Located in the Orana Region of New South Wales, Cobar was a 130km drive from our previous overnight stop in Nyngan. Established in 1870 to mine the rich copper ore discovered there, the town still relies on mining for its existence.
The huge Cobar sign is on of the first thing you see when arriving in town. A car park next to the sign allows easy access to take photos, as well as have a break and relax at the picnic tables in the area.
The Cobar Sign
Fort Bourke Lookout Peak Gold Mines
Only a three minute drive from town, the Fort Bourke Lookout at Peak Gold Mines provides an insight into the size of the local mining industry. The view looks over the old open cut mine, where you can see the entrance to the underground section at the bottom. We watched a truck drive down the decline until it entered the underground section.
Fort Bourke Lookout Over the New Cobar Mine Site
Truck Driving Down the Decline
Truck Entering the Underground Mine Site
Cobar Miners Heritage Park
Currently undergoing a major upgrade, the Miners Heritage Park was temporarily closed during our visit. Many of the exhibits are visible from the road, but you are not able to read any information boards about them. The upgraded site looks like it will be great, from what we could see.
Cobar Miners’ Heritage Park Being Refurbished
Statue at the Miners’ Heritage Park
Underground Loader
Stele Monument
Across the road from the Heritage Park, a stele commemorates Campbell, Hartman and Gibb, who discovered the copper deposit and established the town.
Stele Monument
Great Cobar Heritage Centre & Cobar Visitor Information Centre
Also closed for refurbishment during our trip was the Heritage Centre. Only the silhouettes of miners in the gardens were visible.
Miner Silhouette Outside the Tourist Information Centre
A Miner Silhouette Outside the Tourist Information Centre
Miner Silhouette Outside the Tourist Information Centre
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Located in the Orana Region of western New South Wales, Bourke is the edge of the Outback. To many Australian, the saying Back O’ Bourke means in the middle of nowhere.
Back O’ Bourke Gallery
Visitor Centre
Our first stop was the Back O’ Bourke Tourist Information Centre, so that we could find out if there was anything new in the area to see. The friendly staff told us about a local artist’s gallery, a display at the airport and a riverboat cruise. They also gave us a map of the local cemetery, which had graves of interest marked, which was very helpful.
Outside the main building, an excellent sculpture artwork, The Dance of the Echidnas combines aboriginal culture and local flora, to form a great display.
Back O’ Bourke Tourist Information
Dance of the Echidna’s
Dance of the Echidna’s
Bourke Airport
As suggested by the tourist visitor centre, we dropped into the local airport, where the terminal is named after famous Australian aviator Nancy Bird-Walton. Nancy Bird-Walton, was a pioneering Australian aviator, known as “The Angel of the Outback”, and the founder and patron of the Australian Women Pilots’ Association. In the 1930s, she became a fully qualified pilot at the age of 19 becoming the youngest Australian woman to gain a pilot’s licence.
In addition to information and photos on Nancy Bird Walton, the airport terminal shows the history of aviation at Bourke and how important it was to Australia’s development of aviation. Many air races and original air routes passed through Bourke, before flying became what it is today.
Nancy Bird-Walton
Nancy Bird-Walton
Aviation Heritage at the Bourke Airport
Nancy Bird-Walton
Aviation Heritage at the Bourke Airport
MV Janda Riverboat
Heavy rain in the previous month meant that the Darling River was rising. We were lucky to get on the last river cruise because of the river’s height. The amount of silt washed down stream due to flooding meant that the river was brown.
The peaceful and relaxing 90-minute trip took us passed river red gums and farm land before returning.
Jandra Riverboat
Darling River From the Jandra
Bourke Wharf
The wharf is a reconstruction of the original and is primarily a tourist attraction. However, it still shows how it operated, even as the river rose and fell seasonally, with multiple levels available to access the ships.
Wharf on the Darling River with lowest level submerged
Wharf on the Darling River
Crossley Engine
Sitting undercover near the wharf, the Crossley engine was donated by Bob Crawford and family from Narromine in 2001. Operated on weekdays for an hour by volunteers, and fully restored to working condition it is worth seeing.
Originally used from 1923 to 1938 in the Sydney Power House to generate electricity for Sydney it moved to the Allowrie Butter Factory in Coffs Harbour until 1949. It then went to a property in Narromine in 1949 to pump water for irrigation until 1964.
Crossley Engine
Crossley Engine
Historic Buildings
The centre of town has many lovely old buildings, which makes a walk through the main streets interesting, as you are constantly looking to see what is around.
Corner of Sturt and Oxley Streets The Old London Banking Company
Fitzgerald’s Post Office Hotel
Bourke Courthouse
Bourke Cemetery
Many people were visiting the cemetery when we arrived, mostly to see the grave of Fred Hollows. Fred was an ophthalmologist became known for his work in restoring eyesight for thousands of people in Australia and many other countries.
Our map from the Tourist Information Centre showed several other interesting graves. We found the most interesting to be the Afghan graves and associated mosque. Camels carried freight in the early days of colonial Australia, until replaced by trucks in the 1930s.
Fred Hollow’s Grave
Bourke Cemetery
What did We Think of Bourke?
We found Bourke to be a very relaxed town, easy to find your way around, with plenty to see and do.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Located on the corner of Bridge and William Streets in the School of Arts building, the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre houses a large collection of local national and international artists. The Muswellbrook School of Arts building is worth admiring because of its architectural beauty.
Entry to the centre is free and the friendly staff on the front counter will explain what is currently on display.
During our visit, we were lucky to have the 2019 Archibald Prize being displayed, which gave us an opportunity to admire that years winners. The Young Archies were also available for viewing, with artwork from young Australians on display.
Local artist Max Watters had several of his works on display, with the Centre holding many more of this art in storage. With the Archibald paintings taking up significant galley space, many pieces from the Centre’s collection were in temporary storage. This was a small price to pay however, to be able to see these other great paintings.
School of Arts
Tjuparntarri – Women’s Business by David Darcy
White Shells, Black Heart by Blak Douglas
Art and War by Anh Do
Through The Looking Glass the 2019 Archibald Packing Room Prize by Tessa MacKay
Part of the Max Watters Collection on Display
Part of the Max Watters Collection on Display
Upper Hunter Valley Sculpture Trail
Outside the Centre, is the ANZAC Centenary Stone, which forms the start of the Upper Hunter Valley Sculpture Trail. A sign next to the sculpture explains the trail and what is to be found at each location. See our post on the Sculpture Trail if you want to learn more about it.
Upper Hunter Valley Sculpture Trail Map
ANZAC Centenary Stone Outside the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre
What Did We Think?
With the bonus of seeing the Archibald Prize, we really enjoyed our visit. There was a great selection of local artists, that would only be better, when the gallery space taken up by the touring exhibition is available. The Arts Centre often has visiting exhibitions on display so check to see what’s on display before you visit.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
