Richmond Vale Railway Hunter Valley

Richmond Vale Railway

The Richmond Vale Railway Museum is located just outside of Kurri Kurri New South Wales. Run by volunteers, it is set in the old Pelaw Main colliery and aims to preserve local railway history. Unfortunately a bushfire went through the area in early 2018, destroying a large section of track and many old wagons that were in storage. The volunteers have restored some of the track, so the trains are running again, but not out to the old colliery. You do however get to ride in a steam train.

The entry fee allows access to the grounds, manager’s residence and the steam train ride. The old colliery buildings and processing plant are fenced off for safety reasons, but you can still take photos as the view through the fence is good. Unfortunately, when we visited the old manager’s residence was locked, so we couldn’t look through the interior. However, it was worth a look around the outside of this impressive looking building.

On the grounds, you will find a nicely preserved old steam train and the steam train ride. The train runs regularly, so don’t worry if you miss it. The ride is not very long but enjoyable.

Steam Train at Richmond Vale Railway Museum

There is a small playground, where children can climb over a small train engine. Nearby a miniature train provides rides for visitors.

Old Coal Wagons Richmond Vale Railway — Old Coal Wagons

Old Mine Processing Plant Richmond Vale Railway Museum — Old Mine Processing Plant

To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.

9 October 20246 October 2024

Barrenjoey Lighthouse Palm Beach

Barrenjoey Lighthouse

The Barrenjoey Lighthouse is located near Palm Beach near Ku-ring-Gai Chase National Park. Access and parking on busy weekends can be an issue as we found that the car park was almost full on the Sunday we visited. Parking is not free and you must pay at the meter and display the ticket in your car or face a fine.

One of Australia’s longest running TV shows, Home and Away uses this area as a setting. The Barrenjoey Lighthouse often features in the background scenery of the show and Palm Beach is where a lot of the action takes place. Many of the visitors are there to see where the show is produced.

To get to the lighthouse, leave the car park and walk down the beach. Not too far down, you will see a sign to the track. There are two options, a short but steep track, or a longer but not so steep track. We took the second option, which is a constant uphill grade, but well paved all the way. There are plenty of opportunities to stop and take in the views on the way up, so don’t rush.

Track to Barrenjoey Lighthouse Palm Beach NSW Australia www.destinationsjourney.com — Track to Barrenjoey Lighthouse

As well as the lighthouse and its buildings, you will find some fantastic views of Palm Beach and Broken Bay. Enjoy your time at the top before making your way back to the beach via either the steep steps of the flatter path.

30 September 20245 October 2024

All Saints’ Anglican Church Bodalla

Completed in 1901, All Saints’ Anglican Church sits on a hill on the outskirts of Bodalla, a small town on the New South Wales south coast.

Getting There

Only a 40-minute drive from Batemans Bay, Bodalla is on the Princes Highway, so if you are travelling the coast, you will probably pass through. Parking at the church is very easy, as there is room at the back of the church, or on the street outside. We parked outside and walked, as the short driveway is bordered by mature bunya trees. Flanking both sides of the walk up the hill, the huge trees add to the beauty of the church.

The Church

Designed by architect Edmund Blacket (and later his son Cyril Blacket), and funded by T.S. Mort, a prominent local businessman, All Saints’ is built of local granite. The woodwork, including the amazing ceiling is of oak. The stained glass windows, the Chancel tiles the unusual reredos of marble mosaic, as well as the pipe organ, were brought from England.

Born in England at Bolton, Lancs. in 1816, T.S. Mort came to Australia in 1837, a pioneer of Australian dairying (through the creation of the Bodalla Estate), of engineering and shipbuilding at Balmain (Morts Dock), the wool industry and other enterprises. He devoted the last fifteen years of his life to the invention of a process of freezing and exporting Australian meat to supply the need of England. He died on 9th May, 1878, of an illness contracted in ministering to the needs of one of his workmen.

During our visit to Bodalla, we were fortunate to find the church open for cleaning. The interior is beautiful, with stain-glass windows, commemorative plaques on the walls and amazing woodwork for the ceiling. If you are in the area, it is certainly worth a visit.