Category: NSW

Work Travel

I’ve been traveling a lot lately. In fact right now I am sitting in an airport waiting to fly out. Problem is its for work and not hitching up the caravan.

I’ve been doing a heap of work travel over the last few months. On our way back from Birdsville work called me and needed me to be in Sydney on my first day back.

It’s not all its cracked up to be. Living in a suitcase away from family is nowhere near like the expanse of a caravan, parked in the bush with the kids running around.

Never fear. School holidays are in a week. I’m taking one week off and may take the girls to the beach for a couple of days. If that doesn’t happen we have organized a get together with friends in October. A heap of caravans and campers at Warburton’s Bridge.

I can’t wait.

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Cobar, NSW to Bourke, NSW

A large part of our travels through NSW has been along the Kidman way. It is named after Sir Sidney Kidman, Australian cattle king who owned a large number of cattle stations along the path, many still owned by his descendants.

We arrived in Bourke, NSW around lunch yesterday after spending a night at Cobar, NSW. Cobar is an interesting little town with a mining history that continues still today. We took a small trip out to one of the mines and were lucky enough to see a couple of large mining truck take the long journey down the winding road into the dark mine entrance.

The trip from Cobar to Bourke is probably the shortest day of traveling we will have in this journey. It is only 160kms and was dotted with hordes of feral goats. The owner of the caravan park at Cobar told us that they are considered a pest and there is a culling program on to rid the area of these goats as they destroy everything. The meat has a big market in the Muslim community but the hides are not used much. Could be an industry in goat coats if anyone is interested.

As we pulled into the Kidman camp caravan park at Bourke we noticed a sign announcing a night of bush tucker and bush poetry. We decided to book in and I’m glad we did. Over 100 people sat around the many campfires is listening to “the bard of Bourke”, Andrew Hull. Their website says, “You haven’t experienced Bourke until you’ve relaxed beneath a Coolabah Tree under the starlit sky, with a campfire of Gidgee coals, sharing a meal and some great Australian poetry” and I’d have to agree. It was a fantastic night and the food was amazing. If your in town check it out.

[Poetry on a Plate](http://hullyjoe.com/andrew-hull/projects/poetry-on-a-plate/)

Griffith, NSW

Today was a stop over day. We don’t have many of these on this trip. Only three in fact but I’m glad Griffith was included in the three.

Griffith has an amazing history that includes a large Italian component. They did it very tough out here but it seems the Italians new how to do it well.

We visited the Pioneer and Italian Museum. Both are very well done and highlight the amazing cultural background of Griffith.

The first building in the Pioneer museum was the school building. The school children would hang their bags on the hooks outside the front door and go into class.

The kids thought it was interesting the desks they used to use. I stood at the front of the class and yelled, “Quiet children” At the top of my voice. They thought it was hilarious and I explained that’s what the teacher would have said in the old days.

We ventured further into the Italian museum where on display was a huge number of items from tiny ricotta moulds to huge wine presses.

Food and drink definitely play a large part in the Italian community and this town was no exception.

This image shows a large basket used to hold curds while the whey drained off.

We continued to walk around the pioneer village learning the early history of Griffith. Here the girls are behind the counter in the bakers shop.

The bread tins that were used.

We left the pioneer museum and headed to the Hermits Cave. This is the view of Griffith from just above the hermits cave.

The story goes that an Italian immigrant made this area his home. He made stone walls and had a magnificent garden. We walked along the track and visited a few of the remains of his work. Amazing to think he built these stone walls and gardens by himself.

It was an interesting walk but a bit to much like a mountain goat track. The local paper recently announced a grant had been received for the improvement of the tracks in order for people to be able to safely visit the site but we are a bit too early for this so decided to walk back along the road.

Tomorrow we travel to Cobar.

Shepparton Vic, to Griffith NSW.

Last night after finishing work we hooked up the van and headed North to Shepparton. Our plan was to get clear of the city early.

We caught up with our friends who are traveling along with us and left Saturday morning with Griffith NSW as our destination for today.

A crisp and fresh morning greeted us when we woke which turned into the perfect driving weather.

We are traveling along the Kidman way for a good part of the trip.

With a stop along the way at Jerildierie NSW, for lunch, we spent about an hour or so here at a very busy park that seemed to be the place for travelers to stop at. There is a lot of history here with the highlight being Ned Kelly. We’ll spend a night here on our return so will take more time to see just what he did here.

A very different windmill greeted us in the park. It’s called “Steel Wings”. It’s fan sits in the middle of the tower.

We then headed off to complete todays drive and finished up at Griffith, NSW.

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