DID YOU KNOW THAT …? NARRABRI CREEK ROUTE ~NARRABRI HISTORICAL WALKING TOURS~

…The site for Narrabri originally recommended by the 1 - Tourist Information Centre government surveyor in 1859 was at Deep Creek, about 8 2 - Major Mitchell Plaque kilometres to the south-east. “It is higher ground, has better 3 - The Crossing Theatre NARRABRI HISTORICAL – CREEK WALK From here you can turn left (go back under the bridge to drainage, better soil, better water and better facilities for T M 4 - The Racey avoid the highway) to return to the Tourist Information Centre building”. Local landholder, Patrick Quinn, however, had 5 - Sports Fields (450m) OR turn right and continue with the Creek Walk other ideas and prevailed, with the same surveyor sent up 0 200 400 TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE - Tourism was (another 2.2 km). from to mark out a town on the present site. 6 - Collins Park recognised as a viable industry for Narrabri at a meeting 7 - The Palms 400 in 1975. A Tourism Centre was proposed in 1982. The OLYMPIC SWIMMING POOL - Although residents were …Narrabri Creek is an ana-branch of the , metres 2 - Major Mitchell Plaque NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE AND LIBRARY - The 8 - Cricket Sight Boards present office, built of cypress pine from the , convinced of the need to construct a town swimming facility rejoining the river about 10 kilometres downstream of the E 3 - The Crossing Theatre E was opened in 1986. T 9 - Cade Memorial Gates refurbished Library was opened in 2007 together with the T as early as 1900, it was not until 1910 that a swimming s EE M Creek Bridge. The river branch is normally dry and the creek R ST 4 - The Racey renovated Neighbourhood Centre. The site once housed EY 10 - Olympic Swimming Pool club was formed and Council gave permission for baths to carries all of the Namoi flow, except in floods when the old RN LA 5 - Sports Fields the Narrabri School of Arts (or Mechanic’s Institute), built KIL M be erected in the Creek at a site near Narrabri Creek Bridge. T 11 - River Walk MAJOR MITCHELL PLAQUE – Major Thomas Mitchell channel also runs. EE M TR 6 - Collins Park in 1880 and demolished in 1965. The current building A S It was male only as swimmers were segregated until around I D 12 - Creek Bridge was Narrabri’s first tourist (with the possible exception of T OY L LL H was opened in 1966 for Narrabri Municipal Council and A 7 - The Palms 1920 when mixed bathing was allowed. The ladies formed …Floods occur about every 10 years on average in Narrabri, T N escaped convict The Barber). After his expedition in 1832 I D 13 - Town Clock B B Council operated from these chambers until 1985 when S their own club in 1911 and settled for a sandy spot further with the longest period between floods in recorded history E T 8 - Cricket Sight Boards settlers quickly moved into the region. Young Andrew R R 14 - Australian Cotton Exhibition Centre E E E downstream to allow them some modicum of privacy. A they moved to their present amalgamated premises. being 14 years (twice). The most recent floods were in 1998 E H N Doyle and Patrick Quinn were among the first Europeans T 9 - Cade Memorial Gates A S new push for a formal swimming pool began in 1931 but it and 2000. The 1955 flood was the largest in living memory, T to take up runs in the district. This plaque was officially R 10 - Olympic Swimming Pool E wasn’t until much later that Mayor Athol Gleeson became TOWN HALL GARAGE – The building dates from the early followed by the 1971 flood. However, the floods of 1910 E unveiled during the 2005 New England & North West T M 3 T 11 - River Walk and 1864 are reputed to have been larger, and the 1841 flood EE the driving force behind the concept. At one time he staged 1920s and housed a machinery dealership and a motor vehicle TR Regional Historical Societies Conference. D S OY 12 - Creek Bridge LEGENDLEGENDLEGEND a highly successful Narrabri Ball at the Sydney Town Hall repair business and car dealership until the early 1990s. perhaps the granddaddy of them all. LL H LEGENDLEGENDLEGEND 2 13 - Town Clock to help raise funds. The pool was opened by Olympic gold Alongside was the Farmers’ Market building constructed by THE CROSSING THEATRE - The Theatre derives it name from …Fire has shaped Narrabri throughout its history. Apart from 1 AA - - Ambulance Ambulance medallist and world record breaker Lorraine Crapp in 1958 Mr.Thurlow in 1918. It was used to sell farm produce until H 14 - Australian Cotton ExhibitionAAA - - -AmbulanceCentreAmbulance Ambulance- Ambulance the old crossing place in the creek nearby. Built in 2002 at a the destruction of residences, major fires included: MM - -Motel Motel and was the training venue for local 1976 Olympian Nira the 1970’s MMM - -Motel Motel - Motel cost of $8 million, it was officially opened in November 2002 14 HHHH - - -Hotel Hotel Hotel- Hotel Stove. 1897 – Block gutted from Club House Hotel to ANZ bank and has become the premier entertainment venue for North FFF -F - -Fire Fire Fire - Fire Station Station Station Station AMBULANCE STATION - Although residents were aware FFF - - -Fire Fire Fire Station Station Station Western NSW. 1906 – 17 buildings in Maitland Street destroyed A POPOPO - - -Post Post- Post- Post Post Office Office Office Office Office of the need for an ambulance service as far back as 1920, it H Continue past the Big Sky Caravan Park and turn right over 1911 – 12 business houses in Narrabri West PTPTPT - - -Public Public Public- Public Toilets Toilets Toilets Toilets the Violet Street low level bridge, built as a bypass until was not until around 1939 that an ambulance vehicle was ET THE RACEY - The Racey refers to an expanse of water in the RE F GOGO - -Government Government Offices Offices LEITCH ST GOGO - -Government Government Offices Offices purchased and Mr. H. J. Sims was appointed Superintendent. 4 LE creek behind the Crossing Theatre, so named because race completion of the new Creek bridge in 1977. Turn right 1912 – Several buildings at southern end of Maitland St OVAL OY D  horses were once exercised there. Further upstream was after the bridge for a pleasant stroll back along the river bank The original (1941) building on the corner of Balonne and 1917 – Maitland Street from Post Office to Westpac Fitzroy Streets is still standing as a private residence. The  used as a swimming area, particularly by children, before the and under the Creek Bridge to Cameron Park, named after present station was opened in 1953. 1924 – Foxes, now Narrabri Arcade 13 Olympic Pool was opened in 1958. the Cameron family who donated the land. The parklands 1942 – Foxes, now Narrabri Arcade NARRABRI upstream of the bridge are a designated off-leash area for HOGAN SPORTS FIELDS - Continue along the Narrabri Creek bank dogs. The popular Gypsy Willow Markets are held here on TOURIST HOTEL - As Thurlow’s Victoria Hotel (dating 1972 – Sheds and 7600 bales of cotton, Narrabri West OVAL 5555 12 behind the Leitch and Hogan Ovals. Look across the Creek the first Saturday of each Month. This area of the creek is a from 1859), this structure was one of the most important in 1994 – Narrabri Arcade gutted (again). HISTORICAL and you can see Narrabri Hospital. Continue under the Creek popular fishing spot for Golden Perch and Murray Cod. Narrabri. When Premier Sir John See came to Narrabri in T EE TR Bridge. …Narrabri was judged Australia’s most sporting district, in a T S 1903 he and his party stayed at the Victoria. The hotel was RS WALKS U WH Take the downstream footpath back over the Creek Bridge pulled down and the present art deco Tourist Hotel opened competition run by television’s Channel 9 in 2001. At least 110 7 DE COLLINS PARK – Named after Charles Collins, the and turn left into Tibbereena Street, past the Hogan and Leitch AD in October 1938. Australian representatives were either born in RO 6 8 A Ovals once again. OM inaugural Mayor of Narrabri. The Collins family owned a or started their sporting career here, including Chris Latham, CO H Kangaroo & Emu Shop - Built for Charlie Shearer as ‘The Michael Brial, Scott Gourley (Rugby), Steve Elkington (golf),  department store from 1872 on the site of the present Coles Caledonian Fruit and Sweetie Shop’ and opened for business in 12 supermarket in Maitland Street. Collins Park in previous TOWN HALL CLOCK TOWER – Narrabri and District Jason Stoltenberg (tennis), and Don Bradman (just kidding). COLLINS 9 1928. After Charlie’s death the shop came into the possession 11 PARK years was popular for greyhound racing and cycling. Soldiers’ Memorial, with the names of soldiers killed in of Mr. Gordon Perkins. Since then it has had other owners GO the 1914-19 War. The clock was relocated and erected by Rotary. including Leculier’s Fruit and Vegetable Shop and Craddock’s OLD THE PALMS – Turn left up the avenue of palms, the origins of ET RE GAOL Butcher’s Shop. The shop front is now incorporated into the ST MUSEUM which are obscure. EN 10 OW COURT façade of the new Coles store. B HOUSE AUSTRALIAN COTTON EXHIBITION CENTRE - Officially H SWIMMING CRICKET SIGHT BOARDS – These sight boards originally opened in 2002 by Federal member for Gwydir, the Hon. POOL POLICE COLES – Charles Collins built the Victoria Store on this STATION graced the hallowed Sydney Cricket Ground where they John Anderson, the centre houses an educational display that site in 1872. The store was rebuilt for AE Collins Pty Ltd were repositioned between overs by two attendants. One covers the cotton industry from field to fabric. Learn about in 1918 and continued until taken over by Permewan’s in fell asleep during a test match and had to be woken by modern pest management techniques, water use, efficiency esss M 1967. The store was demolished in 2007 and the present esss ET the bowler. The sight boards were moved to their present and environmental impacts. The centre includes an excellent RE ST 11 N location in 1990. gift shop. structure was built for Macquarie CountryWide Trust. ISO EN COUNCIL D CHAMBERS

 M A KEY: COMMERCIAL HOTEL - Narrabri’s second hotel was built on I T CADE MEMORIAL GATES - were erected in 1933 by the L A this site in 1861 for George Lewis and was known as Lewis’ T N I B D citizens in memory of the much loved Dr. FJR Cade. The Sites with an existing plaque B S E T Inn. Henry Pratt took over the hotel in 1874 and renamed R R NARRABRI E adjacent ticket office was built in 1928 and moved to its E E E it The Commercial. The Wall family owned the hotel from N T A present site in 1939. Sites with an Historical Walk plaque S about 1890 until 1910 and built the current hotel in that T R 11 E period. E HISTORICAL T

TOURIST OFFICE - Complete your walk of Narrabri 11 Township by returning along Lloyd Street to the Tourist WALKS Office. NARRABRI HISTORICAL - TOWN WALK MAX’S SPARES - Site of the first hotel in Narrabri, The HISTORICAL WALK ROUTE COURT HOUSE – Designed in the office of Colonial Greyhound Inn. Johnny McNamara (the Made-to-Measure Architect, James Barnet and built in 1888 to replace the Suit King) operated from the old hotel lounge from 1926 1 - Tourist Information Centre 11 - Max’s Spares TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE – starting point for original Court House which was becoming inadequate for and Tarngar & Son operated a grocery business from the 2 - Centrepoint 12 - Strand Theatre both the Creek Walk and Historical Walk. Walk up Lloyd the growing needs. At least half a dozen sheep and cattle corner premises from 1934 until 1974. 3 - Caledonian Hotel 13 - Road & Traffic Authority Street and turn right into Maitland Street. steelers were reported dealt with each court day. Alterations 4 - Watsons Kitchen 14 - Bell & Johnson in 1910 added two jury rooms and jury yards. A further 5 - Krohns Shoe Store 15 - Namoi Hotel room was added for the Crown Prosecutor in 1962. CENTREPOINT - This building once housed the former Namoi STRAND THEATRE - The original building constructed in 6 - Old Wool Store 16 - Lodge Namoi NARRABRI ARCADE - Originally thee site of BarrBarryy & Stafford’s County Council. After amalgamation and the formation of 1915 was destroyed by fire and a ‘new’ theatre opened in 7 - ANZ Bank 17 - Faulkners Cordial Factory department store and later known as Foxe’s. Converted to the NorthPower (now Country Energy) the building was sold and 1921. After rebuilding in 1937, an outdoor theatre, The 8 - Barrakets 18 - NSC Chambers CLERK OF PETTY SESSIONS - Built in 1865, to plans drawn Narrabri Arcade in 1974, it was destroyed by fire in 1994 and now houses several businesses. Savoy, was added on the southern side in 1938-39 for 0 200 400 9 - Telegraph Hotel 19 - Old Police Residence up by Colonial Architect, James Barnet, as the original Court rebuilt. Fire had previously destroyed buildings on this site summer time use. The theatre closed in 1972. 10 - Club House Hotel 20 - Court House House. The old Court House is still in use today and is in 1924 and 1942. CALEDONIAN HOTEL - The original hotel was destroyed in 200metres 400 HISTORICAL21 - Clerk of Petty Sessions WALK protected under a heritage listing as part of the Court House the fire on 20th April 1906. The owner, Mrs. Catherine Turner, ROADS AND TRAFFIC AUTHORITY - Originally the 22 - Old Gaol complex. COMMONWEALTH BANK - Formerly the Government carried on her business in the burnt out shell until she could premises of chemist, Mr. Fuss, who, in 1870, operated from 1 - Tourist23 - Boys Information Club Centre 11 - Savings Bank that operated out of Stirton’s building (now rebuild. etres 24 - Gallipoli House OLD GAOL – Designed and built in the 1880s by Colonial Krohn’s) for several years before moving to the present site a slab walled building. Many other businesses operated out T EE 2 - Centrepoint 12 - TR M 25 - RW & JA Young Architect, James Barnet, the old gaol housed convicted around 1912. The building was destroyed by the fire of of the site until the building was damaged by fire in 1928. Y S NE B 3 - Caledonian Hotel 13 - WATSON’S KITCHEN - The last of Narrabri’s bakeries, this R A 26 - Courier Building A R persons from September 1882 and continued until 1917 and re-erected. This building has been extensively The premises had the first open-air tennis court equipped ILL business has long been in the Miller family and has been K W 4 - Watsons27 - Tattersalls Kitchen Hotel 14 - A September 1982. After much debate the old gaol became modernised over the years.. with lighting for night games. Dancing and skating followed N renovated to include a coffee lounge upstairs (where old M S 5 - Krohns28 - Chans Shoe Restaurant Store 15 - A T a Heritage Centre. The Narrabri Historical Society now along with mini golf before the premises were converted to I R T E photos of Narrabri adorn the walls) and a self serve section in L 29 - Narrabri Arcade T A E 6 - Old Wool Store 16 - houses its collection in the old gaol section and opened WESTPAC BANK – Occupied by the former Bank of New an open-air theatre, The Roxy. The theatre, owned by Athol I N T B Tibbereena Street. B D ET 30 - Commonwealth Bank E E Narrabri’s Museum to the public in 1988. South Wales, this building was severely damaged in the S TR 7 - ANZ Bank 17 - Gleeson, operated into the 1960’s and was demolished in R T S E T D 31 - Westpac Bank R EE Y E E TR LO 8 - Barrakets 18 - disastrous fire of 1917, which destroyed all the buildings 1969 to make way for the RTA which opened in 1972. N S L E ST 32 - Finn’s Pharmacy KROHN’S SHOE STORE – A family home was first A T UR in the block down to the Post Office. The bank was S 9 - Telegraph Hotel 19 - BOYS CLUB - Formed in 1958, the Narrabri Police-Citizens T M 33 - Post Office constructed on this block in 1875 by Mr. Theodore Morath, R reconstructed in 1918. CROSSING E Boys club purchased the building constructed in 1936 for the BELL & JOHNSON – Originally the Commercial Banking THEATRE E 10 -34 Club - Fire House Station Hotel 20 - who shortly thereafter leased all or part of the building to T Company of Sydney. Moved to this present site in 1884, M.U.I.O.O.F. Lodge, a benevolent society once prominent in the ANZ Bank. The building was destroyed in the great 44 35 - Town Hall Car Park 21 - which was the original site of Narrabri’s first blacksmith’s 2 36 - War Memorial Narrabri. The building had numerous uses before the Boys FINN’S PHARMACY – Built in 1887, it now houses the fire of 1905 and replaced by a two story structure in 1907, 1 22 - shop. The first building was erected in 1876 on the site 37 - Narrabri Public School Club took possession. Dentist’s Surgery and Barnes Jewellery Store. The building built for stock and station agent Mr TA Stirton. The building 3 23 - opposite, where the On Lee Restaurant now stands. The AUSTRALIAN 38 - Neighbourhood Centre & Library was once occupied by E. E. Ford, the chemist who produced also housed the Government Savings Bank and Narrabri COTTON ET T RE E 24 - National Bank combined with the Commercial Bank and CENTRE ST RE 39 - Town Hall Garage GALLIPOLI HOUSE - The Namoi Steam Flour Mill ‘Ford’s Famous Pills’ (not to be confused with Ford Pills). 43 EN ST Pastures Protection Board until bought by Mr W Krohn for a OW LE operated from this building until 1993. 23 AB OY 40 - Ambulance Station 25 - was constructed in 1881 on this site. Later it worked in shoe store in 1912. The building was burnt down in 1923 2442 39 D 40 36 38 41 - Tourist Hotel 26 - conjunction with the adjacent Namoi Steam Saw Mill. It POST OFFICE - Built by contractor Mr. T Avery and opened and replaced by the current building in 1924. Krohns is 4 4122 34 35 42 - Kangaroo & Emu Shop 27 - was purchased in 1899 by, A.R. Stafford who generated in 1879. In 1888, four arches were added. Repairs were the only building in Maitland Street to retain its original NAMOI HOTEL – The Phoenix Hotel was built on this site for LEITCH 51 OVAL F 43 - Coles Supermarket electricity from the mill and supplied electricity for many carried out following the cyclone in 1900, one room verandahs. the Arndell family in the mid-1880s and replaced in 1914 by 6 20 33 37 28 - PO 44 - Commercial Hotel 7 ET years to his business interests. The flour mill moved in being added for telephone equipment. Complaints of the present hotel, built for the Lloyd family. Mary Lloyd was RE 29 - 8 ST 1912. It was once the RSL Club, hence the name ‘Gallipoli overcrowding led to extra rooms being added in 1910. In an early licensee. It now operates as a hotel, with motel units 9 30 - OLD WOOL STORE – The building is thought to predate added in the 1970s. 32 House’. 1916 two more arches were added and the entrance rebuilt T 31 - EE 1900 and has a long history as wool and hides store. Among HOGAN TR in 1955. T S OVAL RS 32 - the many rolls of cow hides and sheep skins stacked to the 31 HU LODGE NAMOI – The foundation stone was laid in 1902 EW RW & JA YOUNG - Originally the site of Narrabri’s first ceiling in the 1940s were the crow and hawk heads and 30 D 33 - after Masonic Lodge No. 207 was established in 1892. department store erected for Adolf Goldman in 1861 and FIRE STATION - The Fire Station was opened in September pig snouts tired on wires up to the rafters. The place had 29 34 - 10 destroyed by fire 1885. From 1924 Central Motors operated 1921. However, the town boasted a Fire Station Officer, a smell of its own. The building has housed a Cafe, florist 35 - 28 from the new building. The first kerbside petrol pump in Mr. J. Kneeve, from 1918 when he arrived from Sydney and Hairdressers. FAULKNER’S CORDIAL FACTORY - Mr. Septimus Faulkner AD RO 11 36 - Headquarters with an 1888 cart-mounted ‘Tilly’ hand- A Narrabri was installed here in 1926 and was used until the purchased Narrabri’s oldest cordial factory situated between OM CO 37 - operated pump, which was pulled to each fire outbreak. Bowen and Dewhurst Street. In 1912 he moved the business 12 27 early 1970’s. ANZ BANK - The present offices replaced an earlier brick 38 - to this new building, specifically constructed with the floor ET structure, owned by the Bank of Australasia, which was the RE COLLINS ST 39 - TOWN HALL CAR PARK - Narrabri’s most imposing EN COURIER BUILDING – The North Western Courier arose above the 1910 flood level. The factory ceased to operate PARK 13 W only building in this section of Maitland Street to escape 23 BO building once stood upon this site. State Governor, Sir in 1980 and now houses Campbell’s businesses. GO 40 - from the amalgamation of the Narrabri Herald (first published destruction in the disastrous 1897 fire. 26 24 Robert Duff, opened the Town Hall in 1893 and it stood 25 41 - in 1873) and the Narrabri Age (1894). The Courier first 22 as a mark of Narrabri’s importance until 1971 when it was BARRAKETS – Simon Barraket, grandfather of the present NARRABRI SHIRE COUNCIL CHAMBERS – were completed 14 42 - appeared on 7th January 1913 and continues to this day 21 demolished under controversial circumstances. The site business owners, started a general business in Narrabri in in 1985 to accommodate the amalgamated Namoi Shire 43 - under the management of the Dunnet family, who bought it LEGEND 15 20 was turned into a car park in 1980. 1887 but sold out and went back to Lebanon in the early Council and Narrabri Municipal Council. The latter SWIMMING 44 - in 1920 and constructed this building in 1936. POOL 16 T A - Ambulance EE 1900s. Three of his sons returned to Australia in 1927 and amalgamated with Narrabri West Council in 1957. TR N S TATTERSALL’S HOTEL - Formerly Grand Central Hotel built M - Motel SO were hawkers throughout north-western NSW before opening NI WAR MEMORIAL - The plaque on the rock on the corner H - Hotel 17 DE in 1882 and rebuilt in 1913. The sills of this hotel are made the present business in Narrabri in 1933. 19 of Doyle and Barwan streets was erected by the Narrabri OLD POLICE RESIDENCE - This gracious old structure was F - Fire Station t Offices M from Narrabri’s W. M. Hardy’s patented ‘Terrazzo’. Another Garden Club in 1988, acknowledging the unveiling in completed in 1880 as the Police Sergeant’s residence and PO - Post Office B A example of Terrazzo can be seen at the Old Gaol Museum. TELEGRAPH HOTEL - At one time Narrabri boasted over 20 R 1920 of the Anzac Parade Trees, planted in memory of our later became the Lock Up Keeper’s residence. The building PT - Public Toilet W hotels. Now there are only five operating in the main section 18 A was restored in 1977 at a cost of $48,00048,000 GO - Government Offices N soldiers who fought in the 1914-18 War. S of town. The Telegraph was once owned by John Cody whose M T CHAN’S RESTAURANT - The original building on this site CARAVAN R A E PARK I T E was The Union Store, opened in 1869 and destroyed by fire granddaughter Ida Holliday was Narrabri’s oldest resident L T T A I B N NARRABRI PUBLIC SCHOOL – Public education in B in 1912. The Majestic Picture Theatre was built in 1916, when she died in 2003 at the age of 102. ABRI D E R S Narrabri started on this site in 1868. The front part of the E T then sold and removed in 1928. The site was then used R E NARRABRI E N E school dates back to 1884. A to stage outdoor rodeos and circuses before the present CLUB HOUSE HOTEL - Built in 1898, this building replaced T S T the earlier one destroyed by fire in 1897. The fire started in ICAL R structure was erected for the Rural Bank. The building was E Now a primary school, the school originally taught students HISTORICAL E T used as a bank from 1935 until 1998, after which it became the rear of the building and spread through Maitland Street through to end of Secondary School.. The old a Chinese restaurant. destroying 23 businesses, only sparing Bank of Australasia KS Station bell is mounted near the front gate. (now ANZ) building. WALKS