The Narromine Aviation Museum was an unexpected surprise when we visited the area. We knew of the museum, but were surprised at how good it was. A modern state of the art building and displays provided an excellent setting for the unique items on display.
In addition to the main attraction, the Wright Flyer, the museum preserves the history of aviation in Narromine through artefacts, documents and photographs which tell the story of aviation as it unfolded on one of Australia ’s most historic aerodromes.
1907 Wright Flyer Model A Replica
Built by Keith Hayden and his son Eric, the Wright Flyer Model A is a flying replica of the first aircraft to fly in Australia. First taking to the air in 2005, it flew until 2013, when insurance costs stopped it flying.
This magnificent aircraft now forms the centrepiece of the museum’s collection.
Wing Structure of the 1907 Wright Flyer Model A Replica
Engine Arrangement on the Wright Flyer
Coben Super Ace
Constructed locally in 1938, the Corben Super Ace homebuilt aircraft was restored by the local Men’s Shed group. To see more photos click here.
Coben Super Ace
Hawkridge Venture Glider
One of only two constructed, and originally built in Dubbo in 1953, the Hawkridge Venture looks great suspended from the ceiling.
Hawkridge Venture Glider
Engines
There are several engines on display throughout the museum, including a Rolls Royce Merlin from a de Havilland Mosquito and a jet engine from a MiG-15 fighter.
Klimov VK-1 Jet Engine From a MiG-15
Rolls Royce Merlin Engine
Memorabilia
A huge amount of aviation memorabilia lines the museum’s walls, from a replica of the original aeroclub to medals and historical photos. Two items really stood out. The first was fabric from the Red Baron’s Fokker Triplane, because of its historical significance. The other was the control wheel from Bristol Beaufighter “Miss Narromine”, because it was built with funds raised locally. The Beaufighter was a twin engine fighter and attack aircraft built in Australia during World War Two.
Bronze Sculpture of a World War Two Airman, Commemorating Those Who Passed Through Narromine During the Second World War
A Replica of the Narromine Aero Club
Control Wheel from Beaufighter A8-19 “Miss Narromine”
Fabric From the Red Baron’s Fokker Triplane
Medals on Display
What Did We Think?
This was a great museum to visit, because of its unique exhibits in a modern setting. The collection of local aviation history was impressive and interesting to see. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in aviation.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Located in the Orana Region of western New South Wales, Bourke is the edge of the Outback. To many Australian, the saying Back O’ Bourke means in the middle of nowhere.
Back O’ Bourke Gallery
Visitor Centre
Our first stop was the Back O’ Bourke Tourist Information Centre, so that we could find out if there was anything new in the area to see. The friendly staff told us about a local artist’s gallery, a display at the airport and a riverboat cruise. They also gave us a map of the local cemetery, which had graves of interest marked, which was very helpful.
Outside the main building, an excellent sculpture artwork, The Dance of the Echidnas combines aboriginal culture and local flora, to form a great display.
Back O’ Bourke Tourist Information
Dance of the Echidna’s
Dance of the Echidna’s
Bourke Airport
As suggested by the tourist visitor centre, we dropped into the local airport, where the terminal is named after famous Australian aviator Nancy Bird-Walton. Nancy Bird-Walton, was a pioneering Australian aviator, known as “The Angel of the Outback”, and the founder and patron of the Australian Women Pilots’ Association. In the 1930s, she became a fully qualified pilot at the age of 19 becoming the youngest Australian woman to gain a pilot’s licence.
In addition to information and photos on Nancy Bird Walton, the airport terminal shows the history of aviation at Bourke and how important it was to Australia’s development of aviation. Many air races and original air routes passed through Bourke, before flying became what it is today.
Nancy Bird-Walton
Nancy Bird-Walton
Aviation Heritage at the Bourke Airport
Nancy Bird-Walton
Aviation Heritage at the Bourke Airport
MV Janda Riverboat
Heavy rain in the previous month meant that the Darling River was rising. We were lucky to get on the last river cruise because of the river’s height. The amount of silt washed down stream due to flooding meant that the river was brown.
The peaceful and relaxing 90-minute trip took us passed river red gums and farm land before returning.
Jandra Riverboat
Darling River From the Jandra
Bourke Wharf
The wharf is a reconstruction of the original and is primarily a tourist attraction. However, it still shows how it operated, even as the river rose and fell seasonally, with multiple levels available to access the ships.
Wharf on the Darling River with lowest level submerged
Wharf on the Darling River
Crossley Engine
Sitting undercover near the wharf, the Crossley engine was donated by Bob Crawford and family from Narromine in 2001. Operated on weekdays for an hour by volunteers, and fully restored to working condition it is worth seeing.
Originally used from 1923 to 1938 in the Sydney Power House to generate electricity for Sydney it moved to the Allowrie Butter Factory in Coffs Harbour until 1949. It then went to a property in Narromine in 1949 to pump water for irrigation until 1964.
Crossley Engine
Crossley Engine
Historic Buildings
The centre of town has many lovely old buildings, which makes a walk through the main streets interesting, as you are constantly looking to see what is around.
Corner of Sturt and Oxley Streets The Old London Banking Company
Fitzgerald’s Post Office Hotel
Bourke Courthouse
Bourke Cemetery
Many people were visiting the cemetery when we arrived, mostly to see the grave of Fred Hollows. Fred was an ophthalmologist became known for his work in restoring eyesight for thousands of people in Australia and many other countries.
Our map from the Tourist Information Centre showed several other interesting graves. We found the most interesting to be the Afghan graves and associated mosque. Camels carried freight in the early days of colonial Australia, until replaced by trucks in the 1930s.
Fred Hollow’s Grave
Bourke Cemetery
What did We Think of Bourke?
We found Bourke to be a very relaxed town, easy to find your way around, with plenty to see and do.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Located in the central west of New South Wales, Dubbo was our first main stop during our road trip. A five hour car trip from Sydney, or a three and a half hour trip from our home in Singleton, stops along the way are needed. The first European settlement was established in 1828, but aboriginal history dates back over 40,000 years.
With so many attractions to visit in the area, we planned a two day stay here, to see as much as we could, without rushing.
Attractions
Dubbo Visitors Information Centre
Our first visit was the Visitors Information Centre, so that we could get a map of a street walk of historical buildings in town. Only available here, it was also a good chance to see if anything else was happening in town, that had not been mentioned online.
Outside the visitor centre is an information board detailing the dwarf planet Pluto. This forms part of a giant solar system model, centred on the Siding Springs Observatory in Coonabarabran. We passed the position of Neptune at Dunedoo.
Outside the centre is a medicinal garden growing plats that the Wiradjuri People used. An information board describes the uses of the plants.
Pluto Information Board
Medicinal Garden
Town Centre
Following the Dubbo Heritage Trail, we got from the Visitor Information Centre, we found some nice old buildings spread through the centre of town. With 37 buildings and locations, there is a lot to see, but we decided to only find ones that interested us.
Of interest was the old post office, which was designed by the famous architect James Barnet. Another great building was the Old Bank, which is now a pub and restaurant, where we had dinner.
Dubbo Courthouse
Colonial Mutual Building
Old Dubbo Post Office
Westpac Bank Building
St Brigid’s Catholic Church
Catholic Presbytery St Brigid’s
Street Art
Spread all over town, is a variety of street art and sculptures. We noticed them while driving around, but were not aware how many there were.
Aboriginal Street Art on the Overpass Near the Visitor Information Centre
More Aboriginal Street Art on the Overpass Near the Visitor Information Centre
Aboriginal Street Art on the Overpass Near the Visitor Information Centre
Cockatoo Art Work at the Visitor Information Centre
Aboriginal Street Art in the city centre
Statue of William Ferguson, a Champion of Aboriginal Rights
Sheep Silhouettes in the City Centre
Rhino Statue at the Entrance to the Airport
Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Taronga Western Plains Zoo is the most popular tourist attraction in the Dubbo area because of its collection of endangered animals in an open range setting. To view all of the exhibits, we spent a full day at the zoo, walking between enclosures. Your entrance ticket is valid over two days, so you can return the next day if you want to see more. To read our full blog about our visit, click on the link above.
Black Rhinoceros
Old Dubbo Gaol
Old Dubbo Gaol is one of the locations on the heritage trail and is a popular attraction for many tourists. Maintained in excellent condition and easy to access from the centre of town, it’s a fun place to visit and learn about the gaol’s past. The buildings are all close together, so a visit here only took us an hour. The blog of our visit can be found here.
Male Prison Building
Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden
If you like Japanese gardens, you will love this one. Rated one of the best in Australia, the Shoyoen garden is beautiful to walk around and very relaxing. The other section of the Regional Botanic Garden display’s local flora, so if you want to see some without bushwalking, this is a great place to visit. Our full blog can be found here.
Japanese Gardens
Old Bank
The Old Bank Restaurant and Bar is, as the name suggests a converted bank. Bookings are essential, as we were lucky to get a table when we arrived. To read our blog on the Old Bank, click here.
Main Meal Lamb Rump
Western Plains Cultural Centre
The Western Plains Cultural Centre is a combined museum and art gallery, showcasing local talent and history. From high school students’ art, international artists, aboriginal artefacts, and old horse drawn carriages, there is something here for everyone.
Wilkins Kennedy and Spence Coach Builders Buggy
Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre
The RFDS Visitor Centre is a new, state of the art museum which details the RFDS history. Not only does it have old equipment and two aircraft on display but uses large screens and interactive video to tell its story. We enjoyed our visit and spent longer than we had originally anticipated because it had so much to offer.
de Havilland Fox Moth VH-UQM Replica
War Memorials
As with most towns across Australia, a war memorial commemorates those who were killed fighting for their country. Dubbo is no exception, but’s its Shrine of Remembrance is huge and surrounded by several other memorials. One of these is in memory of a local pilot who earned the Victoria Cross flying a bomber during World War Two. Although he was killed, he saved the lives of five others onboard, while flying the plane home despite being severely wounded.
Shrine of Remembrance
Memorial to Pilot Officer Rawdon Hume Middleton, who was awarded the Victoria Cross (V.C.) in World War Two.
Macquarie River and Emile Serisier Bridge
Located near the Visitor Centre, the Emile Serisier Bridge caught our attention because of its solid steel work construction. It spans the Macquarie River, so while looking at the bridge, we had a look at the river too.
A better view is available on the opposite side of the river, where you can walk under the structure.
Rail Bridge Over the Macquarie River
Rail Bridge Over the Macquarie River
The Macquarie River
Dubbo Observatory
We booked tickets ahead if time for the observatory, opting for the 10:30PM to 12:30AM visit. This allows visitors to use their own cameras on the telescopes to take photos. Unfortunately, the sky was cloudy so our session was cancelled(with a full refund), so next time we are in Dubbo we will try again.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
