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Nyngan Region Coolabah - Girilambone - - Nyngan

Nyngan to Adelaide 1104 km - 12 hours

Nyngan to Brisbane 950 km - 11 hours 15 min

Nyngan to Melbourne 932 km - 11 hours 10 min

Nyngan to 567km - 7 hours Phone Numbers to Remember EMERGENCY 000 Police Station (02) 6831 1399 Official Visitors Guide Nyngan Hospital (02) 6835 1700 NRMA 13 11 11 Bogan Shire Council (02) 6835 9000 What’s On in 2012? JANUARY 26 Day Celebrations - Davidson Park

MARCH 8 International Women’s Day 17 & 18 Cancer Council Relay For Life

18 - 25 Senior’s Week Activities 22 Senior’s Week Morning Tea & Concert

APRIL 13 - 22 Youth Week 6 - 8 Nyngan Easter Rugby League Challenge 8 Hermidale Gymkhana 25 Anzac Day March & Races MAY 13 & 14 Nyngan Show JUNE 4 - 10 Reminiscing Week

30 Duck Creek Picnic Races

JULY 7 & 8 State Showjumping Championships

AUGUST 4 Nyngan Ag Expo SEPTEMBER 9 Melbourne Cup Tour 14 - 16 St. Joseph’s Arts & Crafts Affair 22 Bogan Day Out OCTOBER TBA Coolabah Cancer Council Dance & Auction NOVEMBER 22 & 23 WSPA End of Year Concert DECEMBER 8 Nyngan Garden Club Christmas Carnival

TBA Nyngan Community Carols

TBA Nyngan Christmas Lights Competition The Macquarie Marshes Lots to See & Do……….

The Macquarie Marshes are an extensive wetland system on the Check out the Bell Iroquois Helicopter similar to those used in in Central NSW the evacuation of the townspeople in the April 1990 flood covering an area over 100 km long Learn all about sheep-shearing at the Mid-State Shearing Shed and up to 25 km wide. Enjoy a leisurely lunch in Phillip Dutton Gazebo. Davidson Park Visit the Historic Chinese Graves and Burner at the Cemetery Head to the pool for a cooling dip - 50m pool & children’s pool The Marshes are approximately Children love playing on the terrific equipment in O’Reilly Park 100 km NNW of Warren and 64 Visit the spectacular wetlands of the Macquarie Marshes kms north of Nyngan in the Take a walking tour to see our town’s historical buildings Warren Shire. Look up in amazement at the stars in the clear night sky

Turn back time - take a Cobb & Co Heritage Trail Tour Turn back time - take a Cobb & Co Heritage Trail Tour The majority of the Marsh System Visit the Cairn at the Geographical Centre of NSW is on private land except for the Take a leisurely bicycle ride around the town Macquarie Marshes Nature Pack a Picnic lunch & head to Rotary Park Reserve (an area of around Marvel at the colours in the sky at sunset 18,150 ha). Visit the Library - free internet access Wander through the Nyngan Museum Keep an eye out for local wildlife Fishing (catch that big one) The wetlands provide habitat for Enjoy the peace & quiet. many species of waterbirds and Bird watching other wildlife ( birds, mammals, Water- skiing frogs, reptiles native fish) and is Water- skiing one of the most important Lawn bowls breeding sites for the Intermediate Swimming Egret and Straw-Necked Ibis. Canoeing Boating Other bird species found in the Golf wetlands include: Black Swan, Magpie Geese, Blue-billed Duck, Freckled Duck, Australasian Bittern, Brolga, Painted Snipe , O s p r e y ,

Glossy Black Cockatoo,Turquoise Parrot, Square-tailed Kite and the Major Mitchell Cockatoo.

Local Wildlife History of Nyngan April 1990 Floods Keep your eye out for: The first recorded European visitor Record heavy rains in the catchment kangaroo to the region was Major Thomas of the Bogan saw floodwaters rise to emu alarming levels, threatening the Mitchell who led an expeditionary wallaby party that camped at the present town. Despite the best efforts of the echidna site of Nyngan on 10 May 1835. townspeople (they laid 260,000 brush tail possum sandbags), and an army of A plaque marking the volunteers, the levee was breached. fox spot where Major feral pig Thomas Mitchell By the morning of April 24, Nyngan feral goat camped is located in was under water and isolated in a rabbit Rotary Park. vast inland sea. hare Mitchell described With damage estimated at $50 blue tongue lizard & other species, the camping spot as a: „long pond million and all services to the town goanna with many birds, ducks and cut, it was decided to airlift almost snake and brolgas'. the entire population of Nyngan to bat. It was almost fifty years before the safety until the flood water receded construction of a railway line to and services could be restored. Just a few of the local inhabitants. Bourke provided the impetus for a township on the Bogan. This remarkable feat of organisation Birds Spotted in the Bogan Shire was commemorated by the gift of an Around 1882, residents of the small IROQUOIS Helicopter from the Crow Brown Goshawk settlement of , Australian Government to the people Wedge-tail Eagle Superb Parrot approximately 30 kilometres north of Nyngan. The helicopter, a symbol Galah Splendid Fairy Wren on the banks of Duck Creek, moved of courage, played a vital role in the Sulphur- crested cockatoo Brolga Vietnam War Battle of Long Tan, and to establish a town by the railway Pelican White-winged Chough stood as a static display adjacent to and Nyngan came into being. Yellow-billed Spoonbill Australian Wood Duck A number of houses from the older the Railway Station until 21 May Spotted Bowerbird Straw-necked Ibis settlement were dismantled and 2011. It has now been transported Striped Honeyeater Black swan re-erected at Nyngan. to Caloundra to be restored and Apostle bird placed on display there. Caloundra Crested Pigeon And RSL has kindly restored and Kookaburra many transported a replacement Iroquois Australian Magpie more…... to our town. Peewee With the assistance of the State and Tawny Frogmouth Owl

Federal Government, and people Willie Wagtail

from all over NSW and beyond, Mallee Ringneck Parrot

Nyngan has been fully restored.

A new levee, one metre higher than The nearby Macquarie Marshes (64 km the 1990 flood level, protects the north) are an important waterfowl and bird sanctuary. Iroquois Helicopter town and its people. Nyngan Town Hall

The Mighty

The Bogan River was discovered by Charles Sturt in 1829 and is a minor river in the central western region of , The Bogan starts near Forbes and flows generally north-north-west past Nyngan. It is a tributary of the Darling River. Court House About Bogan Shire CANONBA Nyngan Industry & Employment A very early settlement grew up here on the banks of Duck Creek servicing Nyngan is the administrative centre Whilst employment in Nyngan the early pioneers and Cobb & Co. travellers to the outback. Much of the of the Bogan Shire (14,610sq kms). remains heavily dependant on town was owned by John Brown and so it was dubbed "Brownstown". It is one of the State’s wealthiest agriculture, other major sectors are Today it is a great picnic and fishing spot. Nearby are the graves of some of pastoral districts, with wool, wheat mining, community services, retail, those early settlers, and an unusual "zig zag" fence (on private property), and cattle as its primary produce. financial and business services, where coaches could pass from one paddock to another without gates. public administration and was owned by Cobb & Co. in 1865 and used as a The Shire has an abundance of communication. BUCKIINGUY productive agricultural land for breeding station for their horses and cattle. Today old 'Yucca' plants remain sheep and cattle production and There is a generous supply of local to mark the original homestead site. large scale cropping enterprises. labour and the lower absenteeism and employee turn over rates WILLIE RETREAT is just on the edges of the Macquarie Marshes and Albert Priest Channel suggest that the employees in remnants of stables and an inn still exist here. Due to the variability of the Bogan Nyngan are more secure than those Accommodation is available for a stop over or longer stay . There are tours River (the Shire’s main water- in larger urban centres. of the Macquarie Marshes available from Willie Retreat. Contact Willie course), Nyngan is dependent on Retreat to arrange. water from the Albert Priest The comparatively low cost of land, Channel which runs from the buildings, rates, rent, labour and the MONKEY BRIDGE takes it's name from a primitive inn that stood nearby Macquarie River to the Bogan River close proximity to an extensive called "Monkey". Today only remnants of bricks and bottles remain - but just upstream of Nyngan. It was the range of raw materials makes the once the 'pub' must have been a welcome sight to lonely travellers. brainchild of George Albert Priest Shire attractive to many who was Town Clerk for 44 years. manufacturing industries. COOLABAH is a small village today with a big past. An interpretive sign The Channel is 62km long and near the well tells part of the story, while the cemetery contains the grave of currently has a capacity of around Existing manufacturing industries the founder of Coolabah - Charles Werner. 64ML per day. A pipeline from include: welding, engineering, Call at the General Store or Hotel and ask about the mysterious earlier Nyngan ensures a constant water concreting, and servicing of village of the 'The Legs of Man'. supply for Cobar. agriculture and mining The Channel supplies stock, machinery.The significant amount GIRILAMBONE has a General Store that has survived since the Cobb & domestic and irrigation water to of through traffic on the Mitchell Co. days. landholders along its length. Highway provides excellent retail BOGAN RIVER CROSSING and tourism opportunities. near the site of Larsen's pub. Hotels were usually on the banks of creeks and rivers as a ready water source which was so necessary for horses and travellers. Also, if the river rose in floods, the pub could provide accommodation for a long stay. This river crossing is a beautiful spot to stop and spend some time exploring. The Cobb & Co. Heritage Trail Digital mobile phone The Bathurst to Bourke Cobb & Co. service coverage in the area is available Heritage Trail recalls the history of the in Nyngan and days of Cobb & Co., when the Royal Mail corridors along the coach was the main link for settlers with Mitchell and Barrier Highways. the distant towns. NextGTM mobile phone service is Today's traveller can explore the roads available throughout the Shire. from Bathurst to Bourke, discovering the Educational Facilities relics of the 19th century inns, changing stations and homesteads. The Bogan Shire has 1 high school, Sport & Recreation 4 primary schools, a pre-school, Starting Point - Nyngan and one mobile playgroup (Bogan There are many recreational and Check with the Bogan Shire Council, Cobar Street or the Tourist Information Bush Mobile) to cater for the sporting opportunities in Nyngan Centre, as to the condition of the roads. Many roads are unsealed and may educational needs of the children of including bowls, golf, (men, ladies require 4WD in certain weather conditions. Remember to take special care of the Shire. Post secondary & children), tennis, dancing, animals on the roads when travelling, but especially close to dusk. education is offered by the Nyngan swimming, rugby union, rugby Campus of the Western league (junior & senior), touch On these two tours you have the opportunity to travel over some of the Institute of TAFE. football, cricket (junior & senior), original Cobb & Co. roads as an alternative to the highway. netball, fishing and horse riding. The many rivers and creeks in this part of the west have resulted in Medical Facilities The facilities, including soccer very fertile farm land, and important sheep breeding country. Nyngan’s medical needs are and football ovals, are well Tour 1: catered for by the new Multi- maintained. purpose Nyngan Health Service Community Groups Nyngan, Canonba, Buckiinguy, Willie Retreat, Coolabah and (which replaced the old Nyngan Girilambone Loop - 250 km. Hospital) and is supported by a The Nyngan Arts Council, Lions, This is a marvellous full day tour along the many rivers and creeks of network of health professionals. Rotary, VIEW Clubs, and the Bogan Shire - including the Gunningbar Creek, Duck Creek, Marra Services provided in the Centre CWA, are just a few of the Creek, the Macquarie Marshes and the Bogan River. include ambulance, a nursing home organisations for the Take a picnic lunch and find a picturesque spot beside one of the many complex, baby health centre, and non-sporting residents of the streams to stop a while and enjoy the history, scenery and bird life. community health centre. community.

Tour 2: For further information about Nyngan and the Nyngan, Canonba, Bogan River Crossing and Girilambone Bogan Shire please visit our website: Loop - 130 km. www.bogan.nsw.gov.au A shorter tour that is still full of beautiful scenery and historic sites. Again take a lunch with you and picnic beside the Duck Creek or the Bogan River Crossing or maybe on the tranquil site where Canonba village once stood in the vibrant Bogan Shire. Chinese Graves The Centre of NSW The Chinese section of the The geographical centre of New Nyngan General Cemetery is of South Wales is 72 km south of State significance as one of the Nyngan, in the Bogan Shire. largest collections of Chinese A Cairn marking the spot is located grave stones in association with a there, adjacent to the Condobolin burner in the State. Comprised of Road. nine grave stones (formerly ten), the Nyngan graves are located The Cairn is made near a brick burner used to burn from slag, taken from food and money offerings to the the old Mount Royal souls of the dead. The burner Copper Mine which itself is of State significance. It is used to operate at of an unusual design, and is Tottenham, not far to indicative of adaptations made the east. by Chinese to life outside their country. The burner and markers are evidence of Chinese funerary practices as carried out in NSW.

Brick Burner near Chinese Graves

Phillip Dutton Gazebo Canonba

The small town of Canonba was the first local settlement of any duration and was established about 30km north of Nyngan. It was a Cobb & Co coach stop on the route to Bourke and properties of the far west. The village emerged on land bought by John Brown on Duck Arthur Hall's Victoria Cross is currently located in the Australian Creek around his head station for Phillip Dutton won back to back War Memorial. his Canonba run. gold medals in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games Arthur Hall VC Way Arthur Hall VC Barwon Road Dedicated in

Arthur Charles Hall was born on 11 VC’s Honour August 1896, the son of a Nyngan grazier. He worked as an overseer Her Excellency Professor Marie on his father's properties before Bashir AC CVO, Governor of NSW, enlisting in the Australian Imperial came to Coolabah on Thursday Force at on April 3, 1916. December 8 2011 to officially dedicate the Coolabah to On September 1, 1918, while the Brewarrina Road. 54th Battalion was engaged in an attack on Peronne, a machine gun- The main road is now officially post was checking the advance. called The Arthur Hall VC Way in Single-handed, Hall rushed the memory of his exceptional bravery position, shot four of the occupants under fire that earned him the Duck Creek - great spot for fishing & picnics and captured nine others and two Victoria Cross in France during the machine-guns. First World War.

Then crossing the objective with a Plaque commemorating construction of new levee bank around The dedication was held at the small party, he afforded excellent Nyngan covering support of the remainder Coolabah Community Hall and was of the company. attended by almost 300 people He was continually in advance of including the Hon Kevin Humphries the main party, located many points MP, Member for Barwon and of resistance and personally led Minister for Western Region parties to attack them. representing the Premier at the Next day, while his unit mopped up event. Mark Coulton MP, Federal at Peronne, Hall rescued a Member for Parkes was also in wounded mate under shellfire. attendance. For his actions on 1 and 2 September he was awarded the The dedication was preceded by a Victoria Cross. service of remembrance at St Matthew’s Church, After the war Arthur Hall returned to West Bogan, followed by Nyngan and was a respected and the Blessing of the active member of his local Arthur Hall VC Way community. He died in Nyngan in plaque by the Anglican 1978 and was buried in the Hall Bishop of Bathurst, and Family Cemetery at St Matthew's laying of wreaths on the Church, West Bogan. grave of Mr. Hall. Mid-State Shearing Shed The Mid-State Shearing Shed was The Museum is situated on the built in a disused railway goods adjacent to a newly shed by a group of retired shearers constructed parking bay and the and the people of Nyngan. Their Centenary of Federation - Pioneers wish was to inform the public of the Walkway. Important contribution that the shearing industry is continuing to Phone: Denis Nash 02 6832 2817 make to Nyngan and New South or Frank Walsh 02 6832 1381. Wales.

The organisers also wished for the Mid-State Shearing Shed to display the talents of the local artists. These can be seen on the large The fully bricked village well built over a century ago is the largest of its’ kind murals that cover many of the walls. in Australia. It was built beside the “Three Legs O’Man” Hotel to ensure a water supply for visitors. Open from 10am Monday to Friday, Hermidale or by appointment. Hermidale is situated 46 km west of Nyngan on the . The village was first settled in the late 1880’s with:

- telephone services in 1881 - a post office in 1887 - the railway in 1892 - a school opened in 1901 and - police station in 1917.

Hermidale hosts a Gymkhana at Hermidale Public School Easter.

Take a break in the Phillip Dutton Rest Area named in honour of our Olympic medallist who won gold in the equestrian three-day team event at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. Nyngan Museum Villages in Bogan Shire Visit the local Museum to learn more about Nyngan. Located in the Railway Square. Girilambone Coolabah Open Mon to Fri 9am - 4pm and By Appointment Girilambone is located on the Mitchell Coolabah was established during the Highway 46 km north of Nyngan. 1880’s. A coach stop in a village According to legend a large with the unlikely name of “The Three meteorite struck a hill near the town, Legs O’Man “ stood about 2 miles hence the name Girilambone means from present day Coolabah on the “Place of Falling Stars”. Cobb & Co route to Bourke.

The discovery of copper in 1880 When the township of Coolabah was On Display: A railway display showing the originally drew miners to the area but proposed, a hotel was built there important role the railway it was the railway creeping north in called the “Three Legs O’Man Hotel”. Boards depicting our history 1883 that fixed its’ identity. Although This hotel was destroyed by fire and played in the history of from 1835 when Major the rail closed in 1990, after the the “Coolabah Hotel” was built in the Nyngan. On display is the Nyngan Flood, the reopening of 1920’s. Mitchell first ventured down copper and gold mining in the area In 1968 it too was destroyed by fire railway switchboard, several the Bogan River to find many injected life back into the village. leaving Coolabah without a hotel for pieces of luggage, and the first time in 84 years! waterholes. Girilambone proudly boasts of being The present day hotel retains the railway lanterns. Photographs and history of the smallest town in Australia with warm, friendly, country atmosphere. The switchboard from the a ridgy didge RSL Club. The Club the Nyngan area. was established in the early 1950’s The Post Office was established in local telephone exchange. Video and Photographs of the but closed in 2011. 1885. The original manual exchange One of five that made up the is still a point of interest for visitors. Nyngan 1990 Flood. Continue along the Mitchell Highway Switchboard Information Audio room where older for another 30 km and you will come Hidden in the bush north of Service of the Post Office to Coolabah. Coolabah are the Doomsday City Nyngan residents' stories can Bunkers built by a group who made from 1854 to 1975. be heard. headlines nationwide expecting the Microfilm reader - with micro world to end in October 1978. Display of a 1800's kitchen film of the Nyngan from Gilgione Station. Newspapers from 1898 to Scale model of the 1996. Girilambone Copper Plus much more…….. Company with several ore samples. Replica of a Charcoal Safe CWA Park in Girilambone Coolabah Hotel Bogan Shire Library

Railway Pedestrian Bridge Hermidale— Production at the Tritton Copper Mine commenced in 2005 and in Girilambone Copper July 2006, Straits Resources Mine Limited took over Tritton Resources. The Tritton Processing Girilambone is an Aboriginal word plant upgrade was completed in for “the place of the falling stars”. August 2008.

Mining first commenced at Tritton Copper Mine is located Girilambone in 1881 and approximately 18km north of continued until 1918. At first it was Hermidale (between Hermidale and thought gold had been Girilambone) and about 60km west discovered but analyzing proved it of Nyngan. to be a very valuable copper. Mining was done with picks and The copper concentrate is loaded shovels after blasting with into containers on site, then gelignite and the ore was then transported to Hermidale by road. loaded onto wagons that were The containers are then loaded pulled along rail tracks by horse onto rail for to Newcastle. teams to the furnace.

The Girilambone Copper New Nyngan Health Service (hospital) Company Limited was formed in 1896. In the 35 years that the mine operated about 80,000 tonnes of ore was produced.

Today the mine processes over 75,000 tonnes of ore per month!

The mine reopened in 1991 and operated until 1999. Girilambone Open Pits copper is very high quality at 99.999%.

The Tritton Ore Body was discovered in 1995. A substantial amount of drilling and feasibility test work was undertaken by the previous owner, culminating in the 2000 feasibility study.

Hermidale Mine at night Bogan Bush Mobile Truck

ARANDALE’S SHOP VISITOR INFORMATION SHELL 19 Warren St Westpac Building Pangee St Ph: 6832 1079 103 Pangee St Ph: 6832 1852 6832 1610 NYNGAN TRUCK & BEANCOUNTERS TRAVEL BOUTIQUE HOTEL Mitchell Highway 103 Pangee St Ph: 6832 2188 Ph: 6832 1610

KIMBERLY’S COFFEE CANONBA HOTEL & CAKE 129 Pangee St 76A Pangee St Ph: 6832 1559 Ph: 6832 2668 OVERLANDER DUCKS NUTZ HOTEL

133 Pangee St EZY- 89 Pangee St Ph: 6832 1081 DUMP Ph: 6832 1535

THE COCKY’S WIFE ALAMO MOTOR INN CAFÉ Pangee Street, Pangee St. Ph: 6832 1660 Ph: 0403 571 331 3 Star NRMA Rating

NYNGAN BOWLING COUNTRY MANOR CLUB MOTOR INN Chinese Restaurant 145 Pangee St Cnr. Bogan & Terangion Ph: 6832 1447 Ph: 6832 2177 3½ Star NRMA Rating

NYNGAN RSL CLUB OUTBACK MOTOR INN Pangee St Mitchell Highway, 2825 Ph: 6832 1102 Ph: 6832 1501

3 Star NRMA Rating OUTBACK MOTOR INN Mitchell Highway Ph: 6832 1535 THE ROSE GARDEN 43 Bogan St THE CADDY SHACK Ph: 6832 1757 Tottenham Road Ph: 6832 1387 NYNGAN LEISURE & VAN PARK CALTEX 12 Old Warren Road Pangee St Ph: 6832 2366 Ph: 6832 1761 NYNGAN RIVERSIDE NYNGAN TRUCK & CARAVAN PARK TRAVEL Barrier Highway Mitchell Highway Ph: 6832 1729 Ph: 6832 2188 Outback... Not out of Touch!