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Category: Building

Building

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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.

Old Bank Chambers
Old Bank Chambers
Old Shop Fronts Kamilaroi Highway
Old Shop Fronts Kamilaroi Highway
Gunnedah Town Hall
Gunnedah Town Hall
Old Acropolis Café Building Kamilaroi Highway
Old Acropolis Café Building Kamilaroi Highway

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.

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Morpeth on the Hunter River

The Old Post Office

Morpeth on the Hunter River

Morpeth

Initially created through by Edward Charles Close, who selected a property of 1,000 hectares Morpeth developed as a river port from 1831-1841.

The river port grew steadily throughout the 1830s, but the construction of the Great Northern Railway in 1857, bypassed Morpeth. This resulted in Newcastle developing as the regional port. Morpeth became less significant commercially, but still survived as a township with its own history and heritage.

The town is now popular with tourists because of its historic buildings and riverside setting.

Getting There

Sitting a 10 minute drive from Maitland, the historic town of Morpeth is one of the Hunter Valley’s major attractions. On the drive from Maitland look out for the brightly painted shed advertising “Dr Morse’s Indian Root Pills”, as it’s a well known site by the Hunter River. Originally from North America, these pills are still manufactured and sold in Australia.

Parking in Morpeth can be at a premium on busy days, particularly in front of shops on the main road (Swan Street). There are more spots a available further down the road opposite the museum and old Post Office (now a vets).

  • Painted Shed
    Painted Shed Indian Root Pills on the Way to Morpeth

Swan Street

Most of the shops and restaurants face onto Swan Street, which makes them easy to find, because you are not wandering around back streets.

  • Row of Buildings in Swan Street Morpeth
    Row of Buildings in Swan Street Morpeth
  • Old Stone Walkway Morpeth
    Old Stone Walkway
  • Telephone Box in Morpeth
    Telephone Box

Morpeth Bridge

Opened on 15 June 1898, the Morpeth Bridge is a timber trestle bridge employing Allan trusses. It has two central iron cylinder span supports fabricated by Mort’s Dock. Spanning the Hunter River at Morpeth, the bridge is listed on the state heritage register because of its technical and historical characteristics. 

  • Hunter River Bridge
    Hunter River Bridge
  • Hunter River Bridge
    Hunter River Bridge
  • The Morpeth Bridge
    The Morpeth Bridge

Historic Buildings

Located on Swan Street, most of the historical buildings are in excellent condition and look beautiful. Many are now used for different purposes than what they were built for, so have small plaques in the footpath showing their original use.

  • The Old Post Office
    The Old Post Office
  • CBC Bank
    CBC Bank
  • St James Anglican Church
    St James Anglican Church
  • Derelict Trading Post
    Derelict Trading Post
  • Courthouse Plaque
    Courthouse Plaque
  • Commercial Hotel Plaque
    Commercial Hotel Plaque

Campbell’s Store

Located on the corner of Swan and Tank Streets, Campbell’s store is a collection of small businesses in one large building. From second-hand dealers, clothes and food, there is a lot to see and explore here. At the back of the building is a café and the Morpeth art gallery, which sells art and often has exhibitions on the second floor.

  • Ally Next to Campbell's Store
    Ally Next to Campbell’s Store
  • Post Box
    Post Box Outside Campbell’s Store
  • Rear of Campbell's Store
    Rear of Campbell’s Store
  • Old Railway Carriage
    Old Railway Carriage

Other Interesting Things to See

Walking around, you will find several interesting sights, including painted lane ways, sweet shops, and old telephone box, and a mannequin inviting you for free ginger beer tasting.

  • Free Ginger Beer Morpeth
    Free Ginger Beer Tasting
  • Painted Murals on Berkley Street Morpeth
    Painted Murals on Berkley Street
  • Painted Murals on Green Street Morpeth
    Painted Murals on Green Street

What Did We Think?

Morpeth is a great place to spend a day out exploring, because it has so much to offer. From historic buildings, antique shops, or a relaxing meal overlooking the Hunter River, it’s a great place to visit.

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

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Cape Banks Botany Bay National Park

Rock Platform and the Wreck of the SS Minmi

Cape Banks

Getting There

We drove to Cape Banks and parked near the pistol club and helicopter base. This large car park has plenty of space, so parking shouldn’t be a problem.

Cape Banks Walking Track

The Cape Banks Walking track runs past the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter Base towards the coast. On the way you pass an old fortress before reaching the ocean. At this point you turn right, if you turn left, you will arrive back at the car park.

The track continues along the coast to the New South Wales Golf Club, where a small bridge leads out to the cape. From here you are able to explore the rock platform and the higher ground of the cape.

  • Bridge to reach the rock platform
    Bridge to reach the rock platform

Cape Banks Fortifications

Used to protect the approaches to Botany Bay, Fort Banks is an old World War II bunker and fortification complex. During World War Two, it was armed with two 9.2 inch guns, but these are long gone. Sand dunes and vegetation are overtaking the fortifications. Graffiti also covers most of the site, which detracts from the importance of the site.

Despite this, it is still an interesting spot to walk around, with some of the building accessible through rusty doors.

Several old tombstones are stored here, removed from the nearby Hospital Cemetery.

  • Fort Banks
    Fort Banks
  • Fort Banks
    Fort Banks
  • Roof of Fort Banks
    Roof of Fort Banks
  • Fort Banks
    Fort Banks
  • Rusty Steel Doors at Fort Banks
    Rusty Steel Doors at Fort Banks
  • Old Headstones at Fort Banks
    Old Headstones at Fort Banks

Rock Platform

Exposed at low tide, the rock platform provides great views over the ocean. Be careful because you need to climb over rocks to get there. Check the tides before going, to make sure the tide will be low. Rock pools and slippery surfaces on the platform mean you need to walk carefully to avoid slipping.

The small cliff face displays some great erosion patterns from wind and waves. The colours of the rocks are also interesting.

To visit the shipwreck at the end of the cape, make your way to the rocks, where the SS Minmi can be seen up close.

  • Rock Platform and the Wreck of the SS Minmi
    Rock Platform and the Wreck of the SS Minmi
  • Waves Breaking Over the Rock Platform
    Waves Breaking Over the Rock Platform
  • Eroded Cliff on Cape Banks
    Eroded Cliff on Cape Banks
  • Undercut Cliff on Cape Banks
    Undercut Cliff
  • Eroded Cliff on Cape Banks
    Eroded Cliff on Cape Banks
  • Looking Along Cape Banks From the SS Minmi
    Looking Along the Cape From the SS Minmi
  • Overhanging Eroded Rock on the Cliff Face
    Overhanging Eroded Rock on the Cliff Face

Wreck of the SS Minmi

Located at the far end of the rock platform, the remains of the wreck of the SS Minmi are easily accessible at low tide. Salvage work in the 1930s removed the forward part of the ship, so only the rear portion now remaining.

The SS Minmi was a 75m long, 1,455 ton collier built in Glasgow, Scotland in 1927. It was named after either the lower Hunter Valley town of Minmi, or the nearby Minmi Colliery.

The Minmi’s captain for all of her ten-year service was Captain McPhall, who had brought the ship to Australia. Captain McPhall commenced two weeks’ leave in the first week of May, leaving Chief Officer Callum to take over as Captain. On 8 May 1937 at 10 pm while returning to Newcastle after delivering coal to Melbourne, the ship struck the outside of Cape Banks. Frederick Boulton, the ship’s cook, collapsed and died of a heart attack soon after the ship struck the rocks.

The Minmi split in two at about 12:45 am, with crew members stranded on both the front and back sections. Those at the front were rescued without incident, but it was more perilous for those in the rear. During the rescue, one life was lost because of the heavy seas.

  • SS Minmi on the Rock Platform
    SS Minmi on the Rock Platform
  • SS Minmi on the Rocks
    Wreck of the SS Minmi on the Rocks
  • SS Minmi Wreckage Strewn Over the Rocks
    SS Minmi Wreckage Strewn Over the Rocks

What Did We Think?

This was a great little walk, because we saw an old fort, a shipwreck, and enjoyed some nice views. The walk is short, but does require some climbing over rocks and a visit at low tide is a must.