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Tag: museum

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Dubbo New South Wales Australia

White Rhinoceros

Dubbo New South Wales

Located in the central west of New South Wales, Dubbo was our first main stop during our road trip. A five hour car trip from Sydney, or a three and a half hour trip from our home in Singleton, stops along the way are needed. The first European settlement was established in 1828, but aboriginal history dates back over 40,000 years.

With so many attractions to visit in the area, we planned a two day stay here, to see as much as we could, without rushing.

Attractions

Dubbo Visitors Information Centre

Our first visit was the Visitors Information Centre, so that we could get a map of a street walk of historical buildings in town. Only available here, it was also a good chance to see if anything else was happening in town, that had not been mentioned online.

Outside the visitor centre is an information board detailing the dwarf planet Pluto. This forms part of a giant solar system model, centred on the Siding Springs Observatory in Coonabarabran. We passed the position of Neptune at Dunedoo.

Outside the centre is a medicinal garden growing plats that the Wiradjuri People used. An information board describes the uses of the plants.

  • Pluto Information Board
    Pluto Information Board
  • Medicinal Garden
    Medicinal Garden

Town Centre

Following the Dubbo Heritage Trail, we got from the Visitor Information Centre, we found some nice old buildings spread through the centre of town. With 37 buildings and locations, there is a lot to see, but we decided to only find ones that interested us.

Of interest was the old post office, which was designed by the famous architect James Barnet. Another great building was the Old Bank, which is now a pub and restaurant, where we had dinner.

  • Dubbo Courthouse
    Dubbo Courthouse
  • Colonial Mutual Building Dubbo
    Colonial Mutual Building
  • Old Dubbo Post Office
    Old Dubbo Post Office
  • Westpac Bank Building Dubbo
    Westpac Bank Building
  • St Brigid's Catholic Church Dubbo
    St Brigid’s Catholic Church
  • Catholic Presbytery St Brigid's Dubbo
    Catholic Presbytery St Brigid’s

Street Art

Spread all over town, is a variety of street art and sculptures. We noticed them while driving around, but were not aware how many there were.

  • Aboriginal Street Art on the Overpass Near the Visitor Information Centre
    Aboriginal Street Art on the Overpass Near the Visitor Information Centre
  • Aboriginal Street Art on the Overpass Near the Visitor Information Centre
    More Aboriginal Street Art on the Overpass Near the Visitor Information Centre
  • Aboriginal Street Art on the Overpass Near the Visitor Information Centre
    Aboriginal Street Art on the Overpass Near the Visitor Information Centre
  • Cockatoo Art Work at the Visitor Information Centre
    Cockatoo Art Work at the Visitor Information Centre
  • Aboriginal Street Art in the city centre
    Aboriginal Street Art in the city centre
  • Statue of William Ferguson, a Champion of Aboriginal Rights
    Statue of William Ferguson, a Champion of Aboriginal Rights
  • Sheep Silhouettes in the City Centre
    Sheep Silhouettes in the City Centre
  • Rhino Statue at the Entrance to the Airport
    Rhino Statue at the Entrance to the Airport

Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is the most popular tourist attraction in the Dubbo area because of its collection of endangered animals in an open range setting. To view all of the exhibits, we spent a full day at the zoo, walking between enclosures. Your entrance ticket is valid over two days, so you can return the next day if you want to see more. To read our full blog about our visit, click on the link above.

Black Rhinoceros Dubbo
Black Rhinoceros

Old Dubbo Gaol

Old Dubbo Gaol is one of the locations on the heritage trail and is a popular attraction for many tourists. Maintained in excellent condition and easy to access from the centre of town, it’s a fun place to visit and learn about the gaol’s past. The buildings are all close together, so a visit here only took us an hour. The blog of our visit can be found here.

Male Prison Building at Old Dubbo Gaol
Male Prison Building

Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden

If you like Japanese gardens, you will love this one. Rated one of the best in Australia, the Shoyoen garden is beautiful to walk around and very relaxing. The other section of the Regional Botanic Garden display’s local flora, so if you want to see some without bushwalking, this is a great place to visit. Our full blog can be found here.

Dubbo Japanese Gardens Dubbo
Japanese Gardens

Old Bank

The Old Bank Restaurant and Bar is, as the name suggests a converted bank. Bookings are essential, as we were lucky to get a table when we arrived. To read our blog on the Old Bank, click here.

Main Meal Lamb Rump
Main Meal Lamb Rump

Western Plains Cultural Centre

The Western Plains Cultural Centre is a combined museum and art gallery, showcasing local talent and history. From high school students’ art, international artists, aboriginal artefacts, and old horse drawn carriages, there is something here for everyone.

Dubbo Wilkins Kennedy and Spence Coach Builders Buggy Dubbo
Wilkins Kennedy and Spence Coach Builders Buggy

Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre

The RFDS Visitor Centre is a new, state of the art museum which details the RFDS history. Not only does it have old equipment and two aircraft on display but uses large screens and interactive video to tell its story. We enjoyed our visit and spent longer than we had originally anticipated because it had so much to offer.

Dubbo de Havilland Fox Moth VH-UQM Replica
de Havilland Fox Moth VH-UQM Replica

War Memorials

As with most towns across Australia, a war memorial commemorates those who were killed fighting for their country. Dubbo is no exception, but’s its Shrine of Remembrance is huge and surrounded by several other memorials. One of these is in memory of a local pilot who earned the Victoria Cross flying a bomber during World War Two. Although he was killed, he saved the lives of five others onboard, while flying the plane home despite being severely wounded.

  • Shrine of Remembrance
    Shrine of Remembrance
  • Memorial to Pilot Officer Rawdon Hume Middleton, who was awarded the Victoria Cross (V.C.) in World War Two.
    Memorial to Pilot Officer Rawdon Hume Middleton, who was awarded the Victoria Cross (V.C.) in World War Two.

Macquarie River and Emile Serisier Bridge

Located near the Visitor Centre, the Emile Serisier Bridge caught our attention because of its solid steel work construction. It spans the Macquarie River, so while looking at the bridge, we had a look at the river too.

A better view is available on the opposite side of the river, where you can walk under the structure.

  • Rail Bridge Over the Macquarie River
    Rail Bridge Over the Macquarie River
  • Rail Bridge Over the Macquarie River
    Rail Bridge Over the Macquarie River
  • The Macquarie River
    The Macquarie River

Dubbo Observatory

We booked tickets ahead if time for the observatory, opting for the 10:30PM to 12:30AM visit. This allows visitors to use their own cameras on the telescopes to take photos. Unfortunately, the sky was cloudy so our session was cancelled(with a full refund), so next time we are in Dubbo we will try again.

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

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

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Old Dubbo Gaol

Infirmary Building

Old Dubbo Gaol

Located in the centre of the Dubbo CBD, Old Dubbo Gaol which operated from 1847 to 1966 is now a tourist attraction. As it is heritage listed , it is one of the more popular places to visit in Dubbo.

Not only are the buildings preserved in excellent condition, but displays and information boards give an insight into the gaols operations and how prisoners were treated.

  • Entrance to Dubbo Gaol
    Entrance to Old Dubbo Gaol
  • Controller General's Office Plaque
    Controller General’s Office Plaque
  • Buildings inside the Prison Complex
    Buildings inside the Prison Complex

Male Prison

The section of the gaol used to house male prisoners is the first building you see on entering. A long dark corridor with heavy metal doors along the walls greets you as you walk through the main door.

Looking through the doors reveals how spartan the cells were, containing only a basic bed and little else. Several cells contain displays of manacles restraints used on the prisoners. Others display manikins dressed as inmates, with explanations of their crimes.

  • Male Prison Building at Old Dubbo Gaol
    Male Prison Building
  • Gaol Cell
    Gaol Cell
  • Male Prison Building Interior at Old Dubbo Gaol
    Male Prison Building Interior

Female Prison

A section used for female prisoners located at the rear of the gaol, shows that their conditions were no better than the men. Concrete floors and wooden beds were all that furnished the rooms.

  • Women's' Cell
    Women’s’ Cell
  • Women's Exercise Yard at
    Women’s Exercise Yard at

Watchtower Overlooking Old Dubbo Gaol

The watch tower, located near the female prisoners’ cells, can be accessed via a modern stairway. The short climb is worth it because you get great views over this part of the gaol. An audio recording plays inside the tower explaining its use to visitors.

  • View From the Watchtower
    View From the Watchtower
  • Watchtower
    Watchtower

Washing Area

The area where prisoners washed and did laundry now contains an exhibit of prisoner information forms. Printed on bed sheets and laid out as drying laundry they give a great insight into the people imprisoned here.

  • Prisoner Information Sheets
    Prisoner Information Sheets

Infirmary

Condon’s at the infirmary were better than the general prison, with wooden floors and better beds, but still primitive. Built from sandstone blocks like several other buildings at the prison, the infirmary is a very solid building.

  • Infirmary Building
    Infirmary Building
  • The Infirmary at Old Dubbo Gaol
    The Infirmary

Gallows

Standing near the exercise yard, the gallows remind you that prisoners were executed here. Interesting to look at but a grisly reminder of the past.

  • The Gallows
    The Gallows

What Did We Think of Old Dubbo Gaol?

As one of Dubbo’s main tourist attractions, this is a must see for visitors. We found it a fun place to visit, mainly for the history. Situated in the middle of town it is easy to get to, making it an easy place to see. Whilst we were there maintenance going on at the end of the female prison, so this little part was out of bounds.

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

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Western Plains Cultural Centre

Wool Wagon at Western Plains Cultural Centre

Western Plains Cultural Centre

Located on Wingewarra Street Dubbo the Western Plains Cultural Centre has an excellent collection of local historical displays and art. During our visit the local final year students had their artwork on display, which was great to see. The museum section displayed a large range of items, which provided a feeling for the rich history of the region.

2020 HSC Works From the Dubbo Region

Exhibited as “Meet the Mark”, this display featured artists from the Wellington and Dubbo senior students. Produced for their HSC, these works highlighted the young talent in the area.

  • Pride Power Ambush by Rashmi Perera 2020 St John's College
    Pride Power Ambush by Rashmi Perera 2020 St John’s College
  • Tethered by Jailyn Webb 2020 Dubbo Campus Senior Campus
    Tethered by Jailyn Webb 2020 St John’s College
  • Still Life With Assimilation by Felicity Jeresano 2020 St John's College
    Still Life With Assimilation by Felicity Jeresano 2020 St John’s College

Dubbo History

The centre’s permanent exhibition is titled “People, Places, Possessions” because it focuses on the agricultural landscape and people of the area. The original inhabitants of the region, the Thubbagah people commence the story, followed by pastoral settlement.

A large section was devoted to agricultural history, including the introduction of the first portable steam engine. Face goggles from World War Two and a uniform from the 1885 Sudan war illustrated Dubbo’s link to the military.

A classroom from the time before digital electronics was great, because it brought back memories for us. How classrooms used to operate would amaze current students.

  • Artefacts of the Thubbagah People of the Dubbo Area
    Artefacts of the Thubbagah People of the Dubbo Area
  • Wool Wagon at Western Plains Cultural Centre
    Wool Wagon at Western Plains Cultural Centre
  • Davey Paxman 16943 Portable Steam Engine from the Dubbo Sawmill
    Davey Paxman 16943 Portable Steam Engine from the Dubbo Sawmill
  • Wilkins Kennedy and Spence Coach Builders Buggy
    Wilkins Kennedy and Spence Coach Builders Buggy
  • Farm Tools
    Farm Tools
  • Sudan Volunteer's Uniform From the 1885 Conflict
    Sudan Volunteer’s Uniform From the 1885 Conflict
  • A Camera in the Western Plains Cultural Centre
    A Camera in the Western Plains Cultural Centre
  • Old Classroom Western Plains Cultural Centre
    Old Classroom

What Did We Think

This was a fun place to visit, especially the local museum displays. These gave a greater understanding of the history of the area, going back to aboriginal times. The display of high school students’ works was a great added bonus but we enjoyed all of the art on display.

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