The name Whitney’s is a nod to William Franklin ‘Frank’ Whitney one of the most influential figures in regional Australia’s transport history. As the director and partner in the legendary Cobb & Co stagecoach company,
Whitney helped revolutionise transport across Australia. When Cobb & Co expanded into New South Wales in 1862, Whitney established and managed many of the company’s early routes out of Orange. At the time, Orange was emerging as a critical transport hub connecting the Central West with Sydney and other regional centres.
Whitney wasn’t simply a visitor passing through Orange. He became of the the town’s most promient citizens and business leaders. His legacy lives on and he will always be remembered for his work to connect communities, commerce and tourism throughout the Central West.
The Whitney Fountain
One of the strongest links between Whitney and Orange is the historic Whitney Fountain in Robertson Park.
After Whitney’s death in 1894, Cobb & Co employees funded and donated a marble memorial fountain to the town in his honour. It still stands in Robertson Park today and commemorates his contribution to both Orange and the transport industry.
