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Aberdare South Abandoned Mine at Abernethy

The Old Ruined Winder House

Aberdare South Abandoned Mine at Abernethy

The Aberdare South Colliery operated from 1913 to 1927, making it long abandoned. All that remains of the old mine are the winder house and chimney, but these make the trip worthwhile, so that you can see some of the original industry of the Hunter Valley.

Getting There

Located in the village of Abernethy, the best place to start the walk is from Abernethy House, an old pub now operating as a guest house. Cars can park in a small cleared area opposite the house. This is convenient, because it is at the start of the walking track. The track is not suitable for two wheel drive vehicles, as the road is not well maintained. When we were there, it was badly rutted and eroded by heavy rain, making four wheel drive vehicle access impossible as well.

Abernethy House From the Car Park near the Aberdare South Abandoned Mine
Abernethy House From the Car Park

The Track

Follow the track until you pass an intersection to the left. At this point, keep walking along the main track until you come to a second track to the left, which you take. This track, will lead you to a dam on the left hand side at which point you will also see a large chimney.

After rain the tack is muddy and rutted by previous traffic, which makes is rough in places. Be careful how you walk as some places are slippery and covered in water. Even if the weather is dry, the road will be badly rutted.

The Old Winder House at the Aberdare South Abandoned Mine

Once an impressive building, the old winder house is now a ruin with the roof and floor collapsed. Even in this state it is fun to look around and take pictures, as long as you are careful.

The interior was overgrown with grass and the collapsed floor and old basement were full of water, so we didn’t go inside. We were also wary of the surrounding area as the grass was very long and we were concerned about snakes.

The Chimney

Still standing after 100 year, the chimney is starting to look old, as the brickwork has cracks making it look unstable. Standing in the middle of the bush, it looks out of place, making it a unique and interesting photo opportunity.

Old Chimney at the Aberdare South Abandoned Mine
Old Chimney at the Mine Site

The Dam and Returning to The Start

Once we had looked around the chimney and winder house, we followed the track down to the dam, which was full of water and surrounded by eucalyptus trees. From here, we walked around the dam until we found the track which took us back to our car. This track is the first one we passed on the way in, allowing us to do the walk as a circuit.

View Over the Dam
View Over the Dam

Things to be Aware Of

We aware that snakes are common in the area, so be careful around long grass. The old buildings are not maintained, so are unstable, particularly inside the winder house.

What Did We Think?

This was a great place to visit, because of the unusual sight of abandoned mine buildings. The walk was short and quite easy, despite the wet ground.

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

Wisemans Ferry and the Great North Road

The Quarry Site on the Great North Road

Wisemans Ferry

Located on the New South Wales Central Coast and North of Sydney, Wisemans Ferry is a historic town connected to the Great North Road.

Hawkins Lookout Wisemans Ferry

Travelling north from Sydney, the road passes through some wonderful scenery with very tight windy roads in places. Just outside Wisemans Ferry is Hawkins Lookout which provides great views over the mountains and the Hawkesbury River. We made a quick stop here to admire the views before continuing on to the town.

Convict Trail Memorial

Near the ferry landing is a carpark with a cafe and memorial site. The memorial commemorates the building of the Great North Road and the ferry crossing. We relaxed here for a while with a snack and coffee after the drive, before boarding the ferry.

The Ferry

The ferry master will direct you when it is safe to drive on board and park in the marked spaces. Once parked, turn off your engine and enjoy the short ride to the other side. Use of the ferry is free, so no payment is necessary.

The Great North Road

The entrance to the Great North road is to the left of the ferry crossing. There is only limited parking available, with no dedicated car park. In busy times this will be a problem and you may need to walk some distance to get there.

The Great North Road was built by convict labour between 1825 and 1836 to link Sydney to Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.

Information Boards

Information boards, convict silhouettes and examples of tools, provide context for what you are looking at. This enables a greater understanding of what the convicts endured because you can visualise them working on the road or in the stone quarry.

The Road

The road surface is well maintained and although it goes uphill is not a difficult walk if you take it slowly. Remember to take water, use sunscreen, and wear a hat, because there is not much shade.

The dry stonewall buttresses on the downhill side of the road are of excellent workmanship, especially when you consider the conditions the convicts were working in.

Sites Along the Way

Along the walk, there are several sites of interest. The first is the remains of a large quarry, where stone was quarried for use in the road. Tools on display here show how primitive the work was and how difficult it would have been.

The second spot is called Hangman’s Rock, although is doubtful if this is what it was used for. Steps are cut into the rock, enabling you to climb up for a better look.

What Did We Think?

We stopped at Hangman’s Rock and returned to our car, although you can continue to Finches Line Walking Track which will bring you out south of the Ferry crossing. This is a part of Australia’s colonial history and it is great that the site has been preserved and presented so well for visitors. This part of the Great North Road is only a short walk, but lets you see some important historical sites. We enjoyed the walk and the history on display.

If you are interested in the Great North Road, read our post on the northern section.

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

Sydney Park and Old Brick Works

Sydney Park Brick Kilns

Sydney Park

Originally a landfill site and the location of a brickworks, Sydney Park is now a beautiful public space because of its landscaped gardens, meandering paths and wetlands. A total of 40Ha of ugly landfill was transformed into beautiful parkland, making it a wonderful place to relax and let the kids run around. With barbeques, playgrounds and open spaces, it’s a great place for a day out.

Getting To Sydney Park

Located around the park, several car parks which provide easy access. The closest train station is St Peter’s, directly across the road from the old brick kilns.

Old Brick Works and Chimneys

Disused for over 60 years, the now heritage listed brick works, provide a landmark near the St Peter’s train station because of the tall chimneys. During our visit, graffiti had defaced some of the lower kilns and buildings, which was very disappointing, taking away some of the appeal of the area.

The chimneys provide great photo opportunities and we spent some time here while we took pictures from different angles.

Sydney Park Brick Kilns
Old Brick Kilns
Sydney Park Brick Kilns and Chimney
The Old Brick Kilns and Chimney
Sydney Park Brick Kilns Chimneys
Old Brick Works Chimneys
Old Machinery Near the Brick Kilns
Old Machinery Near the Brick Kilns

Wetlands

Several creeks flow through the park, which along with the City of Sydney’s water reuse program creates lovely wetlands. Bridges, viewing platforms and meandering paths allow visitors to admire the wetlands as they walk through the park. Keep an eye out for birds, because the wetlands attracts many of them here.

Wetlands
Wetlands Area
Sydney Park Brick Kilns and Chimneys
The Old Brick Kilns and Chimneys Behind the Wet Lands

What Did We Think?

We found the park to be a great place to enjoy a walk through the landscaped gardens, which provide great photo opportunities. The heritage listed brickworks were interesting to see. Access from St Peter’s station made getting there easy from central Sydney, which we appreciated.

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