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- Sep 3, 2024, 11:01 AM
- ☀️ 13 °C
- Altitude: 1,017 ft
- AustraliaNew South WalesWellingtonApsley32°37’16” S 148°56’18” E
Orange
September 3 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
After Mudgee, the next stop on my circular road trip was the town of Orange, some 200km further on. Like Mudgee, Orange is on the traditional land of the Wiradjuri people who have inhabited NSW for at least 60,000 years.
On the way, I went through Wellington and pulled off the road on the spur of the moment to visit Wellington Caves. There is a whole system of caves in Wellington, the Cathedral Cave being the most impressive. However, there was a large school group at the caves, so the next public tour wasn't for a couple of hours and I couldn't wait that long. The caves are also the site of some fossil finds of global significance including the discovery of a number of megafauna bones and fossils. There was a good exhibition about this which included a huge interactive video wall showing what the megafauna looked like, and which moved as you moved your hands towards the wall. There was also a fossil trail which was distinctly underwhelming, so I continued my drive to Orange.
The modern town of Orange dates back to 1829 when the surveyor J.B. Richards indicated a village reserve on a plan in the parish of Orange, named after the Prince William of Orange and not the fruit. Initial occupation by graziers began in late 1829, and tiny settlements eventually turned into larger towns as properties came into connection with the road.
When significant finds were made nearby in the Australian gold rush of the 1850s, Orange became a central trading centre for the gold.
On first appearances, Orange appeared to be bigger and smarter than Mudgee, but with lots of similar colonial buildings, ranging from residential properties to hotels and large commercial buildings. I started exploring at the very modern visitor centre and museum, which turned out to be really good. There was also an excellent art gallery behind the museum which was free to enter.
I had picked up a leaflet in the visitor centre which led me on a historic walking trail 👣 so I did that. It not only pointed out the standard buildings, church, court house etc, but told stories behind them such as the street corner where the first NSW police officer was killed on duty when he was returning a coach held up in a notorious gold coach robbery. A pistol under the seat discharged as the coach rounded the corner, killing him instantly.
My favourite thing on the tour, however, was Orange's first "power pole" after electricity came to the town in 1923. I love quirky things like this. The town was quite charming, and the spring flowers like the cherry blossom which was out in bloom, also made it look pretty.Read more