Western NSW

May 2025
  • Ross Bolden
Gulgong, Dubbo, Cobar, Broken Hill, Menindee Lakes, Mildura, Darlington Point, Forbes and Parkes Read more
  • Ross Bolden

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  • Working Linotype machines. Replaced by computers in the mid 1980's.Cobb & Co coachThe Old Pub bar in the Gulgong Pioneers MuseumSchool HouseAn Australian classic, the Victa lawnmowerThe oldest still operating Opera House in the Southern hemisphere since 1871.

    Historic Gulgong

    May 14 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    On Wiradjuri country, Gulgong, located in Central West New South Wales, is a historic gold rush town that played a significant role in the development of the state during the 19th century. Gulgong means "deep waterhole" in local language. Founded in the early 1870s after the discovery of gold, Gulgong quickly grew into a bustling settlement, attracting thousands of prospectors and fortune seekers.

    At its peak, Gulgong was one of the richest goldfields in NSW, and remnants of that era are still visible in its well-preserved 19th-century streetscapes and heritage buildings. The town is famously featured on the original Australian $10 note, showcasing its cultural significance.

    Today, Gulgong offers visitors a step back in time, with attractions like the Gulgong Pioneers Museum and the Henry Lawson Centre celebrating both its gold rush heritage and its connection to one of Australia’s most iconic poets. Gulgong remains a proud symbol of NSW’s pioneering past.
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  • Men's wing.
    Mobile gallowsOutdoor exercise yard. Females on the left, males on the right.Inside the exercise yard. Clearly the females did the laundry. Note the "copper" and washboards.Juvenile's exercise area. Scant privacy.In the Gaol hospital. Castor Oil and Bland Oil (with arsenic and strychnine)The Gaol Hospital kitchenHospital

    Old Dubbo Gaol

    May 16 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Dubbo Gaol operated as a correctional facility in rural New South Wales from 1847 to 1966. The prison was constructed to address overcrowding in regional lockups and initially consisted of wooden structures before being rebuilt with sandstone in the 1870s.

    The facility housed both male and female prisoners serving sentences for various offenses. Its design reflected the penal philosophy of the Victorian era, featuring cell blocks arranged around a central yard, guard towers, and high perimeter walls. The gaol saw 1,073 prisoners experience its harsh conditions.

    Today, Historic Dubbo Gaol functions as a museum and heritage site. Visitors can view restored buildings including cell blocks, the chapel, yards, and gallows. The site provides insight into Australian colonial justice and the social history of the region.

    Several preservation efforts since the 1970s have maintained the gaol's structural integrity while establishing it as a significant heritage destination within the Dubbo tourism landscape.
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  • Original facades of Dubbo Base Hospital. Robin was born here in 1960.
    We were surprised by the lack of a plaque commemorating Robin's birthplace.The new entrance to the Hospital.Dubbo railway station.Station Master's residence.War Memorial in Charles Park.Charles ParkRailway bridge over the Macquarie River.Open till 4am but a lockout from 12:30am 😂😂Level crossings abound in DubboLevel crossings abound in Dubbo

    Dubbo wanderings

    May 16 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Stopped in Dubbo, a regional centre in western New South Wales with a long history tied to the expansion of the state. Originally founded in the 1840s as a stock route crossing, Dubbo grew steadily as agriculture and transport pushed westward.

    The railway's arrival in the 1880s helped establish Dubbo as a key link between rural areas and the coast, a role it still plays today. The station is quiet now but carries a sense of that history. The modern base hospital underscores Dubbo’s ongoing role as a service hub for much of inland NSW. The original hospital was Robin's birthplace.

    It’s a town that balances past and present, without too much fuss.
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  • The iconic Big Bogan in Nyngan.
    Nyngan HotelTypical of the infrastructure required in a country town. Foxtel, Starling and terrestrial TV.Testament to Cobar's mining pastA long wide loadHeading towards sundown. Good to be off the road before madness hour.Local Red-rumped parrot

    Dubbo to Cobar via Nyngan

    May 17 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Left Dubbo in the morning and followed the Mitchell Highway west. Drove straight through Narromine and Trangie without stopping. Not much traffic, and the road was in good condition.

    Stopped for lunch in Nyngan. Had a quick look around—saw the Big Bogan and the old railway station, which has been turned into a small museum. Had lunch at the recently refurbished Nyngan Hotel. Quiet town but a decent rest stop .

    Arrived in Cobar mid-afternoon. Typical outback town with a mining history.

    A straightforward drive through flat country. Not much variety, but an easy run with a few small towns to break it up.
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  • Green along the roadside here.
    Red along the roadsideBridge at Wilcannia over the Darling River.WilcanniaLocal flooding, Up a few meters from normal.Wilcannia Post Office.Boarded entry to a derelict shop using local street signs.Former Petrol StationMain street of WilcanniaLeaving WilcanniaSunset in Broken Hill

    Cobar to Broken Hill via Wilcannia

    May 18 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    The road from Cobar to Broken Hill is long (~460km) and mostly straight and punctuated by a few small towns like Wilcannia and Noona. It felt like they threw in a curve every 50 to 80km just to see if you are paying attention.

    Cobar to Wilcannia is a 250km section that showcases the red earth of these parts. We saw thousands of goats (perhaps feral), 100 kangaroos (all dead), 50 sheep, a dozen Emu and a dead cow, all along the "long paddock".

    The Darling flows through Wilcannia and is currently at 9.4m with some localised flooding. You can see this in the photos.

    In 250km we overtook 2 vehicles and were overtaken by the same car twice and that's all the traffic in our direction. Was busier from Wilcannia.

    We had a provision shop at Woolworths in Broken Hill before heading to the BH Tourist Park. A very modern shop and well stocked.
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  • Homage to Priscilla Queen of the DesertThe dress that Guy Pearce wore in Priscilla queen of the DesertThe Palace HotelBroken Hill Town HallBroken Hill Post OfficeThe streets have mining related or scientific namesThe Broken Hill Pub (BHP)Formerly the Silver King Hotel, now a helth services building for the indigenous communityClever use of the UHF antennaThe Astra HotelThe former Duke of Cornwall Hotel (1888)

    Broken Hill wanderings along Argent St.

    May 19 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Argent Street showcases Broken Hill's rich mining history through its well-preserved buildings. The street features impressive structures from the late 1800s and early 1900s when silver mining brought wealth to this outback town.

    The Palace Hotel stands out with its decorative iron balconies and famous interior murals. It gained wide recognition after appearing in the film "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert."

    Other notable buildings include the sandstone Technical College, the post office with its prominent clock tower, and the grand Town Hall with classical design elements.

    What makes Argent Street special is that these buildings remain largely original rather than heavily restored. The street also features smaller commercial buildings with original shopfronts and decorative metal ceilings.
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  • Air CompressorUnderground loaderElectric mine trainPart of an ore trainOre loaderUnderground train carsCafe at the Line of Lode Miners MemorialLine of Lode Miners MemorialLine of Lode Miners MemorialLine of Lode Miners MemorialFrom the Line of Lode memorialIndian Pacific and a freight train in at Broken Hill StationUnderground mine headerKintore Headframe

    Broken Hill - Mining Town

    May 20 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    The Line of Lode Memorial stands prominently on a mullock heap overlooking Broken Hill. This rust-colored steel structure serves as both a lookout and a tribute to the more than 800 miners who lost their lives in the local mines since the 1880s.

    Inside, visitors find a wall inscribed with the names of these miners, providing a somber reminder of mining's dangers. The memorial offers panoramic views of Broken Hill and the surrounding outback landscape.

    The "Line of Lode" refers to the massive mineral deposit that runs through Broken Hill - one of the world's richest concentrations of silver, lead, and zinc. This geological feature transformed a remote outback location into a thriving mining center.

    Broken Hill's story began in 1883 when boundary rider Charles Rasp discovered what would become one of Australia's most significant mineral deposits. The town quickly developed into a major industrial center, producing over 10% of the world's lead by the early 1900s.

    The wealth generated by mining allowed Broken Hill to establish impressive civic buildings, theaters, and Australia's first public art gallery despite its remote location.

    Broken Hill also played a crucial role in Australia's labor movement. The Barrier Industrial Council formed here, and workers organized for better conditions in the dangerous mining industry. The town gave birth to BHP (Broken Hill Proprietary), now one of the world's largest mining companies.

    In 2015, Broken Hill became Australia's first nationally heritage-listed city. While mining continues on a smaller scale today, tourism has become increasingly important to the local economy.
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