | – | Paid 5/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. (PDV 5/- = $26.00) | – | 1877 | – | – | GG 1877. Licenses issued during Quarter ending 31st Dec. 1876. |
| Wilson | John | Sofala District | – | Paid £2 for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1862 | – | – | GG 17 Oct. 1862. Licenses issued during half year ending 30th June 1862. |
| Wright | G. | Sofala District | – | Paid 10/- for license to cut hardwood timber on crown land. | – | 1880 | – | – | GG 23 July 1880. |