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Bourke
On the
banks
of the
Darling
River
almost
800km
north-west
of Sydney,
the
once
thriving
river
port
of Bourke
was
the
highest
town
on the
Darling
from
which
barges
filled
with
cargos
of wool
could
be shipped
downstream.
Although
surrounded
by dry
plains
the
town
is surprisingly
green
owing
to the
irrigation
for
citrus
orchards
and
cotton
crops.
Founded
by explorer
Thomas
Mitchell,
who
in 1835
built
Fort
Bourke,
a wooden
stockade,
where
a cairn
now
stands,
was
laid
out
25 years
later
and
became
a coach
centre.
The
Carriers
Arms
was
once
a Cobb
&
Co Inn
and
temporary
home
to Henry
Lawson
in 1892.
There
are
some
fine
examples
of 19th
century
architecture
including
the
old
wharf,
Manston
lodge
and
St Ignatuis
Church.
Cobar
Located
700km
west
of Sydney
Cobar
sits
on the
edge
of the
outback
and
is headquarters
for
a shire
covering
44 065
square
km.
A copper
mining
town
founded
in the
early
1870's
started
as a
mining
camp
of tents
and
huts
and
quickly
reached
its
peak
population
of 10
000.
Several
buildings
remain
as reminder
of it
heyday,
such
as the
Great
Western
Hotel
which
claims
its
verandah,
over
100m
long
is the
longest
in Australia
and
the
mining
company's
office
which
is now
the
Pastoral,
Mining
and
Technological
Museum.
The
town
has
been
brought
back
to life
with
the
building
of a
135km
pipeline
from
Nyngan
bringing
water
to the
once
dusty
town.
Lightning
Ridge
Famous
for
Black
opals
Lightning
Ridge
is the
principle
opal
mining
town
in NSW.
There
are
many
old
mines
to visit
and
cutting
demonstrations
to watch.
Amateur
fossikers
are
welcome
to try
their
luck.
Artesian
bore
waters
supply
a minerals-rich
bathing
pool
to relax
in,
and
there
are
many
local
displays
from
arts
and
crafts
to opals
and
jewellery.
Brewarrinna
The
small
town
of Brewarrina
lies
100km
east
of Bourke
on the
Barwon
River.
The
river
was
a natural
fishery
for
the
Aboriginal
people
and
their
fish
traps,
consisting
of a
complex
pattern
of partly
submerged
stone
boulders,
can
still
be seen.
The
Aboriginal
Cultural
Museum
operates
special
walkabout
tours
which
give
an incredible
insight
into
Aboriginal
culture.
Moree
Situated
on the
Gwydir
River,
Moree
is famous
for
its
Artesian
Spa
Baths
which
attract
thousands
of sufferers
of rheumatism,
arthritis
and
other
disorders
each
year.
The
Moree
Art
Gallery
houses
an extensive
collection
of Aboriginal
art.
Narrabri
The
cotton
capital
of Australia,
Narrabri
sits
on a
branch
of the
Namoi
River
and
if visited
in April-June
the
fields
are
covered
with
the
"snow"
of ripe
cotton
plants.
Some
attractions
in the
area
include
the
Australia
Telescope
at Culgoora,
just
west
of town,
which
is linked
with
other
telescopes
in western
NSW
and
Mt Kaputar
National
Park
to the
east
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