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Tag: Bush Walk

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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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Wyrrabalong National Park

Fallen Trees on the Lilli Pilli Loop Track

Wyrrabalong National Park

Getting There and Parking

Located on the Central Coast Highway near Norah Head, Wyrrabalong National Park is an hours drive south of Newcastle. We parked in a small car park just past the Pelican Beach Road turn-off, which was small, but well maintained. Signs and an information board provide information about the park and its tacks.

  • Entrance Sign
    Entrance Sign

Lilli Pilli Loop Track

The day we visited was wet and overcast, but this added to the fun of the walk, making the trails very atmospheric. The Lilli Pilli Loop Trail meanders through coastal rain forest along narrow bush tracks. The tracks are often made of sand, but have been reinforced with wooden boards to prevent erosion of this fragile environment.

This is one of the few remaining intact areas of rainforest on the Central Coast, which makes it a very special place. An information board on the lake side of the track details the forest and its wildlife.

The damp conditions encouraged mushroom to grow on dead trees which let us see some beautiful ones as we walked by.

  • Typical Walking Track
    Typical Walking Track
  • Fallen Trees on the Lilli Pilli Loop Track
    Fallen Trees on the Lilli Pilli Loop Track
  • Lilli Pilli Track
    Lilli Pilli Track
  • Mushrooms Growing on a Fallen Log on the Lilli Pilli Track Wyrrabalong National Park
    Mushrooms Growing on a Fallen Log on the Lilli Pilli Track

Red Gum Loop Track

The Lilli Pilli Loop Track joins the Red Gum Loop, at this point you can either return to your car or continue on. We chose to walk the new track, because the vegetation changes to red gum forest, from the rainforest we had just walked through.

The path down to the track is steep, but reinforce with sturdy wooden sleepers, making it safe to walk down. This also prevents erosion of the sand dune, so is environmentally safe too.

The forest in this area is more open with less undergrowth, making views of Tuggerah Lake possible in places. Lookouts have been built in places where the views are best, but it was overcast during our visit, so the lake was not visible. On a clear day, the view would be great.

  • Steep Descent on the Track Reinforced With Wooden Sleepers Wyrrabalong National Park
    Steep Descent on the Track Reinforced With Wooden Sleepers
  • Lookout and Seat on the Red Gum Loop Track
    Lookout and Seat on the Red Gum Loop Track
  • Red Gum Loop Track
    Red Gum Loop Track
  • Red Gum Trees
    Red Gum Trees

What Did We Think of Wyrrabalong National Park?

Both of the loop tracks in the Wyrrabalong National Park were fun to do, because of the different vegetation. We were also pleased we did it while it was wet and damp, as this added to the fun and the environment we passed through.

  • Sign Post at the Intersection of the Tracks Wyrrabalong National Park
    Sign Post at the Intersection of the Tracks
  • Information Board Wyrrabalong National Park
    Information Board
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Strickland State Forest is Unique and Wonderful

Ferns and Palms on the Strickland Falls Trail

Strickland State Forest

Located on the Central Coast of NSW, less than an hour’s drive north of Sydney, south of Newcastle, or a 10-minute drive west of Gosford, Strickland State Forest is a great place to visit.

The forest is only five square kilometres but contains an impressive variety of flora and fauna species, along with extensive walking tracks. These wander through varying forest types, past waterfalls, under cabbage tree palms and along creeks.

The forest has excellent picnic facilities including an all-weather shelter, picnic tables and toilets.

Banksia Picnic Area

We parked at the Banksia Picnic Area, as it was close to the walk we wanted to do, as well as having toilets and picnic facilities. There is also an information board showing the walks available, which is great if you are not sure what you want to do. The walks are clearly sign posted and easy to follow.

Strickland Falls Trail

We chose the Strickland Falls Trail for this visit, because it passes through cool forest areas, full of ferns and passes a waterfall. The trail is well sign posted and generally easy to walk, although it does have steps in many places. The return trail was far easier and passed through tall eucalypts on the ridge.

Lower Trail

The trail towards the waterfall led downhill through a valley where we were surrounded by ferns and trees. On a hot day it felt nice a cool, making us appreciate it even more. The track varied from steps made of stones to flat dirt tracks. On most of the trail, we were surrounded by the plants and trees that the forest is famous for.

  • Start of the Strickland Falls Trail
    Start of the Strickland Falls Trail
  • Steps Going Uphill Strickland Falls Trail Strickland State Forest
    Steps Going Uphill
  • Strickland Falls Trail
    Strickland Falls Trail
  • Strickland Falls Trail Strickland Falls Trail
    Strickland Falls Trail
  • Ferns and Palms on the Strickland Falls Trail
    Ferns and Palms on the Strickland Falls Trail

Strickland Waterfall

The weather had been very dry prior to our visit, so the waterfall was little more than a trickle, but the surrounding area was wet and damp, giving it a wonderful atmosphere. Although we didn’t see the waterfall at its best, it was still a great place to stop and look around.

From here, the track leads up to the ridge and dry forest above.

  • Strickland Falls Strickland State Forest
    Strickland Falls
  • Ferns and Palms on the Strickland Falls Trail
    Ferns and Palms on the Strickland Falls Trail
  • Ferns and Palms on the Strickland Falls Trail Strickland State Forest
    Ferns and Palms on the Strickland Falls Trail

Upper Return Trail

The return trail starts with steps leading up from the waterfall, but once you have climbed to the top, most of the remaining track is flat. It passes through dry eucalypt forest, where you can also see Gymea lilies. These were in bloom when we went in spring, with their two to three metre flower stems and bright red flowers making a great display.

The return trail ends near the Banksia Picnic Area, which was near where we had parked.

  • The Return Track Strickland State Forest
    The Return Track
  • Gymea lily
    Gymea lily
  • Gymea lily
    Gymea lily

What Did We Think of the Strickland State Forest?

We loved the Strickland Falls Trail because it wandered through different forest types and was fun to walk. We will be going back to do some of the other walks in the future.