Building Archives - Page 43 of 82 - Destination's Journey

24 May 20217 June 2021

Kandos The Town That Built Sydney

Train Sculpture at a Kandos Railway Station

Kandos The Town That Built Sydney

Established in the early 1900s for the NSW Cement, Lime and Coal Co Ltd, Kandos produced cement until the plant’s closure in 2011. Taken from the initials of the founding company directors: Campbell, Angus, Noyes, McDonald, Oakden and Stephen. The first letter was later changed to a K rather than a C at the insistence of the Postmaster General. He thought it was too close to Chandos in South Australia.

Cement produced here was used all over New South Wales, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House and the Central to St James underground railway, leading to the town branding itself “The Town That Built Sydney”.

Located 234 km north-west of Sydney, for a three and a quarter hour trip, or a 64 km, one-hour trip south-east of Mudgee, Kandos is a great place to visit. Not only does the town offer interesting things to do, but nearby is Dunns Swamp in Wollemi National Park.

On entering town, an old railway wagon proudly displays a load of Kandos Cement, making you aware of the town’s heritage.

Some interesting sights include the old railway station and nearby hotel, along with some interesting sculptures nearby. We also found an old underground loading unit sitting on the side of a road near the museum, which was an interesting discovery.

Kandos Museum

Specialising in Kandos and the surrounding towns, the museum has a wonderful collection of historical items. A large section is dedicated to the cement works and their impact on the town.

Outside displays provide access to several large displays of cement works equipment, including skips from the aerial ropeway that brought limestone from the quarry to the cement works.

The volunteer staff were exceptional, full of local knowledge and more than happy to answer our questions. They really made the visit even more enjoyable.

Kandos Cement Works

Walking inside the museum’s entrance, you are greeting by the immaculate 1930 Nash Ambulance. This vehicle is surrounded by cement works artefacts, detailing the workings of the factory that kept Kandos ticking for nearly 100 years.

The Mine's Old Safety Sign — Kandos Cement Works 1930 Nash Ambulance

Local History

The local history of Kandos and surrounding villages makes up a large display in a second room, detailing local life.

Local Towns and Villages Sign at the Museum

Gas Powered Fridge — Local Towns and Villages Sign at the Museum

Outside Displays

Large pieces of equipment displayed outside the museum include part of the aerial ropeway, steam engines and crushers provide a glimpse of the limestone quarry’s operation.

Mill From the Kandos Cement Factory — Old Equipment at the Museum

What Did We Think?

Kandos is a great town to visit, with a lot of history crammed into 100 years, as well as the wonderful Wollemi National Park to visit close by.

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

8 May 202110 May 2021

Nyngan and the Big Bogan

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.

Old Level Crossing Gates at the Heritage Garden — Welcome To Nyngan

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.

Nyngan Museum Railway Platform — View of the Nyngan Museum From the Rail Overpass

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.

Railway Overpass Connecting to the Museum

Entrance to the Shearing Shed — Railway Overpass Connecting to the Museum

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.

Champion Sheep Gothic From Mullengudgery Stud — How the Shearing Shed Used to Look

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.

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

7 May 20217 May 2021

Narromine Aviation Museum

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.

To see more photos click here.

Wing Structure of the 1907 Wright Flyer Model A Replica — 1907 Wright Flyer Model A Replica

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.

Hawkridge Venture Glider

One of only two constructed, and originally built in Dubbo in 1953, the Hawkridge Venture looks great suspended from the ceiling.

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 Narromine Aviation Museum — Klimov VK-1 Jet Engine From a MiG-15

Rolls Royce Merlin Engine Narromine Aviation Museum — Klimov VK-1 Jet Engine From a MiG-15

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 — Bronze Sculpture of a World War Two Airman, Commemorating Those Who Passed Through Narromine During the Second World War

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.

Our photos are available for purchase on

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Category: Building

Kandos The Town That Built Sydney