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Category: Historical Museum

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Hill End Historical Gold Mining Town

Great Western Store

Hill End

A gold rush in the 1870s turned Hill End from a small rural village into one of the largest inland towns in New South Wales. When the boom finished, the town reverted back to a small village, however unlike other boom / bust towns many of the historic buildings remain. Now heritage listed, the town offers an insight into life in the 1870s, because of its preserved buildings and artefacts.

Located 75km south of Mudgee or 270km north-west of Sydney, Hill End is a great place to relax and enjoy some history. We enjoyed it here because of the many different things to can see and do. Not only are there buildings from the gold rush, but several interesting walks and museums.

Hill End Heritage Centre

Located in a 1950s Rural Fire Service shed next to the General Store, the Heritage Centre offers a self-guided tour of displays that detail the history of the town. The centre contains some excellent photos of life during the gold rush, as well as a model showing the town at its largest. Artefacts and a fire engine make this a great first stop to learn about Hill End.

  • Hill End The Old Rural Fire Service Shed Now the Heritage Centre
    The Old Rural Fire Service Shed Now the Heritage Centre
  • Hill End 1942 Ford Blitz Fire Truck
    1942 Ford Blitz Fire Truck
  • Model of the Hill End Town
    Model of the Hill End Town
  • Hill End Gold Smelting Pots
    Gold Smelting Pots
  • Water Bottle
    Water Bottle
  • Hill End Old Photo of a Miner's Cottage
    Old Photo of a Miner’s Cottage
  • Hill End Shops on the Main Street as They Used To Be
    Shops on the Main Street as They Used To Be

Hill End Historic Buildings

The heritage listed town contains many buildings dating from the 1870s gold rush period. Unlike other towns from this period, where old buildings were removed, many of Hill End’s buildings remain intact, giving a view back in time.

We walked through town on the afternoon we arrived and again the next morning, before other people were around. This let us enjoy the area both with and without other people around.

While wandering around, we found an old rusty car a petrol pumps, adding to the old feel of the town.

  • The Road Into Hill End
    The Road Into Hill End
  • St Paul's Presbyterian Church Hill End
    St Paul’s Presbyterian Church
  • Hosies Store
    Hosies Store
  • Old Building at Hill End
    Old Building at Hill End
  • Beyers Cottage Hill End
    Beyers Cottage Hill End
  • Robert Northey's General Grocer and Produce Store Hill End
    Robert Northey’s General Grocer and Produce Store Hill End
  • Sacred Heart Catholic Church Hill End
    Sacred Heart Catholic Church
  • Great Western Store
    Great Western Store
  • Old Petrol Pumps Hill End
    Old Petrol Pumps
  • Rusty Car Wreck Hill End
    Rusty Car Wreck
  • Hill End War Memorial Machine Gun
    Hill End War Memorial Machine Gun

History Hill Museum

Only a ten-minute drive from town, the History Hill Museum contains a huge collection of artefacts from the 1870s gold rush, which include a stamper battery crusher and a replica gold mine.

The collection includes everyday items used by people providing a great insight into ordinary life in the late nineteenth century. There is also what must be one of the largest collections of weighing scales anywhere. Scales formed an important part of the gold mining industry, ensuring that correct payment was made for gold mined.

The Chinese contribution to the area is highlighted, illustrating the diversity of people attracted to the area to mine gold.

Collections of fire arms, locks, porcelain and bottles add to the huge numbers of displays, that go well beyond the normal rocks and mining equipment that mining museums usually have.

Another great attraction at History Hill is the replica gold mine, which you walk through at your own pace. Being able to walk through a mine, even if a replica gives you a great idea of what mining was like here. The exit is fun, with seven lots of ladders to climb to the surface. Of course, if you don’t want to climb the ladders, you can return to the entrance instead. We really liked this!

  • Not the Entry
    Not the Entry
  • Pad Locks
    Pad Locks
  • Hand Guns
    Hand Guns
  • Collection of Scales
    Collection of Scales
  • Tools in the Blacksmiths Shop
    Tools in the Blacksmiths Shop
  • Gold Weighing Scales
    Gold Weighing Scales
  • Shackles
    Shackles
  • Poison Bottle Collection
    Poison Bottle Collection
  • Bottle Collection
    Bottle Collection
  • China Collection
    China Collection
  • Stamping Crusher
    Stamping Crusher
  • Entry to the Son of Hope Mine
    Entry to the Son of Hope Mine
  • Ladders Leading Out of the Mine
    Ladders Leading Out of the Mine
  • Tunnel Inside the Mine
    Tunnel Inside the Mine
  • Tunnel Inside the Mine
    Tunnel Inside the Mine

Golden Gully Walking Track

The eroded banks of Golden Gully are unstable, so take care when walking, rock falls and wall collapses are common. Worked and re-worked by miners workings have become exposed due to erosion, making the landscape seem unreal. Staying to the centre of the gully, away from the walls, we were able to admire the landscape in safety.

Erosions has formed several interesting arches that reach across the gully, as well as several small tunnels running into the banks. These areas are very unstable, so use caution when looking at them.

  • Golden Gully Walking Track Hill End
    Golden Gully Walking Track Hill End
  • The Arch on the Golden Gully Walking Track
    The Arch on the Golden Gully Walking Track
  • Under the Arch on the Golden Gully Walking Track
    Under the Arch on the Golden Gully Walking Track
  • The Arch on the Return Trip
    The Arch on the Return Trip
  • Small Tunnel
    Small Tunnel
  • Small Tunnel on the Golden Gully Walking Track Hill End
    Small Tunnel on the Golden Gully Walking Track Hill End

Valentine Mine

Located a short drive from town, Valentines Mine, the headframe shows where the shaft drops 53 metres into the hill. Next to the shaft is an old stamper battery used to crush the ore removed from the mine.

Access along a dirt track was incredibly rough, although we only had a two-wheel drive vehicle. Recent rain had damaged the track and had it been any worse, we would not have driven it. However, once graded and repaired, the road will be good to drive on. Alternately, you can park your car and walk up to the mine shaft area.

  • Valentines Mine Shaft
    Valentines Mine Shaft
  • Valentines Mine Stamping Battery
    Stamping Battery at Valentines Mine
  • Valentines Mine Stamping Battery Head
    Valentines Mine Stamping Battery Head

Cornish Quartz Roasting Pits

A short drive past the Valentines Mine turn-off, a small car park marks the entrance to the roasting pits. Here, quartz roasting pits were established in 1855 and have become a significant insight into our nation’s beginnings and how the gold rush transformed the country.

The roasting pits are an interesting snapshot into quartz mining processes, where the ore was processed before crushing.

  • Cornish Quartz Roasting Pits
    Cornish Quartz Roasting Pits
  • Cornish Quartz Roasting Pits
    Cornish Quartz Roasting Pits
  • Ruined Building Near the Cornish Quartz Roasting Pits
    Ruined Building Near the Cornish Quartz Roasting Pits
  • Cornish Quartz Roasting Pits
    Cornish Quartz Roasting Pits
  • Cornish Quartz Roasting Pits
    Cornish Quartz Roasting Pits

What did We Think?

Hill End was a great place to visit, not only for the historic buildings, but also for several great walks and interesting museums. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here, and would do it again.

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

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Woolwich Dock on Sydney Harbour

Harbour end of Woolwich Dock

Woolwich Dock

Originally the largest dry dock in Australia when completed in 1910, Woolwich Dock is now a reminder of the past. Owned by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, the dock is well maintained and access is free.

Getting There

Only a ten-minute walk from Woolwich Wharf, Woolwich Dock was once a bustling shipyard, but is now a quiet reminder of the past. Boat maintenance still takes place, but not on the huge scale in the first half of last century.

One of the best ways to get around Sydney is the ferry and train system, especially if you want to visit places close to the harbour. Ferries run regularly from convenient points all over the harbour.

The Goat Paddock

Access to the dock is through the Goat Paddock, with nicely maintained gardens. There are also great views of Sydney Harbour, along with bench seats to relax on and admire the scenery. Not sure why it’s called the goat paddock, maybe some used to be kept there in the past.

  • The Goat Paddock
    The Goat Paddock
  • Sydney Harbour and Bridge From Woolwich Dock
    Sydney Harbour and Bridge From Woolwich Dock

Woolwich Dock

Located at the base of the Goat Paddock, Woolwich Dock is accessible on both sides. A walkway runs around the dock, with handrails for protection. The rail track used for the 100 ton crane is still in place, which is great.

At the end of the dock is what looks like an old ship. It’s actually the caisson, which was used to block the open end of the dock, before pumping it dry. Several very handy information boards explain the dock’s operation, which were very useful.

Along with the dock, the caisson was very interesting to see.

Several expensive yachts were moored here, possibly for maintenance, as the Harbour Trust leases workshops to several companies.

The end of the dock ends in a cliff overhang, where ferns have grown into the sandstone, making it look beautiful. For a great perspective view, walk to the Woolwich Lookout, where a bird’s eye view lets you appreciate the dock and the harbour.

  • Information Board
    Information Board Explaining the Dock’s Use
  • Information Board
    Information Board
  • The Caisson
    The Caisson
  • Woolwich Dock
    Woolwich Dock
  • Woolwich Dock From Viewing Platform
    The View From Woolwich Lookout
  • Harbour end of Woolwich Dock
    Harbour end of the Dock
  • End of the Dock Cut into Sandstone
    End of the Dock Cut into Sandstone
  • End of the Dock Cut into Sandstone
    End of the Dock Cut into Sandstone
  • Yacht Docked in Woolwich
    Yacht Docked in Woolwich

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

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Dubbo New South Wales Australia

White Rhinoceros

Dubbo New South Wales

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
    Pluto Information Board
  • Medicinal Garden
    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
    Dubbo Courthouse
  • Colonial Mutual Building Dubbo
    Colonial Mutual Building
  • Old Dubbo Post Office
    Old Dubbo Post Office
  • Westpac Bank Building Dubbo
    Westpac Bank Building
  • St Brigid's Catholic Church Dubbo
    St Brigid’s Catholic Church
  • Catholic Presbytery St Brigid's Dubbo
    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
    Aboriginal Street Art on the Overpass Near the Visitor Information Centre
  • 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
    Aboriginal Street Art on the Overpass Near the Visitor Information Centre
  • Cockatoo Art Work at the Visitor Information Centre
    Cockatoo Art Work at the Visitor Information Centre
  • Aboriginal Street Art in the city centre
    Aboriginal Street Art in the city centre
  • Statue of William Ferguson, a Champion of Aboriginal Rights
    Statue of William Ferguson, a Champion of Aboriginal Rights
  • Sheep Silhouettes in the City Centre
    Sheep Silhouettes in the City Centre
  • Rhino Statue at the Entrance to the Airport
    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 Dubbo
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 at Old Dubbo Gaol
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.

Dubbo Japanese Gardens Dubbo
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
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.

Dubbo Wilkins Kennedy and Spence Coach Builders Buggy Dubbo
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.

Dubbo de Havilland Fox Moth VH-UQM Replica
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
    Shrine of Remembrance
  • Memorial to Pilot Officer Rawdon Hume Middleton, who was awarded the Victoria Cross (V.C.) in World War Two.
    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
  • Rail Bridge Over the Macquarie River
    Rail Bridge Over the Macquarie River
  • 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.