{"id":622,"date":"2020-08-17T22:37:31","date_gmt":"2020-08-17T12:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arnobrok.com\/blog\/?p=622"},"modified":"2020-12-30T14:17:55","modified_gmt":"2020-12-30T03:17:55","slug":"nsw-country-trip-august-13-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arnobrok.com\/blog\/blog\/2020\/08\/17\/nsw-country-trip-august-13-17\/","title":{"rendered":"NSW Country trip: August 13-17"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Thursday August 13 \u2013 Cobar<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After spending the night at a caravan park (needing the safety net of power for the fridge), we moved on this morning after everything worked fine on gas overnight. We set the van up at a free camp just outside town. This is a property between crops, where the owner allows people to come camping, and, from all the reviews, even drops off firewood. In true outback style, we are surrounded by gum trees, green crops, blue skies, and red soil \u2013 and all on our own….<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The photo below shows our site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Glenhope free campsite- near Cobar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We then headed into town to learn about its history, see the attractions around that, and enjoyed nature with a bit of a hike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cobar started as a mining town with the discovery of copper in the late 19th century. Prior to that the district\u2019s main trade was from the Darling River.  It became a wealthy town with the surrounding areas all benefiting from the \u2018Great Cobar\u2019 mine.  This prosperity lasted until after WW1 when demand for copper fell, the mine closed, and with it, lost 90% of Cobar\u2019s population.  The people of Cobar are known to be hard workers, and they bounced back, and mining started up again mid 20th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We stopped at the Bourke Fort Lookout over the New Cobar Mine, which operates every day of the year. It, together with the Peak Mine a bit further south, produces around 25k tonnes of copper, and 100k oz of gold a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Cobar Mine (still working)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Memorial in Cobar <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Plaque in appreciation of the hard working Cobar people.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Plaque’s inscription<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Hike around the Newey Reservoir<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Along the Cobar Heritage walk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Friday 14 \u2013 Monday 17 August; Cobar \u2013 Broken Hill<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had hoped to do a hike at Mount Grenfell on our way west, but it was miserable weather, so we kept going.  We stopped at a free campsite just east of Wilcannia and moved on to Broken Hill where we arrived Saturday around lunchtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had tried to book in to camp at the Racecourse after it was recommended however, they were full so we settled on the caravan park in town.  Not sorry, it\u2019s a nice park with a big firepit for late afternoon social drinks and amazing brand new amenities. We have decided to stay here until Friday, as it was clear there is plenty to do and see in Broken Hill and surrounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Broken Hill is the outback town where the Australian mining company Broken Hill Propriety (largest mining company in the world in 2017)<\/a> got started in the 1880s after a local immigrant George Rasp found what he thought to be tin, but once tested proved to be silver and zinc.  It became clear that the ground was rich with ore including lead, and the town grew bigger, as did the surrounding areas.  Broken Hill Mines eventually became the world’s largest ore producers. The miners were treated pretty miserably \u2013 some 800+ men died in the mines and today a lot of the historic evidence of these hard but booming times is on display by way of artefacts, art and the old buildings.  In 2015 all of Broken Hill was Heritage Listed, as various beautiful buildings had been demolished to make way for new (eg a multi-story garage…).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The miner\u2019s memorial is very sobering and moving \u2013 all those killed showing their name, age, date and cause of death. Many younger men through accidents, many older (ie 40+ from lead poisening).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Miner’s memorial<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We did a volunteer-guided town walk, and learnt a lot of the detailed history.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n