Facts Population Town 1,800 Shire 3,100 Stock Population Cattle 75,000 Sheep 850,000 Elevation Town 1067m (3051’), highest point over 1400m (4593’) Average Rainfall Town 660mm (26”), highest over 1270mm (50”) Average Temperature Summer – maximum 25oC, minimum 12oC Winter – maximum 12oC, minimum -2oC

Historical Home to Dunghutti/Dunggadi Tribe for 6000 years Oldest town and first settlement in the New England European Discovery by explorer 1818

Well known local identities • John Oxley Explorer • Nat Buchanan Explorer and pioneering pastoralist • Fred Ward Bush Ranger (alias ) • Esther Stace World record for highest sidesaddle jump, clearing 6’6” • Casey Stoner Moto GP World Champion ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES Walcha Where the wild rivers run BY AIR OR RAIL facts • Tamworth and Armidale are approximately a one hour flight to/from , Arrivals and departures there are several daily commercial flights. An airstrip is available for private POPULATION Town 1,800 use at the Walcha Aerodrome 5km west of Walcha. Distances • Daily train services to/from Armidale and Sydney are available via Walcha • Armidale 64km Shire• 3,100 Sydney via 425km Walcha . A bus transfer is available to/from Walcha for the Sydney service. • TamworthSTOCK 92km Cattle• Sydney75,000 via 550km Where wild rivers run • Gloucester 150km Sheep• Brisbane850,000 (New England Highway) 533km • 184km DISTANCES Brisbane ByELEVATION plane or train Town 1067m (3051’) Armidale 65km • Tamworth and ArmidaleHighest have pointseveral ‘The daily Flags’ commercial 1493m (4898’) flights to/from Sydney – approximately a one hour flight. An airstrip is available for private use at the Tamworth 90km AVERAGE RAINFALL Town 660mm (26”) Walcha Aerodrome 5km west of Walcha Gloucester 146km • Daily train services to/fromHighest Armidale over 1270mm and Sydney (50”) on the Northern Line via Port Macquarie 182km TEMPERATUREWalcha Road. A bus transfersSummer isaverages: available maximum to/from Walcha 25ºC, minimum for the Sydney 12ºC service. Winter averages: maximum 12ºC, minimum -2ºC Sydney 410km via Thunderbolts Way Sydney 496km via New England Hwy HISTORICAL FACTS Brisbane 525km via New England Hwy • Home to Dunghutti/Dunggadi Tribe for 6,000 years • Oldest town and first settlement on the New England Tablelands Newcastle 270km via Thunderbolts Way • European Discovery by explorer John Oxley 1818 Armidale • Walcha’s Open Air Gallery has the most public art per head of population in . KEY Walcha • In 1950 Walcha Road Train Station became the busiest non-metropolitan New England Highway freight terminal in NSW. This was due to the aerial spreading of Tamworth Pacific Highway superphosphate, an Australian first, which saw stock carrying Port capacities treble. Macquarie • Oxley Wild Rivers National park has over 1,100 recorded plant species – more Thunderbolts Way Gloucester than any other National Park in NSW. Nabiac • In 2014, Walcha Arrivals/Departuresbecame home to the world’s finest Map ‘paddock grown’ bale Rail Service of , at 11.6 microns. Flights Newcastle PROMINENT LOCAL IDENTITIES John Oxley Explorer Nat Buchanan Explorer and pioneering pastoralist Esther Stace World record ‘Highest Sidesaddle Jump’, clearing 6’6” Walcha Visitor Information Centre Sydney Casey Stoner Moto GP World Champion Walcha51w Fitzroy Visitor Street, Information Walcha CentreNSW 2354 29wPhone Fitzroy 02 6774 Street, 2460 Walcha NSW 2354 Phone 02 6774 2460 www.walchansw.com.au Photographs by Gerhard Koertner, Beryl Feron and Tasha Chawner. www.walchansw.com.au #newenglandhighcountry V2: 05/20 stay OUT OF TOWN eat IN TOWN 55. Cairnie Country Cottage 0429 771 335 49. Walcha Royal Café and Accommodation 02 6777 1117 46. Anglea House – B&B self contained 02 6777 2187 56. Cheyenne Wilderness Retreat 02 6777 9172 66. Café Amor 02 6777 2130 47. Valley Views Cottage – B&B self contained 02 6777 2877 57. Red Hill Cottage 0428 659 022 67. Café Graze 02 6777 2409 48. Walcha Guesthouse – B&B self contained 0488 775 891 58. Lochlorian Trout Fishing and Getaway 02 6769 2335 8. The North Store (Transwest Fuels) 02 6777 2740 49. Walcha Royal Café and Accommodation 02 6777 1117 59. Nowendoc Country Motel 02 6777 0952 50. Apsley Arms Hotel (off licence) 02 6777 2502 50. Apsley Arms Hotel 02 6777 2502 60. Nowendoc Guesthouse 0437 732 252 51. Commercial Hotel (off licence) 02 6777 2667 51. Commercial Hotel 02 6777 2667 61. Red Hill Farmstay, Yarrowitch 0428 695 184 52. New England Hotel (Chinese/off licence) 02 6777 2026 52. New England Hotel/Motel 02 6777 2532 62. Old Greenwells B&B 0428 203 777 64. Walcha Road Hotel 02 6777 5829 53. Walcha Motel 02 6777 2599 63. Venterfair Rural Retreat 02 6777 6558 68. Ex-Services Club 02 6777 2231 54. Walcha Caravan Park 02 6777 2501 64. Walcha Road Hotel 02 6777 5829 30. Bowling Club 02 6777 2077 70. Thunderbolts Café Takeaway 02 6777 2295

Thunderbolts Way 71. Walcha Diner 02 6777 1338 URALLA (41km) Plumbtree St ARMIDALE (65km) 72. Marta’s Kitchen 02 6777 2857 Ohio St

24 81 t 75. Kentucky General Store 02 6778 7320 S u Cree Em k Rd

n

o 76. Restaurant Pinot, Kentucky 02 6778 7473 Derby St t

g 55,56 n 23 i 82. Nyinanbambu Barri 0497 685 523 k 18 a BUDDS MARE (43km) Jamieson St P 83. The Fruit Shop 02 6777 2977 20 33 RIVERSIDE (49km) 11 13 North St 25 Gum Tree Lane Park Ave see+do 41 TOWN 43 36 Angle St Walcha Sculpture Soundtrail Download Soundtrails app Hill St North St

North St 54 Open Air Gallery Self-guided tour, brochure available

S South St e

m Historic Building Walk Self-guided tour, brochure available

p l 46 e Pioneer Cottage Museum (43.) Weekends, public holidays, or by arrangement Derby St 21 14

Middle St Cres Langford House (45.) Tours by prior arrangement 02 6778 0395 42 Hill St

Lagoon St Nivison Lookout and Walk (44.) South eastern ridge of town Thee St 17 Darjeeling Rd Apsley St Meridian St 16 37 Apsley River Walk Levee bank footpath Churchill St BENDEMEER (50km) 22 47 Walcha Farmers’ Market Third Sat. of month, McHattan Park (exc. Winter) TAMWORTH (90km) 1 Levee Bank Towers St Quota Christmas Markets Last Saturday in November, McHattan Park Apsley St 78 Footpaths 63,64,65 32 Free Loan-a-Bikes Enquire at the Visitor Information Centre 35 38 77 Angle St 29 51 Hamilton St12 Aplsey St Walcha Memorial Baths (27.) Open mid November – March Oxley Highway Fitzroy St 15 9 2 RETAIL (20km) Walcha Gallery of Art (48.) Fine and contemporary art, 0488 775 891 Fitzroy St 77 79 48,67,50 66,80,7,82,6,5,4 27 Evans St TIA FALLS (43km) Antipodean Tynker (77.) Gallery of steampunk metalwork, 0413 016 806 68 70 34 10,53, 71,72,83 52 28 PORT MACQUARIE (182km) Antique Junque (78.) Antiques and old wares, 02 6777 2864 Fitzroy St 61 The New Birds Boutique Fashion, 02 6777 2002 Walsh St 40 49 Memorial Ave 8 Meridian St Paperdolls House Fashion, homeware and gifts, 02 6777 2233 Croudace St Oxley Highway Savvy on Derby Children’s clothes, gifts, 02 6777 1044 Walcha 26 19 Café Graze (67.) Gifts and homewares, 02 6777 2409 Derby St Hospital

Pakington St 3 Walcha Creative Arts (79.) Handmade gifts, craft, 02 6777 2802 Middle St

Legge St Oxley Dr Walcha Handmade (80.) Handmade gifts, children’s craft corner, studio 30 Lagoon St 31 Croudace Street OUT AND ABOUT Waterfalls Apsley Falls and Tia Falls, Oxley Wild Rivers NP Legge St 39 Bushwalking National Parks, see section overleaf 44 Fishing – Trout Season: October to June long weekends, N NIANGALA (44km) brochure/map available. Aberbaldie Rd Nivison Walk Lochlorian Fish’n Stay 02 6769 2335. NOWENDOC (70km) Fishing – Bass Season: 1 September to 31 May, permit required 45 57,58,59,60,62 GLOUCESTER (146km) Thunderbolts Way Scenic Drives Brochures available at Visitor Information Centre 4WD 4WD/off-road motorcycling, see section overleaf Emergency Services 11. National Parks Office Education 31. Rugby Club Other On road Motorcycling Oxley Highway, (182km) Port Macquarie – Walcha 1. Police Station 12. Walcha Council 21. Walcha Central School K – 12 32. Golf Club 42. ANZAC Park and Cenotaph 2. Fire Station 13. Dump Point/Council Depot 22. St Patricks School K – 6 33. Racecourse 43. Pioneer Cottage and Museum Thunderbolts Way, (146km) Gloucester – Walcha 3. Ambulance Station 14. Multi-Purpose Centre 23. Walcha Preschool 44. Nivison Lookout and Walk Parks and Lookouts Cycling Mountain Bike Track, Ohio North Road (TSR) (81) 45. Langford Homestead General Services Churches and Cemeteries Sporting facilities 34. McHattan Park (toilets) Road Ride Cycling Challenge, October 46. Anglea House 4. Post Office 15. Anglican Church/Old Stone Church 24. John Oxley Playing Fields 35. Lions Club Park (toilets and BBQ) 81. Mountain Bike Track, www.walchamountainfestival.org 5. Library 16. Catholic Church 25. Showground 36. Quota Park (toilets) Ohio North Road TSR Green Gully Track Award winning four day bush hike/trek, Oxley 6. Amaroo LALC 17. Presbytarian Church 26. Peter Fenwicke Oval 37. Sempill Park 7. NRMA Depot/Fuel/Mountain Motors 18. Jehovah’s Witness Church 27. Swimming Pool 38. Apsley River Park Wild Rivers NP. Online bookings essential. 8. Transwest Mobil Fuel/Cafe 19. Catholic Cemetery 28. Squash Courts/Fitness Centre 39. John Oxley Cairn and Park Bicentennial National Trail 5,330km trail from North Qld to Victoria 9. Walcha Tyre Service/Fuel 20. General Cemetery 29. Tennis Courts 40. Captain Cook Park (toilets) 10. Walcha Telecottage 30. Bowling Club 41. Apex Park Full list of events at walchansw.com.au/whats-on history ABORIGINAL PEOPLE: 6,000 YEARS The Dunghutti (or Dunggadi) Tribe are believed to have lived in the region for around 6,000 years prior to European settlement. The tablelands served as a place THE NATIONAL PARKS SURROUNDING for ceremonies – evident by traces of Bora grounds near Walcha – and a place to WALCHA ARE DRAMATIC, AWE INSPIRING trade goods. In the cooler months the tribe retreated to the eastern gorge country national where it was warmer and fish and animals were plentiful. AND SPECTACULAR ... THIS IS ‘WHERE EUROPEAN DISCOVERY: 1818 WILD RIVERS RUN’. Explorer, John Oxley was the first ‘official’ European to the district. In search parks of new farming lands beyond the Hunter Valley, he climbed the steep rugged Budds Mare ranges, traversed from west to east over the southern end of the tableland he had discovered, now known as the New England. On 8 September 1818, Oxley and his expedition camped by a good waterhole on the Apsley River (named after the Secretary of the State for the Colonies, Lord Apsley) approximately 1.2 km south THE MAGNIFICENT NATIONAL DRIVES – OFF THE BEATEN TRACK of the current township of Walcha. Oxley wrote of this new found country in his PARKS AND WORLD HERITAGE Outstanding diversity of rainforests, EASTERN ESCARPMENT FORESTS VIA • Camerons Bluff – Forbes Forest Road – journal as being ‘the finest open country, or rather park, imaginable’. A country of AREAS OFFER BREATHTAKING heaths, old-growth forests, and sub- OXLEY WILD RIVERS NP – WERRIKIMBE Mount Boss – Oxley Highway ‘running waters; on every hill a spring and in every valley a rivulet’. He reported this alpine woodlands. Access from Walcha SCENERY AND BUSHWALKS. NP – WILLI WILLI NP – CARRAI NP • Hastings Forest Way – Wauchope to his friend Hamilton Collins Sempill of ‘Belltrees’ in the Hunter Valley who was to 55km along Oxley Highway, then 28km become the first settler to the area. THE AWE INSPIRING APSLEY AND along Kangaroo Flat Road (unsealed). Low range 4WD required. Recommended WINGHAM WANDERER two day driving trip camping at Daisy TIA FALLS ARE ON WALCHA’S MANNING VALLEY CARTOSCOPE MAP EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT 1832 • Mooraback (88km) – camping (free) Plains Huts. Carry plenty of supplies, 2WD high clearance. Unsealed, NOT all Hamilton Collins Sempill, the first settler, based his headquarters near the DOORSTEP, AND ONE OF THE and day use area. A good base to avoid trip during wet weather periods. weather, SUV/4WD recommended. campsite used by Oxley in 1818. He established a 25,000ha run which he named GREATEST NATURAL ATTRACTIONS explore the area. Mooraback Walking Walcha – Kangaroo Flat Road (55km Walcha – Knodingbul Road (5km ‘Walcha’, building slab huts not far from where ‘Langford Homestead’ now stands. Track 30 minutes and Platypus Pools east of Walcha on the Oxley Highway) IN THE NEW ENGLAND. past Gingers Creek) – Blue Knob Road Loop a two hour walk. – Mooraback Road – Racecourse Trail – Glenwarrin Road – Ellenborough THE TOWN AND OTHER SETTLERS Online bookings for Riverside, Youdales • Cobcroft (83km) – day use area. (4WD) – Coachwood Road (4WD) – Carrai Falls – Elands – Ashlea Flat – Within a few years other pastoral runs, Ohio, Bergen-op-Zoom, and Europambela, and Green Gully Track essential. Please Carabeen Walk – one hour through Road to Daisy Plain Huts – Cochrane Wingham. Alternatively – Mt George were established; taking up the valleys and creeks running into the Apsley visit www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au rainforest. Located on Cobcroft Road, Road – Warrick Rd to Mary’s View. – Cooplacurripa/Nowendoc Road – River. During the 1840’s the district was sparsely occupied by men with sheep, Website also includes information for all continue onto Fenwicks Road (4WD), Consider returning via Carrai Road to Nowendoc – Walcha. and names and localities heard today date from that time – Surveyors Creek, other visitor areas. driving through beautiful forests as Willawarrin, take the old Kempsey Road an alternate way back to the Oxley Aberbaldie, Ingleba, Glen Morrison, St Leonards, Branga Park, Branga Plains, to Armidale or head east to Kempsey. MANNING Highway from Mooraback. ENFIELD FOREST ROAD: Waterloo, Yarrowitch, Tia, Emu Creek, Moona Plains, and Winterbourne. In the OXLEY WILD RIVERS NATIONAL PARK Highlights along this route: VALLEY CARTOSCOPE MAP Directions and distances from Walcha 1840’s, Sempill returned to Scotland and his Walcha run was subdivided. Near COTTAN-BIMBANG NATIONAL PARK • Hoppy’s Lookout, on Coachwood Road 2WD high clearance. Unsealed, NOT all the head station, occupied by Jamieson and Mackenzie in 1845, a small village • Apsley Falls (20km) – camping (fees • Myrtle Scrub Road – unsealed, 2WD 4km north of junction of Racecourse weather. SUV/4WD recommended. Four developed with an inn, store and post office, blacksmith and butcher. This service applicable pay on-site), day use area, dry weather access only. One hour Road hour loop. Road conditions: poor in centre – situated at the crossroads leading north-south and east-west and on a walk tracks and lookouts (some loop (15km) tourist drive off the Oxley • Kookaburra, abandoned sawmill sections, possibility of fallen trees. permanent waterhole – developed into the town of Walcha. wheelchair access), RV friendly on a Highway through rainforest. Day use village, junction of Carrai Road and Walcha – Enfield Forest Road (62km) INDUSTRY sealed road. area on the . Coachwood Road. east of Walcha on the Oxley Highway) • Tia Falls (43km) – camping (free), day • McCoy’s Lookout 1km north-east of – Enfield Range Road (60km at least Wool has dominated the economy since early days with diversification into prime use area, bushwalks and lookouts, RV MUMMEL GULF NATIONAL PARK Kookaburra 1.5 hours) – Cooplacurripa/Nowendoc lambs, beef cattle, dairy and timber harvesting. friendly, 6km unsealed 2WD road from • New Country Swamp (74km) – via • Mary’s View amazing lookout with Road (37km / 45 minutes) – Nowendoc THE DERIVATION OF THE NAME WALCHA … A MYSTERY Oxley Highway Oxley Highway and Enfield Road – 270° views of the upper – Walcha (via Thunderbolts Way or • Budds Mare (43km) – camping (free), camping (free) and day use area. and gorges. From Kookaburra head Brackendale Road). The name, Walcha (Wol-ka), could have been derived from Aboriginal origins, with day use area, spectacular lookout, Mummel Gulf Viewing Area and two north-west on Carrai Road – Cochrane three potential meanings sun, deep waterhole and water. However the spelling 6km of unsealed road from Moona short walking tracks. Road – Warrick Road. MUMMEL GULF NATIONAL PARK strongly suggests that the origins came from the association of two pastoral Plains, 2WD dry weather access only. • Mummel Forest Road – tourist drive • Georges Junction (junction of Georges EXPLORER properties, Walcha Run and Bergen-op-Zoom Run, with places in the Netherlands. • Riverside (49km) – camping and day through a mix of mountain forests. Creek and Macleay River) on the 2WD high clearance. Unsealed, NOT The town of ‘Bergen-op-Zoom’ stands on the Walcheren River, and these places use area (online permit, fee and gate Starts/finishes at New Country Armidale-Kempsey Road (unsealed). all weather SUV/4WD recommended. were well known to the early settlers because of a major campaign in 1809 called code required), low range 4WD access Swamp. Access via Oxley Highway Fishing, swimming, camping. 2.5 hour loop. A beautiful scenic drive the Walcheren Expedition, fought during the British wars with Napoleon. only, no trailers, bass fishing (licence and Enfield Road. Alternatively from through a variety of high-altitude WAUCHOPE WANDERER required), swimming, bushwalks, Nowendoc via the Brackendale Road forests, including State Forests & unsealed road from Moona Plains. then east along Mummel Forest Road. Low range 4WD required. Expected National Parks. • Youdales Hut (101km) – camping and time from Walcha to Wauchope, four 52 km south on Thunderbolts Way – Hell day use area (online permit, fee and NOWENDOC NATIONAL PARK hours. Walcha – Kangaroo Flat Road Hole Road – Riamukka Pine Forest – gate code required), low range 4WD • Jacky Barker Camping Area – camping (55km east of Walcha on the Oxley Mummel Forest Road – Enfield Road access only, no trailers, access is via (free) and day use area, short walking Highway) – Mooraback Road – – Oxley Highway – Walcha. Stop at New Kangaroo Flat Road, unsealed from tracks. Access is 6.5km south of Racecourse Trail (4WD) – Brushy Country Swamp for a break. the Oxley Highway Nowendoc on Thunderbolts Way Mountain (three options). Creek • Green Gully Track – award winning turn onto Wrights Road. 5km along crossings may be impassable after four day remote walk, with restored Wrights Road. 4WD only, 4WD trailers heavy rain. stockmans’ huts as accommodation. only. • Cockerawombeeba Road – (diversion Fee applicable, online bookings Plateau Beech) – Oxley Highway essential through NPWS website. ARMIDALE NATIONAL PARKS MAP KEY Uralla

Cunnawarra Dangars Lagoon Dangars Falls Camping y a Gostwyck Chapel National Park w h Thunderbolt’s Mihi Falls g i Rock Day use area H

nd gla En Comara w e r Toilets N e George’s Junction iv R Kentucky Salisbury Plains Macleay Bellbrook N Lookout Terrible Vale Bushwalking Blue Mountain

Winterbourne KEMPSEY T Mary’s View Fishing Wollun h u n d Carrai e r Bendemeer b National Park Locked gate, limited access o l t s

W Daisy Plains Huts a Highway or main road y

Walcha Road Emu Creek 4WD Sealed road Oxl ey H Woolbrook igh Riverside (4WD) way Ohio Europambela Moona Plains Unsealed road Budds Mare Oxley Wild Rivers Danglemah Surveyors Creek Apsle K C y u a Walcha R r National Park n rr i d ve 4WD ai d e a 4WD access only Rd Ro r ie a Kookaburra ld n ba Apsley Falls g er B M Boxley b r acdonald A o R o iv k

e

r d

Youdales Hut (4WD) R

Limbri d

o

o w Aberbaldie O 4WD Fishing and h

x c

l a

Nature Reserve e o fossicking C y Hoppys Cedar Creek Raceco H u reserve r i s Lookout g 4WD e d B h Tr l R C r w a i o a b c a r k TAMWORTH a b e y Kangaroo Flat Mooraback Brushy Mountain a n ld d a R l iv e er Tia Falls R d Willi Willi d R Plateau Beech t f d National Park o R

r

a c

Weabonga T r r H Ingleba ia D b

Glen Morrison iggings e a Rd o s e t Geraldine i

C b n Dungowan d g Tia m s a o F o r y Brackendale s R w t a Werrikimbe a W S d Flat Cobcroft r a t R e y M W o k L e r ro a r e c s a e Yarrowitch a National Park c o iv v o t i g n R n C d l a o a R K est Rd a r n o r i o a d T h F b l s c d r s

t C Rd i s k e P R e c b r i e w r i e d d R w o e v t o n e s F r e l e n F k e

r r R r o

u F a

i Woolamin l Y v Gap Rd

e Niangala h e r r T m

m e u p M p d U R F Port Stephens o Sm t PORT MACQUARIE ith res rb Cutting s C Ngulin Fo es r New Country Swamp d R e i

e l v e e

(23 –25 trailer length limit) k Nature Reserve Enfi d Cottan-Bimbang r R H a s d b t R u i n The Flags r National Park g e s c Chaffey Dam l Ri S v o e

H e r

ll l

e t

H r Cells River

Topdale Rd y

M Mummel Gulf Gingers Creek Mount Seaview T Stockyard Creek op s National Park Yarras Lower Apsley Falls

y R a Riamukka d W t s e r o F B ra le c d k e

Hanging Rock n d

u n N R

d

N o C

E l

Nowendoc w a e d State Forest u

n

R

e b

l fi l

n e l s g e r

d R

R

l n

Nundle i

d o e

National Park d i

c v d v e R F i

r o i o R v r n s er e K

s e l

t Sheeba Dams y

R

o d Nowendoc D Biriwal Bulga National Park d R b o n Co Blue K op Jacky Barker (4WD) la cu rri pa Barry R Comboyne d Bugan Ben Halls Gap Barakee Nature Curracabundi Reserve Tapin Tops National Park National Park National Park Elands Carsons Lookout GLOUCESTER WINGHAM Tia Falls walk experience the highs