In 1868, Gold was found in the area at Woods Flat (just south of the existing township). The "Burley Jack" (est.1877) & "Milburn Creek" (est.1880) mines, also began supplying large quantities of Copper until the early 1900s. The "Sheet of Bark Hotel", situated just off the highway on the Canowindra Rd, was then a stopover for the Cobb & Co. coaches and owes its name to the old practice of depositing mail for collection under a sheet of bark. In 1988, the Woodstock township was established to be closer to the new railway line, which replaced the Cobb & Co. coaches previously servicing the area.
Bushranger Ben Hall was also active in the area. At nearby "Cliefden", there are still bullets holes in a stable wall from an earlier raid. Gang memberJohnny Vane died in 1904 (aged 62) and is buried at the Woodstock
cemetery.