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Nyngan and the Big Bogan

Nyngan Museum

Nyngan

Located in the Orana Region of central New South Wales, Nyngan is the home of the Big Bogan, a helicopter memorial and several interesting museums. This was our second stop on a road trip out west and our first overnight stop.

Like many outback towns. there is a nice sign welcoming you to town, along with a rest stop. Here, you will find a “small” Big Bogan, but don’t be put off by its size, because the real one is in the town centre.

Driving around town we noticed some street art, as well as some nice buildings, especially the town hall.

Nyngan Museum

Our first stop was at the Railway Station which is now the town museum and also acts as a tourist information centre. Passenger trains no longer stop here, although the line is still used for freight, so the platform is blocked off to stop people wandering onto the tracks.

The museum’s displays cover all of Nyngan’s history, from pre-colonial to recent, including World War One and railway heritage.

Shearing Shed

Located across the rail line from the museum, the Shearing Shed captures the history of the wool industry that once dominated Australia. The original pulleys that powered the shears are still in place, making a great and authentic backdrop to the museum. Covering the walls are photos of past shearers, competition winners and champion sheep. We found this all very interesting, even more so when the volunteer working there turned out to be an old shearer. He told us all about life as a shearer and what the items on display were used for.

The Displays

Shearing

A photo on the wall shows how the shed used to look when operating. Many others showed champion sheep like Gothic and Dudley from Mullengudgery Stud.

Helicopter Flood Memorial

A stunning sight in the middle of town is a helicopter displayed on a pole Not something you expect to see on the main street, but relevant to Nyngan, because of the role they played during a flood.

In April 1990, unusually heavy rains caused major flooding in the town, despite a massive effort by local people to raise the levee walls using sandbags. With the town almost completely flooded, all the residents had to be evacuated by helicopter from the railway station, the highest point of the town, which was not flooded. Air Force helicopters, TV news helicopters and private helicopters all co-operated in the airlift.

Bell UH-1 Iroquois Helicopter Nyngan
Bell UH-1 Iroquois Helicopter

Nyngan Coach House

Sitting next to the Big Bogan, the Coach House is hard to miss. A large car park makes access easy, so you don’t have to park on the street. The two coaches on display are under cover but behind wire mesh. This doesn’t restrict viewing, because the mesh is wide spaced and allows the carriages to be seen from three sides.

Make sure you plan to see them before 5:00PM, because the roller doors are shut and locked to protect the displays overnight.

The Big Bogan

Adjacent to the Coach House, the Big Bogan is another “Big” thing we came across during this trip. Another one to cross of the list if you’re into seeing them all. For those who don’t know, a bogan is a derogatory word for an uncouth, unsophisticated person (like the American ‘trailer trash’).

The local shire council (The Bogan Shire) has made the most of having their name used this way and used it to attract tourists with the Big Bogan.

The Big Bogan Nyngan
The Big Bogan

Early Settler Memorial

On the edge of town, a memorial pays tribute to the early European settlers in the area, who established the agricultural industry. It features a grazier, with his sheep dog and a flock of sheep.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Our photos are available for purchase on

Gunnedah New South Wales

View of Gunnedah From Pensioners' Hill

Gunnedah New South Wales

Town History

Located on the north west slopes of New South Wales, Gunnedah has a long history of habitation by the Kamilaroi people. The town’s name means Place of White Stones in the Kamilaroi language. Within 45 years

Colonial settlers arrived in the area in 1833, taking advantage of the Patrick Plain fertile soil to farm sheep.

Getting There

Gunnedah was our second overnight stop on our road trip. Only a 90 minute drive from Dubbo, the road was in good condition the whole way. Direct from Sydney, it’s a five hour drive, but there are plenty of interesting stops along the way, the most notable of which is Coonabarabran.

Attractions

Gunnedah Town Centre

The Gunnedah town centre is full of old historic buildings, making a walk though town interesting. While there, look at the buildings’ facades as they are often nicely decorated and show the year the building was built. Over time many buildings have changed owners but the original builder is often still displayed on the facade.

Miners’ Memorial

In the centre of town near Wolseley Park a statue pays tribute to the coal miners who brought wealth to the town. Many miners failed to return home because of the dangerous work and this is a memorial to them.

Miners' Memorial Wolseley Park Gunnedah
Miners’ Memorial Wolseley Park

Red Chief Memorial

Located in the town centre, adjacent to the NSW Government Offices building in Abbott Street this is first memorial erected in honour of an Aboriginal historical identity.

Buried probably in late 1700`s. Cumbo Gunnerah was the legendary warrior and wise leader of the Gunn-e-darr people of the Kamilaroi tribe. He was buried, it is thought, in the late 1700’s in a manner befitting an Aboriginal man of great importance, that is in a sitting position, backed by a tree carved with totemic designs in his honour.

Red Chief Memorial Gunnedah
Red Chief Memorial

Silo Art

A beautiful piece of silo art now brightens one of Gunnedah’s old silos. Featuring Dorothea Mackellar and lines from My Country, it adds to the Mackellar presence in town. For our blog on the silo, click here.

Gunnedah Maize Mill Silo Depicting Dorothea Mackellar and Lines From My Country
Gunnedah Maize Mill Silo Depicting Dorothea Mackellar and Lines From My Country

Gunnedah Water Tank Museum

The Water Tank Museum contains artefacts from Gunnedah’s past, as well as an amazing mural on the outside, dedicated to the Vietnam War. To see our full blog and more photos click here.

Gunnedah Water Tower mural
Water Tower mural: Soldiers of 7RAR waiting to be picked up by Huey Helicopters by Jenny McCracken

Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Statue

In addition to the Silo art honouring Dorothea Mackellar, a statue of the poet riding a horse can be found near the Water Tower Museum. Our full blog and photos can be found here.

Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Statue
Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Statue

Pensioners Hill Lookout and Sculptures

This beautiful sculpture-filled park has great views over town, making it a must visit when you visit. An easy walk from the car park past the sculptures rewards you with magnificent views. Our blog and photos of all the sculptures is here.

Aboriginal Man Sculpture Gunnedah
Aboriginal Man Sculpture

Gunnedah Rural Museum

This is a fantastic place to visit especially for those interested in rural life in Australia from the late 1800s to late 1900s. We particularly liked the tractor and car collection, as they were extensive and in good condition. The museum also has a model railway out the front for rail enthusiasts. We really enjoyed this laid back huge museum. The full blog of our visit is here.

Our photos are available for purchase on

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Mortels Sheepskin Factory Beresfield

The Big Ugg Boots

Mortels Sheepskin Factory

Located in Beresfield, New South Wales, Mortels Sheepskin Factory not only sells you their products, but teaches how they are made and the history of sheepskin in Australia. Unfortunately shut during our visit, we were unable to view the factory, but we did tour the museum and see the giant Ugg boots.

Mortels Sheepskin Factory Museum

The museum is free to enter, so while there go in for a look. Although it’s small, the displays and information boards explain the history of sheepskin in Australia. Exhibits from wool presses to World War One soldier’s jackets make it worth the visit.

Giant Ugg Boots

Entering Thornton, you can’t miss the giant Ugg boots. Originally painted as regular sheepskin, but now upgraded with aboriginal artwork, they look amazing.

If you are into seeing all of the “big” things in Australia, this is a must see.

Shop and Café

Of course, a visit here must include a visit to the shop, so that you can sample and maybe buy some of the excellent items for sale. Everything sheepskin, from Ugg boots and coats, car seats covers and blankets.

There’s also a café so when you need to recharge after learning all about sheepskin there’s one on hand.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.