A visitor to Maude in early 1879 described "the little township of Maude" as situated "on the river bank", consisting of "four habitations, among which are a hotel and store, both kept by Mr. Murphy, and a police station, where a solitary trooper dreams his life away, praying, doubtless, for the Kellys to come and end his dreary lot".  He added that "there is a punt crossing the river here, and a good-sized wool store, both in the hands of the almost solitary resident of the city, D. Murphy".  The writer pointed out "that considerable traffic occurs through this place across the river, but great inconvenience is experienced after any heavy rains, owing to the billabong by which the township is surrounded becoming too deep to cross".