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Tag: Cooranbong

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Sanitarium Building Cooranbong

The Sanitarium Building

Sanitarium Building Cooranbong

Located on the banks of Dora Creek Cooranbong, the Industrial Art Deco style Sanitarium building is an interesting addition to a visit to the area. The nearby Swinging Bridge was built to enable workers to cross Dora Creek to get to work. This was the main reason we visited, but took time to look at the old factory and nearby Avondale University.

Visiting on a weekend, the carparks were mostly empty, so parking wasn’t an issue. There is a Visitors Carpark, so we parked there before walking around the buildings. If you walked from the Swinging Bridge, you will walk along a palm lined walk and cycleway that used to be the entrance workers to the factory. On a wet morning, it was very atmospheric walking along the path.

Although no longer in use, the factory represents the history of the Sanitarium company and its contribution to healthy foods. Sanitarium was founded by and it wholly owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church which runs the adjacent University.

Palm lined walkway to the factory
Palm lined walkway to the factory
The Sanitarium Building
The Sanitarium Building
Old North NSW Schools Office
Old North NSW Schools Office

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

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The Swinging Bridge Cooranbong

The Swinging Bridge Cooranbong

The Swinging Bridge Cooranbong

Originally built in 1934 to allow access for workers to the nearby Sanitarium factory, the Swinging Bridge replaced rowing or swimming as the means to get to work. Crossing Dora Creek at Cooranbong the bridge can be tricky to find because it is located behind residential houses. We parked in Victory Street and walked down the public access track between Nos. 19 and 29. Once behind the houses the bridge is in front of you.

Crossing the bridge is fun as it bounces slightly as you walk. On the far side of Dora Creek, the old private access road to the Sanitarium Factory leads along the creek. Lined with palm and flowering trees, the old road looks great, especially as the trees were in bloom.

The Swinging Bridge Cooranbong
Looking Over The Swinging Bridge over Dora Creek
The Swinging Bridge Cooranbong
The Swinging Bridge over Dora Creek
Pathway after leaving the bridge The Swinging Bridge Cooranbong
Old Private Road to the factory

Following the creek, we saw palm trees lining the far bank which was unexpected. The creek passes the old factory which has been closed and changed hands. Visible through the surrounding fence, the old entrance would be nice to see up close. We made do with looking over the fence, because access is not allowed.

Palms on the bank of Dora Creek
Palms on the bank of Dora Creek
The Old Sanitarium Factory
The Old Sanitarium Factory

Sandy Creek Trail

Returning to the bridge, we decided to walk the Sandy Creek Trail, because it follows two creeks and goes through regrowth woodland. A sign showed other walks in the area, but this one held more interest for us. This walk is in yellow on the photo below. The well-maintained track follows Jigadee Creek until it meets Dora Creek. At this point the M1 Motorway from Sydney to Newcastle crosses the creeks several hundred meters down Dora Creek.

The track then follows Dora Creek back to the swinging bridge, where we crossed the creek and returned to our car.

Bush Track
Bush Track
Dora Creek Looking at the M1 Motorway
Dora Creek Looking at the M1 Motorway
Map of the Tracks around Avondale
Map of the Tracks around Avondale

What Did We Think?

This was a great little walk, with some industrial heritage as well as the bridge and bush walking.