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Exploring Milparinka NSW, First Town on The Albert Goldfields

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For just a few short years, Milparinka was a busy town. Like so many gold rushes around the world, the Albert Goldfields promised far more than they could deliver.

In 1882, the Wilcannia Times optimistically proclaimed, “…the Albert will yet be proved to be one of the richest goldfields in the colony”.

It was not to be.

Extreme lack of water plus poor yields meant the Albert Goldfields were destined for a short life. Despite this, Milparinka lives on. In fact, it’s experiencing a revival.

We’ll get to this soon. First though, where is Milparinka?

Getting There

Accommodation, food and fuel, mobile reception, a glimmer of hope, the harsh reality, a smarter way to make a living, keeping the pub running, a planned town, a volunteer army, something for everyone, sturt and his horse sculpture, mount poole and sturt’s cairn, tibooburra, fort grey, cameron corner & sturt national park, a connection to the past.

Milparinka is about 300km north of Broken Hill and 42km south of Tibooburra in far western New South Wales, just off the Silver City Highway.

This road is now sealed all the way from Broken Hill to Tibooburra… and in fact, past Tibooburra to the Queensland border at Warri Gate.

So you can visit Milparinka in a conventional car, motorhome, on-road caravan and even an on-road motorbike!

An alternative route is the Cut Line from Bourke . This fantastic outback journey passes through Wanaaring and ends (or begins) at Tibooburra.

Another excellent outback road trip is the “alternative route” from Broken Hill via Silverton and the dingo fence . It’s a rare chance to see the Barrier Ranges from the western side, drive alongside the dingo fence and travel through a wide variety of brilliant desert/arid country scenery. This trip is not suitable for conventional cars and is quite remote.

Accommodation, Services and Facilities

You can stay at the pub (the Albert Hotel), which is open all year round. Or stay in the Heritage Precinct campground. There are powered sites if you need mains power.

When I say “sites”, it’s all pretty informal at Milparinka. As long as you park near the power outlet (and pay for it, of course!), you’ll be fine.

Or if you don’t need power, then pick a spot wherever you like within the campground.

You can also camp down on the waterhole, but please ask first at the Heritage Visitor Centre.

The campground has new amenities, self-contained shower/toilet combos plus a separate room with washing machine and clothes dryer. I can personally vouch for the showers… they’re brilliant!

They’ve also recently added a camp kitchen and a couple of undercover seating areas. There’s always something being added to this rapidly growing destination. It’s difficult to keep up with the changes!

There are no services (including no fuel) at Milparinka. The nearest shops are at Tibooburra. Both TJ’s Roadhouse and the Corner Country Store stock basic groceries, sell fuel (petrol and diesel) and carry some basic hardware goods.

However, you can get coffee, lunch and dinner at the Albert Hotel at Milparinka. It’s a typical country pub, they serve a decent feed!

Mobile reception is Telstra only… when it works. It’s an unreliable 3G “service” and patchy at best, especially when a few campers roll in.

You can send and receive phone calls most of the time, but even basics like checking emails can be excruciatingly slow. There’s still a Telstra phone booth outside the pub, which you can also use.

Now, let’s look back on Milparinka’s short but curious gold mining history.

In 1880, a small amount of gold was discovered at Mount Poole, about 20km north-west of the current Milparinka township.

Just 35 years earlier, Charles Sturt’s inland exploration party had been stranded for 6 months at nearby Preservation Creek, in the typical severe heat of a Corner Country summer.

Sturt named their temporary home Depot Glen.

They were stranded due to a lack of water. Depot Glen held the only remaining water they could find in any direction.

Perhaps the miners who rushed to Albert Goldfields should have taken this as a warning…

Once word spread about the gold find, over 2,000 miners flocked to the region. They discovered small amounts of gold between Mount Browne and Tibooburra (see map). It became known as the Albert Goldfields and four towns sprang up… Milparinka, Tibooburra, Mount Browne, and Albert.

Milparinka grew beside Evelyn Creek waterhole. This waterhole has long since disappeared. But at the time, it was host to a tent city.

Hundreds of miners surrounded the only large waterhole in the area, the same one Sturt used on his way through… and the same one the Wangkumara people had used long before white man entered their world.

The word Milparinka is thought to mean “water may be found here” in Wangkumara language.

The miners faced two harsh realities. One, there wasn’t much gold here… at least, not enough to make a living from. And two, there was no water.

Less than 2 years after the initial rush, just 400 people remained on the goldfields.

The population continued to shrink, with just a few hardy (or desperate) souls staying on to battle the severe lack of water and brutally hot summers. The Albert Goldfields were abandoned by the turn of the century.

It’s difficult to over-state how difficult life was for the miners. They lived along the creeks, congregating around waterholes. With no sanitation, disease was rife.

When the unreliable rains failed to arrive or the fierce summer hit, most of these waterholes simply disappeared. Miners had to move on or perish.

They were often desperate for drinking water, let alone the water they needed for gold mining.

What’s not documented is the devastating effect this would have had on Aboriginal people. We know they lived here… Sturt encountered Indigenous people along Evelyn Creek and at Depot Glen.

These people had thousands of years of knowledge about which waterholes they could rely on, which waterholes dried up first, how far to the next waterhole and so on.

Pastoralists moved into the area in the 1870s. Their stock had a huge impact on the ephemeral waterholes, upsetting the vital chain of water supplies along the creeks.

And miners were the final nail in the coffin.

Waterholes were sucked dry, fouled up or contaminated by mining. And the miners spread diseases caused by their own lack of sanitation.

The Wangkumara people didn’t stand a chance.

A few people fared better than most. A canny man named George Blore understood where the real money was… not in mining, but in servicing the transport route with hotels.

George and various family members built four hotels, all of them on the route from Wilcannia up to Tibooburra. One of these was the Albert Hotel at Milparinka. The others are long gone, but somehow the Albert Hotel has survived. It’s also known as the Milparinka pub.

The Blore name lives on in Corner Country, with descendants of George settling in the area and becoming a well-known family in the community to this day.

The pub is full of character. Over the years, it’s had a few weird and wonderful additions. But the original sandstone building still forms the core of the pub.

Apparently, the sandstone was only recently re-discovered when someone accidentally chipped render off the front wall. The render has since been removed to reveal the magnificent original sandstone walls.

As you walk inside, you can’t help but notice the thick sandstone walls and how much cooler it is inside.

Bec owns the Albert Hotel, providing accommodation, cold beer, excellent coffee, and a typical hearty country pub dinner.

During our stay at Milparinka, Bec had a couple from Victoria helping her out. Ester and Kurt are regulars every year, coming back to help at every opportunity.

They were great company… warm, friendly and a lot of fun!

Milparinka was actually proclaimed a town in 1880. By 1881, a map of the proposed town showed the proposed layout. It even allowed for future expansion.

The town never filled, but it did have all the essential services of the time… blacksmith, store, pubs, newsagent, tailor, bank, pharmacy and so on.

It’s difficult to imagine this being an operational town now because there’s not a great deal left. But it’s not as difficult as you might expect…

This is where a dedicated band of volunteers come into the picture… ably led by local lady and devoted Milparinka advocate, Ruth Sandow.

In the 1980’s, the few remaining buildings were crumbling away. The bank, post office, courthouse and police barracks were deteriorating rapidly.

Some locals banded together and decided to restore the courthouse. This was the start of something much bigger… the Courthouse, Police Barracks, Police Cells and the Kitchen (now used as a cottage for volunteer accommodation) have been fully restored.

These sandstone buildings are fine examples of the skills of the talented stonemasons who built them.

Just about everything you see in the Heritage Precinct has been built or restored by a large army of volunteers, some locals and others from all parts of Australia.

The entire Heritage Precinct is now under the umbrella of the Milparinka Heritage and Tourism Association. Ruth Sandow and a small band of devoted locals manage the association, seeking government funding for upgrades, organising maintenance, managing the volunteers and a whole lot more.

We volunteered to help rearrange and tidy up some displays within the Heritage Precinct under Ruth’s direction, as well as a few other jobs that needed doing.

While we were there, Jeff and Colleen from Sydney were volunteering in the Visitor Centre for 2 weeks. They provided information to travellers, looked after the campground and generally kept us entertained!

Volunteers like Jeff and Colleen continually rotate through during the tourist season. They provide an important service to travellers. By having a continual roster of volunteers, the Heritage Precinct remains open and functioning.

And while the sandstone buildings catch your eye, take the time to look around. You’ll find plenty of things to keep you busy:

• Re-live the past in the two corrugated iron sheds that house pastoral and mining relics.
• Learn all about the insanely difficult conditions the miners endured in the fantastic new state of the art Albert Goldfields Heritage Mining Centre.
• Take a heritage walk of the old town and get some sensational outback sunset photos.
• Take a travel break at campground or stay at the pub. Either way, make sure you have a feed at the pub!
• Wander down to Evelyn Creek, across the restored and rehabilitated earth slope leading down to the creek.
• Visit the cemetery for a glimpse into how fragile and uncertain life was, back in the gold mining days.

When you drive in and look around, it’s hard to believe most of the improvements have been done by volunteer labour.

Inside the buildings, you’ll discover an incredible amount of information and historical items from the region’s mining and pastoral history.

Family history folders covering local families, hand shears, bullock yolks, steam-driven bore pumps, historical documents from the courthouse… and everything in between.

Hundreds of posters covering everything from The Great Artesian Basin to historical facts about the region line the walls of the buildings.

The Heritage Centre holds a wealth of information. It’s a credit to the local people who had a vision and brought it to life.

There’s one other attraction at Milparinka which is a work of art…

Charles Sturt and his exploration party’s exploits at Depot Glen are an important part of this region’s history. During their desperate battle for survival at Depot Glen (see below), Sturt ventured far and wide. He was searching for another waterhole… a means of escape.

Sturt also explored the region extensively as part of his mission, sometimes alone, sometimes with one or two companions.

But he always had his trusty horse. The two of them covered hundreds of kilometres together, exploring his forbidding country.

As part of the Sturt’s Steps tourism route, the project commissioned Brian Campbell to create a wire sculpture of Sturt and his horse. Brian Campbell created the fantastic western barred bandicoot (or Big Bandicoot) for the Wild Deserts project near Cameron Corner , which was funded by the Sturt’s Steps project.

The sculpture sits on the entry road to Milparinka, when you come in off the Silver City Highway. It’s difficult to miss, standing out among the gibbers.

This incredibly detailed wire sculpture is truly a work of art. Layer upon layer of wire netting is shaped and formed and stretched to create every detail. As you can see below, the detail is incredible. He even has sideburns!

Get out, walk around and have a close look at this sculpture. It’s quite amazing. Of all the attractions at Milparinka, this one tops our list of favourites.

Other Attractions

Use Milparinka as a base to explore the local region. Here’s a few ideas.

No trip to Milparinka is complete without a visit to Depot Glen. Walk along the creek and get a feel for how desperate Sturt’s party must have felt… thousands of kilometres from home, with no escape in any direction.

We’ve been here when the waterholes are full, and also when they’re dry. The contrast is frightening.

If you visit after rain, it’s easy to imagine living beside these waterholes for 6 months. However, in dry times these long waterholes turn into stagnant muddy holes.

And that’s what Sturt’s party had to contend with. How only one person died (Poole of scurvy) is a miracle.

Further down the creek is Poole’s grave. Surprisingly, the blaze in a nearby grevillea tree is still clearly visible after more than 175 years.

National Parks have a sign which incorrectly identifies the site of Poole’s grave as Depot Glen. It was in fact about a kilometre further upstream.

If you’d like to learn more about Sturt’s inland expedition, I highly recommend “Sturt’s Desert Drama” by Ivan Rudolph. It’s a fascinating read.

• For Paperback version ➜ click here .
• For Kindle version ➜ click here .
• For Apple iBooks version ➜ click here .

If you’re feeling energetic, drive past Depot Glen to Mount Poole.

You’re on private property, so follow the signage, stay on the track, leave all gates as you found them and don’t go exploring along other farm tracks.

The walk from the carpark to the Sturt’s Cairn on top of Mount Poole is reasonably challenging. And don’t even attempt it in summer. You’ll be slow-cooked through in no time!

This rough, rocky climb has a few false peaks. However, it’s well worth the effort. The 360° view from the cairn is sensational.

The cairn itself was built to keep Sturt’s men busy during their stay at Depot Glen. When you stand at the cairn and see how far they had to walk just to get here, you have to wonder why they bothered.

It’s not an easy walk from Depot Glen to the top of Mount Poole… 6 or 7km over rough, rocky ground. And even harder when you’re starving and the temperature’s in the mid-40’s.

Then they carried rocks all day to build the cairn, only to walk all the way back to Depot Glen at day’s end. Crazy!

Milparinka’s a great base to explore further north. Tibooburra’s only 42km up the Silver City Highway, on a good tar road. Have a look around the town, it’s an interesting place .

You can take some fascinating drives through Sturt National Park. Our favourite is the Jump Up Loop Road which starts north of Tibooburra, off the Warri Gate Road. This is best tackled in a 4WD, or at least a well-equipped vehicle with high clearance.

Continue onto old Olive Downs Station and turn onto Middle Road. Turn right at the Tibooburra to Cameron Corner Road and drive out to Cameron Corner, where the three states meet.

On the way back, call into Fort Grey Campground. Here, you can take a walk across Lake Pinaroo to where Sturt’s party camped at Fort Grey.

Only attempt this walk in the cooler months. Summer temperatures out here get well above 45°C, so you need to be careful.

Then heading back towards Tibooburra, take Waka (pronounced Wokka) Road south down to Hawker Gate Road and back into Milparinka from the west. Waka Road forms part of the Sturt’s Steps Touring Route. More on this another time.

There really is something for everyone at Milparinka. Spend some time visiting the Heritage Precinct, then use Milparinka as a base to explore the local area.

Milparinka has had somewhat of a revival over the past decade, thanks to a dedicated band of locals.

The township is a connection with the past… an ideal way to understand the hardships faced by the people who lived and worked here.

And with the Silver City Highway now sealed all the way from Broken Hill to Tibooburra, Milparinka’s easy to get to.

It’s the perfect way to experience a bit of outback Australia!

Milparinka is on Wangkumara and Malyaangapa country.

Looking for more NSW Corner Country destinations? Then go here.

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4 thoughts on “Exploring Milparinka NSW, First Town on The Albert Goldfields”

thanks for a superb article. Visited that area in 2015, much enjoyed, must return

Thanks Pete! Cheers, Andrew

Thankyou for a wonderful insight into the history of Milparinka. I visited there in 2022 .I was fulfilling a promise to my late grandmother, Lillian Midwinter, who was born there in 1897. I discovered much about family history and felt a great connection there as I walked in their footprints. Thanks to the brilliant volunteers for making this a truly memorable visit.

It sounds like Milparinka has a special connection for you. It’s difficult to imagine life there in 1897 – it would have been a struggle. The volunteers and the tireless work of a small group of people behind scenes, help bring Milparinka back to life. Cheers, Andrew

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Milparinka Heritage and Tourism Centre

Place Category: Out West - QLD and The Outback

In the heart of the Corner Country is Milparinka with its multi-award winning Heritage Precinct, a collection of beautifully restored buildings from the days of the 1880s gold-rush. Each building houses interpretive information about the region’s rich history of exploration, settlement, goldrush days and pastoralism, as well as a Visitor Information Centre managed by Visiting Volunteers.

Nearby Sturt’s Depot Glen, Mt Poole and Mt Browne Goldfields each add to the experience of travellers to the Corner Country of Outback New South Wales. Find out more from the comprehensive website : www.outbacknsw.com.au

The Milparinka Heritage and Tourism Centre can provide maps and information about this interesting region of New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

We look forward to seeing you in ‘Corner Country’!

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Broken Hill local takes out Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award for tracing Charles Sturt's steps

A woman from Milparinka, north of Broken Hill, has won the state's top individual tourism award.

Key points:

• Ruth Sandow has been promoting far west NSW for decades
• She says she couldn't have achieved so much without the help of hard-working volunteers
• Ms Sandow says she intends to continue her work and "do justice" to the award

Ruth Sandow has been given the Dean Goddard Award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism for her tireless work promoting far western New South Wales.

"I didn't expect it and in fact I didn't even know that I was nominated until I was a finalist," she said.

The Milparinka Heritage and Tourism Association chair beat hundreds of competitors from across the state.

Ms Sandow has been promoting Corner Country and the outback for more than 20 years.

She has been instrumental in the formation of the Sturt Steps infrastructure project that traces the 1845 route taken by explorer Charles Sturt across the unincorporated far west.

"Corner Country has so much to offer tourists," Ms Sandow said.

"We needed to start to promote it more and make a destination in its own right."

She said she could not have found success without the efforts of many unnamed locals who volunteered their time to make Corner Country an appealing destination for tourists.

"I just hope that my winning this award is fitting from the start and I do justice to it," Ms Sandow said.

"But also it's encouraging us to keep on doing the work that we do and really growing tourism in this area, because there's such a lot to offer.

"Things would've stalled 20 or 30 years ago … without the volunteers none of this would've happened."

Ms Sandow has no intention of slowing down in her mission.

"It is a real honour, and I don't intend to rest on my laurels," she said.

"I'll keep on doing what I can for as long as I can."

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• 1. Kintore Reserve
• 2. Duke of Cornwall Hotel -1888
• 3. Daydream Hotel - 1888
• 4. Barrier Boarding House -1888
• 5. Shops - c1890
• 6. Willyama Hotel -1905
• 7. Old Railway Station - 1919
• 8. BHP Chimney - 1885
• 9. BHP Slag Heap - 1886
• 10. BHP Mill Foundations - 1897
• 11. Delprat Shaft - 1900
• 12. Mullockers Memory
• 13. Line of Lode Miners’ Memorial and Visitors Centre
• 14. Former Crown Hotel - c 1890
• 15. Former Wilcannia Club Hotel - 1888
• 16. Railway Station - 1957
• 17. Bond Store - 1890
• 18. Former Crystal Hotel
• 19. Former Miners Arms Hotel -c 1890
• 20. Duke of Cornwall Park
• 21. Central School - 1907
• 22. Gaol - 1891
• 23. High School - 1919
• 24. Former Police Barracks - 1900
• 25. Central School Building - 1900
• 26. Pig and Whistle Hotel - 1890
• 27. Synagogue - 1910
• 28. Joe Keenan Lookout
• 29. Sulphide Street Cottages - c1900
• 30. Hospital - 1941
• 31. Thomas Street Uniting Church - 1911
• 32. Regeneration Reserve
• 33. White Rocks Reserve
• 34. Cummins Street Residences - c1890
• 35. Thomas Street Residences - c1890
• 36. Tydvil Hotel - 1891
• 37. Mulga Hill Hotel - 1890
• 38. Oxide Street Row Cottages - c1890
• 39. St Andrews Uniting Church - 1905
• 40. St Peters Anglican Church - 1928
• 41. Former Caledonian Hotel - 1898
• 42. Catholic Bishop’s Residence - 1887
• 43. Sacred Heart Cathedral and adjacent Convent 1905 and 1900
• 44. Sacred Heart College - 1927
• 45. The Towers - c1890
• 46. Wesley Church - 1888
• 47. Sturt Park
• 48. Trades Hall - 1898/1904
• 49. YMCA - c1890
• 50. Miners Lamp Motel - 1888
• 51. Imperial Hotel - 1888
• 52. Scout Hall - 1900
• 53. Old Royal Hotel - 1904
• 54. Iodide Street Row Cottages - c1890
• 55. Wades Shop - c1890
• 56. Baptist Church - 1917
• 57. Shop and Residence - c1890
• 58. Williams Street Residences - c1890
• 59. Mosque - 1891
• 60. North Primary School - 1902
• 61. School of the Air - 1956
• 63. South Australian Brewery - 1893
• 64. North Mine
• 65. Junction Hotel - 1892
• 66. Junction Circle - 1950
• 67. Thompson Shaft - 1910
• 68. Junction Mine and Lookout
• 69. British Mine Housing - c1910
• 70. MMM Dumps
• 71. All Nations Hotel - 1891
• 72. Assay Office c1890
• 73. Central Power Station - 1930
• 74. Former Central Mine Manger’s Residence (now St Ann’s Nursing Home)
• 75. Alma Hotel -1891
• 76. South Broken Hill Hotel - 1889
• 77. Former South Police Station - 1889
• 78. South Post Office - 1898
• 79. South Fire Station - c1900
• 80. Patton Park
• 81. Bells Milk Bar – 1956
• 82. Alma Mechanic’ Institute – 1898
• 83. Former Salvation Army Hall 1900
• 84. Gladstone Hotel - 1888
• 85. South Primary School 1910
• 86. St James Anglican Church 1903
• 87. South Baptist Church - 1911
• 88. South Mine Offices - 1910
• 89. Zinc Oval and Zinc Mine (not accessible to the public)
• 90. Former All Saints Catholic Church - 1890
• 91. Union Club Hotel - c1890
• 92. Zinc Lakes - 1948
• 93. NBHC Mine Housing - c1950
• 94. NBHC Mine Haulage and Service Shafts –1946 (not open to the public
• 95. Southern Cross Shaft - 1966
• 96. South Mine Headframes 1919/1932
• 97. Ryan Street Cottages - 1890
• 98. A.J. Keast Park
• 99. Hillside Hotel - 1891
• 100. Burke Ward Hall - 1905
• 101. Railwaytown Post Office - 1925
• 102. Nicholls Street Methodist Church - c1890
• 103. Cornish Street Lookout
• 104. Broken Hill Cemetery - 1889
• 105. Former Freiberg Hotel - 1899
• 106. Burke Ward School - 1897
• 107. Ambush Site
• 108. St Marys Catholic Church - 1922
• 109. Railwaytown Baptist Church - 1913
• 110. The Salvation Army Hall 1960
• 111. The Former Railway Town Post Office - 1900
• 112. The Gasworks Hotel - 1891
• 113. St Phillips Anglican Church - 1903
• 114. The South Australian Hotel
• 115. Railway Residences 1890
• 116. Tramway Residence - 1902
• 117. Rising Sun Hotel - 1888
• 118. Block 10 Lookout
• 119. Queen Elizabeth Park
• Patton Street Park
• Queen Elizabeth Park
• National Heritage Listing
• Cameron Corner
• Sturt's Steps
• White Cliffs

In This Section

Milparinka is located 296 km north of Broken Hill, 39 km south of Tibooburra and 1465 km from Sydney. Milparinka was once a substantial township with four hotels, a bank, shops, a library, a newspaper office, police station and courthouse, a Cobb and Co office, school and post office. Today it is a ghost of its former self but offers visitors a wonderful insight into the heritage of the region. Four of the most significant buildings have been carefully restored as part of an award-winning heritage precinct.

For more information, please visit  Milparinka, Outback NSW - Plan a Holiday | Visit NSW .

Accommodation

Built in 1882, the Albert Hotel was the first to be licensed in Milparinka and just one of four hotels in the historic township at...

Attractions

Designed by Colonial architect James Barnet , the Milparinka Courthouse is a classic example of the fine design and construction of the day.

The Malyangapa Cultural Heritage Room explores the kinship connections of the Malyangapa people by explaining the moiety system of marriages.

The Sturt’s Steps Touring Route follows the route taken by 19th-century explorer Charles Sturt when his Inland Expedition came into NSW Corner Country in 1845.

Head to Sturt National Park on your journey into the Australian outback.

A walk around the outback township of Milparinka reveals many of its secrets.

Milparinka, NSW

Fascinating ghost town on the edge of the desert

Milparinka is a ghost town. It has one pub, a few ruins, some well preserved public buildings of which the Court House is the most impressive, and that is it. In recent times a committed group of volunteers have worked tirelessly to preserve the town's heritage and improve its facilities and services for visitors and the result - the Milparkinka Heritage Precinct - offers a quality experience of a hugely important historic mining town on the edge of the desert. It is best to visit the town during the winter months when there are people at the Visitor Centre. In the summer months when temperatures can reach 50°C and with little reliable water it is an oasis on the road between Broken Hill and Tibooburra. It is worth stopping and exploring because it is a salutary reminder of the sheer hardship of trying to survive in an unforgiving desert.

Milparinka is located 332 km north of Broken Hill via the Silver City Highway, 42 km south of Tibooburra and 1,254 km north-west from Sydney via Cobar and Wilcannia.

Origin of Name

It is widely accepted that Milparinka is probably a Wangkumara word meaning 'water may be found here'. It was almost certainly the Aboriginal description of Evelyn Creek - the only permanent and reliable water in the area.

Things to See and Do

Albert Hotel The only business remaining in the town is the Albert Hotel in Loftus Street. It dates from 1882 and is a typical outback pub with friendly staff and some very exotic pub games including a game involving a hook and a ring which, when we were there, won a contestant a free beer if he or she could throw the ring onto the hook. Historically there were horse stables out the back and in the 1880s the beer was transported by camel from Resch's Brewery in Wilcannia.

The Milparinka Heritage Trail and Heritage Precinct The Heritage Precinct includes a number of restored historic buildings and a history centre. They are located on Loftus Street, behind the Courthouse. There are interpretative spaces with themes that include pastoralism, mining, geology, First Nations heritage, pioneer women, education, health, Sturt's expedition, the Kidman story, post and telegraph, wild dog fence, and astronomy. There is a brochure available from the pub and the Court House which includes all the town's important heritage sites including the school, the Baker's House, an historic underground water tank and the cemetery. There is a useful website - https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/outback-nsw/corner-country-area/milparinka/attractions/milparinka-heritage-precinct/milparinka-courthouse - which provides additional information on the town.

The following are some of the most interesting buildings in the town.

Milparinka Courthouse - Local History Centre The Milparinka Courthouse, built of local sandstone in 1886 and designed by the famous colonial architect James Barnet (famed for Bathurst Gaol and the Sydney GPO), has recently (1988 and 2005) been restored and turned into a Local History and Family History Centre. For opening information  tel: (08) 8091 3862 or ring the Albert Hotel. The building uses locally cut sandstone. It cost approximately £2,160 and operated as a local Court of Petty Sessions until 1929. The records show that among the offences before the court were a case of stealing bread from the hotel and letting pigs roam in the main street. When the courthouse closed it became a community hall, was used by the Milparinka Rural Lands Board and briefly became the home of the Milparinka Sporting Club. Today it comprises four rooms with separate rooms devoted to the Aboriginal heritage of the area, the history of Charles Sturt's exploration of the area in his attempt to find the "inland sea" and a room for family history.

Milparinka Police Barracks and Cells Next to the courthouse in Loftus Street are the old police barracks which date from 1885. Originally it comprised five rooms and was used as a police station and the home for the police (one sergeant and three constables) and their wives. At the back were the cells and an exercise yard. There was a kitchen and laundry nearby. When the goldfields were producing significant quantities of gold the police provided an escort service. There were two square cells of solid sandstone with heavy wooden doors. The station closed in 1930 and became a private residence until it was purchased in 1999. Today it is an art and photographic gallery, gift shop and visitor information centre. The Visitor Information Centre is managed from April until October (when it is cool) by volunteers who travel to the town and donate their time to care for this unique town.

Milparinka Post Office Although now a ruin with a chimney and little else, this Post Office is part of the 19th century history of the town. It was built in 1901 at a cost of £1,050 and had a very short life. It was reduced to a semi-official post office in 1907 and became non-official in 1917.

Baker's Store Located just past the courthouse are the ruins of the house the Baker family lived in and the store they operated from 1890 until 1920. It was a vital general store for the local community. All that is left now is the cellar. The Bakers were typical gold prospectors who were prepared to travel anywhere to fossick for gold. Jeremiah and Ellen Baker came to Milparinka from the goldfields at Araluen in New South Wales. Today only the shell of the house remains.

Harry Blore Memorial Park The Harry Blore Memorial Park is notable for its displays of indigenous flora. There is a gazebo featuring interpretative material.

Pastoral Industry Interpretative Centre Located on the north side of the Heritage Precinct is a shed which has a display which focuses on the pastoral industry in the area. It includes information about the the wool industry, the problems with getting water, the building of fences and pest control.

Other Attractions in the Area

Exploring the sites relating to Charles Sturt's Expedition of 1845 Beyond the town are a number of sites relating to Sturt's expedition in 1845. Poole's grave and the stone cairn left by Sturt are both on private property and are open to the public courtesy of the owners of Mt Poole Station. The main sites are accessible to the public.

Depot Glen is located 15 km from Milparinka; Poole's Grave is 16 km and Sturt's Cairn is 21 km. These are all reminders of Charles Sturt's 1845 expedition to Central Australia in search of an inland sea. The journey is powerfully recalled in the Whale Boat sculpture at Tibooburra.

Near Mount Poole homestead is a water hole on Preservation Creek known as Depot Glen. It was there that Sturt and his party were forced to camp for six months. They had arrived in the area during a severe drought and could not proceed because of lack of water.  To the north of Depot Creek is the lonely grave of James Poole, Sturt's second-in-command, who died of scurvy. The party buried him under a grevillea tree, carving his initials and the year 1845 into the tree, which still stands. There is also a memorial headstone.

On the top of Mount Poole there is a stone cairn which Sturt had his party build to "give the men occupation". Sturt wrote in his diary "I little thought when I was engaged in that work, that I was erecting Mr Poole's monument, but so it was, that rude structure looks over his lonely grave, and will stand for ages as a record of all we suffered in the dreary region to which we were so long confined." It is worth checking before you travel to the area. The publican at the Albert Hotel will help.

To understand the Sturt expedition better, here is the information on the Tibooburra sculpture. "Myth and Mirage 1999 was created by South Australian sculptor, Anthony Hamilton. The sign beside the sculpture explains its genesis. "In 1843 Captain Charles Sturt held the conviction that Australia's interior was occupied by a central inland sea, not far from the Darling River, believing Eyre's Lake Torrens to be an estuary attached to it. In the following year, leaving from Adelaide, Sturt's well equipped expedition struggled against shimmering horizons in ever increasing hardships, suffering from extremes of heat and the waterless nature of the country in lure of 'any body of water of unknown extent'.

"Sturt's search is believed to have ended somewhere near present day Tibooburra, and it was at Depot Glen, 40 km south west of Tibooburra, that Sturt abandoned the 30-foot, 12-oar whaler boat that had been brought with the expedition (Depot Glen is approximately 12 km from present day Milparinka).

"It is these historical events that artist Anthony Hamilton has drawn on to create the work of art that is placed in Tibooburra. Hamilton has commissioned an exact replica of Sturt's whaler boat that has been suspended upside down between poles several metres above the ground."

"My feeling is that basically it is a land of mirage, and that the inland sea was a fiction, which is why I am mounting the boat upside down, and up in the air, between four poles ... a lot of my work has despair and abandonment in it." Anthony Hamilton.

* For 25,000 years prior to the arrival of Europeans the Wangkumara and Malyangapa First Nation people moved  through this area. Middens, quarries, camp sites, ceremonial sites, tool production sites and scarred trees exist in the area and are evidence of Aboriginal occupation.

* In 1845 Charles Sturt and his party (there were 16 men, 11 horses and 30 bullocks) reached the area. They were trying to discover an inland sea. While stranded at Depot Glen, beside Preservation Creek, they explored the corner country, and reached Mount Wood, Cooper Creek and the edge of the Simpson Desert.

* In 1860 Burke and Wills passed through the area on their ill-fated journey from Menindee to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

* In 1861 the land around Milparinka came under the Crown Lands Occupation Act which allowed for land with a carrying capacity of one sheep per every eight acres.

* In 1880 John Thomson, a tank sinker, reached Wilcannia and announced that he had found gold near Mount Poole.

* By February, 1881 other parties were exploring for gold and by June there were 2,000 miners in the area.

* Milparinka became the first permanent settlement on the Albert Goldfields. It was located overlooking a waterhole on the Evelyn Creek. At that time Milparinka was a shanty town of several hundred people living in rough huts and tents. However, local sandstone was available for building purposes and more substantial buildings were constructed.

* The town's hotel, the Albert, was first licensed in 1882.

* The town was surveyed in 1883.

* By the mid-1880s a mining town had grown up. Through the 1880s the town acquired a newspaper, police office, chemist shop, two butchers, a blacksmith, a photographer, a courthouse (1886), a school (1883), a hospital (1889) and four hotels. At the time it had a population of some hundreds of miners.

* Two other mining towns also grew up in the 1880s.  Albert, which at one time had a population of 900, and Mt Browne which is now nothing more than a few ruins and a cemetery. Gold prospecting at Albert and Mt Browne was complicated by a lack of water. Dry blowing was used and some miners carted their gold bearing dirt to Milparinka and washed it in the Evelyn Creek.

* In 1890 a telegraph office was opened. It connected Milparinka to Sydney

* The diggings were largely abandoned by 1893.

* In 1901 the Milparinka Post Office was opened. It had cost £1,050 to build.

* In 1929 the local Court of Petty Sessions heard its last case.

* In 1930 the local Police Station closed.

* Today the town is reduced to some ruins, a small number of well preserved historic buildings, and the Albert pub. They are nurtured by the Milparinka Heritage and Tourism Association.

Visitor Information

The Milparinka Visitor Information Centre, Milparinka Court House, tel: (08) 8091 3862 and Albert Hotel, Loftus Street, Milparinka, tel: (08) 8091 3863

Accommodation

Albert Hotel, Loftus Street, Milparinka, tel: (08) 8091 3863

Useful Websites

The famous Family Hotel at Tibooburra has a website with information about Milparinka. Check out http://www.tibooburra.com.au/default.asp?PageID=25 for more information. There is a useful local website. Check out http://outbacknsw.com.au/milparinka-heritage-precinct.html .

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11 suggestions

I am a 90 year old descendent of the Maliangaapa tribe of that area. My mother was born to Jack and Hannah Quayle on the 1st of May 1900 and I visit there often with some members of my family consisting of Grand and Great grand children all of whom are very interested in the history of that area.

Thanks Harold. I love the idea that there are people who are still so connected to the land and that they make sure future generations know the importance of that connection.

My GGF, Daniel Lester Sullivan married Jane Sophia White on 1 November 1876 in Menindee. They had 10 children, 4 of whom were born in Milparinka. Elizabeth Sarah Sullivan (1886), Sarah Alice Sullivan, my GM (1889), William Henry Sullivan (1891) and Herbert J Sullivan (1896). The other 6 children were born in Wilcannia. The family lived in Wilcannia, Milparinka and White Cliffs. My GM, Sarah Alice married William Joseph Twist in 1905 in White Cliffs, they were miners there for a few years before moving on.

we are heading back to Milparinka on 31.8.19 for a night in then heading down the dog fence. love the pub there and the family been going there for 15 years. From the V8 boys

My father held a police court in Milparinka c1938. What a lot of gates I had to open and close on the way to Tibooburra from Broken Hill. We overnighted at Fowlers Gap, then Milparinka. The car had mica window-“glass” at sides.

My Grandfather Harry Blore would be so proud to know that all his work restoring the police station and courthouse paid off and people are still visiting. I am also extremely proud of his achievements – a Hard Man from a Hard Land. Brilliant Bushman. Thanks Guys

My grandmother, Sarah Alice Sullivan, and some of her siblings were born in Milparinka. Nan was born on 13 March 1889.

The Albert Hotel has the best steak I have ever tasted.

Arthur W Upfield, my grandfather, based one of his most acclaimed mystery novels, (one of 35), The Sands of Windee in and around Milparinka. The book has Inspector Napoleone Bonaparte, aka, Bony solving one of his most challenging murder mysteries.

See website: http://www.arthurupfield.com.au

My second cousin, three times removed, Emily Collard, married James O’Connor in 1878. In 1885 they ran the Albert Hotel. I believe they had 4 children. Emily emigrated to Australia with her sister when she was aged 17 from London. I live in the UK and would love to learn more about Emily and her family.

5 August 2021.

My great-great grandfather’s sons, Selma and Carl Heuzenroeder traveled to Milparinka from Wilcannia early in 1880 and set up a grocery and drapery business. I believe they pegged out the first block in Milparinka on which they built a house and shop. Selma married Sopia Hill in 1885 at Milparinga.

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Australia ICOMOS

Milparinka: a community conservation project.

Ruth SANDOW

This presentation showcases the heritage conservation and cultural tourism developments at the historic town of Milparinka, 296 km north of Broken Hill (current population 4). Proclaimed in 1880, Milparinka had a population of around 400 in its hey-day, when it serviced the Mt Browne goldfield. Several beautiful sandstone buildings survive, including the Albert Hotel. The James Barnet designed Courthouse, together with the Police Barracks, cells, kitchen underground tank, (collectively known as the Milparinka Heritage Precinct), have been restored by the Milparinka Courthouse Committee (1988) and the Milparinka Heritage and Tourism Association 2000-2007. Currently used as a local history and Visitor Information Centre, the Precinct is operated during the tourist season by teams of visiting volunteers, people from all over eastern Australia who offer their help for periods from a week to a month. There are also substantial ruins of the post office, Commercial Bank, Bakers’ Store cellar and ground tank; others remain as archaeological sites. A recent survey of the township lays the way ahead for the reconstruction of the original streetscape. Winner of the 2009 Tidy Towns Sustainable Communities Heritage and Cultural Award, Milparinka is an example of successful community driven conservation project in an isolated location.

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Milparinka Walking Trail Guide

Download the milparinka walking trail.

Welcome to the Milparinka Walking Trail. It contains Information about the many historic locations around our unique Corner Country town. Several of the locations are marked with orange and red information posts.

Stop 1 Milparinka Courthouse and Visitor Centre

This imposing sand-stone building is the Milparinka Courthouse. It was built in 1896 to a design by the Colonial architect James Barnett whose distinctive style of buildings were used in Sydney, Bathurst, Hay, Deniliquin, Broken Hill and Tibooburra, just to name a few.

Figure 2 Milparinka courthouse constructed in 1896

Every piece of timber, every sheet of corrugated roofing iron, every nail and more would have been brought in by wagon. At that time the most likely route would have been through Wilcannia.

The sandstone used in the buildings was locally cut. The most probable source is the local quarry just to the western edge of the old township

The task of quarrying, cutting, and building would have required many men, some of them specialist builders,   carpenters and masons, others labourers.

The logistics of carrying out the operation are thought provoking. How did they get the men here? Where did they stay? Where did they find all the men they needed? Who over-saw the entire project?

Different techniques of masonry are evident in the buildings. The Courthouse has very refined stone work in evidence, especially around the doorways and windows, whilst the rest of the stones are not so precisely cut.

Many of the cases heard in the Courthouse were of a petty nature; some-one’s pig got out of the yard and was roaming the town; a publican served drinks to customers after hours, there was a drunken brawl in the bar of the Albert and so on. One of the big cases heard related to the capture of rogue shearers from Salisbury Downs Station who kidnapped the “scab” shearers and forced them to a makeshift camp near the Koonenbury Range.

They were arrested of course and tried at Milparinka.

The Court closed in the 1920s. For a time the rear room of the courthouse, now the Pioneer Women’s Room, was used as the post office before transferring to the hotel.

In the 1970s ownership of the building was handed from the Crown to the Milparinka Sporting Club. Abandoned for many years, windows were broken, graffiti carved into the walls, fox skins pegged onto the floor. But, in the 1980s the publicans at the time, Raylene and Ken Ogilvy, rallied the community to seek funding for its restoration. Full restoration was completed many years later and today the building is used to welcome visitors to Milparinka. Entry is free but a small charge applies if you would also like to visit the Aboriginal history room and the pioneer women’s stories. This fee also allows access to all of the interpretive spaces on the Milparinka Historic Precinct.

Stop 2 The Police Barracks

The barracks building predates the courthouse by around 13 years. It was a multi-purpose building,  police station, officer accommodation and court. Behind the barracks are the early police lockup cells. Both have been restored and are today in use as additional museum and interpretive spaces.

Figure 3 Milparinka police station and barracks prior to the construction of the courthouse.

One would have thought that with all the land available in Milparinka the courthouse would have been constructed in line with the barracks…but this is Milparinka. The old road does have a bend in it as it turned toward the Evelyn Creek crossing. Nobody knows for sure, but the assumption is that the builder simply followed the bend in the road!

The buildings do “connect” in more ways than one: the buildings are connected by a clay pipe which channels rainwater into a deep underground tank.

Drawings for the tank suggest that it was 25 feet deep, which would make the capacity around 20 000 gallons.

Behind the underground tank is a small cottage that was once the kitchen and store for the barracks. Today it provides private accommodation for the volunteers who look after the Precinct during tourist season.

The Police Station is a different style from the courthouse with a more “bas relief” effect on the stone work, a little rougher one might say.

Masonry is the work performed when using stone, rock, brick or marble. This would definitely apply in Milparinka.

Working with the grain of the stone (so as to avoid shattering) masons taught their apprentices to cut the stone directly from the quarry face. This way it would only require “dressing”. Some stones were “rough faced” (ie the Police Station), with just enough projections trimmed away to allow it to be properly laid in a straight line.

The mason initially worked using a mashing hammer that weighed about six kilograms. This hammer had a mallet head on one side, and a sharp blade on the other. Using skill rather than force, chunks of stone were trimmed from the stone. A “square” was then placed over the stone, the straight edges were marked, and a “pitching tool” was used to cut away unwanted bulges.

Smooth facing was carried out using mallets and a “point”. This resembled an ice- pick, and enabled the mason to remove very fine projections, and end up with a perfectly flat, rectangular stone. This technique was particularly used on the Courthouse.

After dressing the stones the mason would “pull a line” between stakes placed at the end of each wall line. This was used to determine the length and height of the wall, as well as keeping it straight. The back stone was then laid, then the front, and then the spaces were filled in with little stones.

The greatest achievement was dressing the stones so that they fitted perfectly together, requiring little cementing material. If needed, mortar was added to hold the rocks in place. In colonial times a just damp mixture of lime, sand and even horse-hair was often used.

A collection of masonry tools is on display in the barracks together with a story about a local mason, Frederick Bamess.

Stop 3 The Post Office

There were very good reasons for building a stone post office…mostly to help keep post masters in Milparinka. None of those appointed seemed particularly happy in Milparinka and its little wonder.

Prior to its construction, postal services were operated from local business places, such as Thomas Chambers’ property which doesn’t sound like the greatest place to be on a hot day. The building from which the post and telegraph office operated comprised two rooms and a corrugated iron verandah. “Only one room is water tight. The heat from the low roof of the verandah is unbearable”, wrote Mr Dalgleish. “On Boxing Day the water in the wash hand jug was at 6 p.m too hot to bear the hand in comfortably”.

In June 1891 the postal inspector reported, “the office premises rented at Milparinka can be described as the meanest, dirtiest and most uncomfortable place in that town”.

Finally someone must have listened because in 1896 the land on which the post office stands was purchased. It still took a good few years to complete. By then the postal service was downgraded to a contract.

Figure 4 Milparinka Post and Telegraph Office

The building itself was constructed of local stone with four rooms and a wide verandah, tall doorways and windows. Abandoned in the 1920s, it is suspected that the doors, windows and iron were used on other buildings, possibly Theldarpa Station which the Baker family acquired in 1923.

Ownership of the building had been transferred to a relative of the Baker family in the 1990s but was bought by the Milparinka Heritage and Tourism Association five years ago in the hope that funding one day might enable it to at least be partially restored. The

Sturt’s Steps project enabled that to happen.

One of the key points about the work undertaken is that the sky view from inside the building has been retained. This has been incorporated into the roof design. The doors are all glass and the windows are single panes enabling the views from the building to be retained. Stone-work has been re-pointed and foundations stabilised.

The building is to be used for additional interpretive information and artefacts with entry included in the Precinct admission fee.

Stop 4 Harry Blore Memorial Dark Sky Park

Walking along the opposite side of Loftus Street you will come to the Harry Blore Memorial Park that incorporates a memorial to children who died in the area with a dark sky interpretation area.

This space is named after Harry Blore who was descended from Frederick Blore and George Blore, the hotel builder. He was a much-loved local who lived in the barracks. A builder himself, he very much hoped that the restorations that have been completed in recent times could be achieved. He would be very pleased with the results.

The memorial comprises a granite slab letter-carved by artist Ian Marr as well as two slate slabs etched with the names of children whose deaths were recorded at Milparinka up until 1920.

The dark sky component of the park is intended for day and night visitation but do be especially careful at night. The area is not lit to enable visitors to see the best of our brilliant night skies.  It features a larger than life sculpture of Kalthi, the dark sky emu and a planisphere (to be installed in April 2023).

Next, is a stone wall onto which families have attached memorials to their ancestors as well as a silhouette of an early pioneering family.

Stop 5 Royal Standard Hotel

The site of the Royal Standard Hotel is directly opposite the Albert Milparinka Hotel.

The builder and first licensee was a former miner and police officer named Fred Connors although his real name was Hugh Frederick Benedict O’Connor. He changed his name because of anti-Irish catholic sentiment in the New South Wales police force. But, on the day of the first escort of gold from the area Fred’s rifle accidently discharged and a bullet shattered his arm. It then had to be amputated

Following the accident Fred decided to build a hotel which he named the Royal Standard.  In 1881 he wrote to his brother James,

“I have made arrangements for building a public house on the diggings and the building is started, it will be built of stone with nine rooms and a kitchen and store room. The stone work alone will cost £350. When completed it will cost about £600. A storekeeper here is going to furnish and stock it for me, which will cost about £400. I think there is a fortune to be made if drinks are one shilling a nobble.”

Figure 5 Royal Standard Hotel

Two years on and things were not going well at the Royal Standard.

Dear Jim, I am hard pushed to meet my first bill which falls due in the 13th September for £97/3/4. The others are all in three months form that date extending too [unclear] if I can only meet the first bill, I am confident I can manage the rest. I appeal to you for some assistance if you can possibly manage it at all. The House is one of the best in this part of the country and worth £2000. It is built of stone with double iron roof and contains nine rooms with larger stone kitchen, four stalled stable and two W.C. all stone. It would kill me to have to give it over to my creditors after all my trouble, anxiety and expense and perhaps I would never be able to get a start again. I have signed the bills and they must be met or forfeit all. So please Jim if you can assist me no doubt if I can manage the first bill I will be alright, and in the course of three years I will be able to give you a stake.

Fred’s dream had become a nightmare. The license was transferred to his brother James in 1885 and then the property was sold to Austin Clune.

After its closure in the 1920s the hotel became the home of the Maxwell family. Bill Maxwell ran the mails to Yandama and Mount Arrowsmith with a buggy and horses and used to pump the water for travelling stock by horse pump at the Government tank. It cost 1/- a night to leave a horse in the government tank paddock.

Stop 6 Commercial Bank

In November 1881 the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney moved its Milparinka branch to a new stone building in Loftus Street. While it only operated for a short time it was long enough for its employees to make the newspapers of the day.

The head line in the Australian Town and Country Journal on Saturday 20 January 1883 read:

BANQUET.-Tonight a complimentary banquet was given to Messrs Dawson and Bloomfield, manager and teller of the Commercial Bank here, who are leaving the district. About 20 gentlemen sat down to a sumptuous dinner at the Royal Standard Hotel.  I can safely assert that nothing could have been improved on, and if the tables were not decked with choice exotics, the bloom of the wattle and other indigenous trees did duty, and indeed they looked very nice indeed they looked. I cannot speak too highly of the arrangements. After dinner the usual toasts were given, the Queen, Prince of Wales, Royal Family, guests, &c, were all duly honoured, and where necessary responded to in suitable terms. After the toastings, songs were rendered by several gentlemen. Good humour prevailed, and without exception, I can say that those present never enjoyed themselves more in Milparinka than they did this evening.

Mr King, our worthy warden, was chairman. The evening then closed with “Auld hang Syne,” and “God save the Queen.”

And then: CHANGES.-Messrs. Dawson and Bloomfield are relieved by Messrs. Hogg and Farr, who were at the Granite, now known as Tibooburra. The branch of the Commercial Bank is closed there on account of the slack times. Mr. Dawson relieves Mr. Haydon at Wilcannia, who goes for a holiday, and Mr. Bloomfield goes to Sydney. I wish them God speed, may they prosper. Their gentlemanly behaviour here has endeared them to all classes.

The building became a privately owned home. Ted Smith from Moallie Park Station on the Wanaaring Road stayed there when he came to town in his wagonette and fine horses.

Over the years it has suffered extensive damage. The roof came off in the 1980s leaving just four walls. After heavy rain in 2010 two of the walls began to collapse. The old bank is often silhouetted against a magnificent sunset.

Stop 7 The Pharmacy

Figure 6 Commercial bank on the left, Armstrong’s pharmacy on the right.

Around the time that the bank was built a pharmacy was built alongside by Henry Charles Armstrong who already had a chemist business in Wilcannia. In 1881 Harry Given arrived on the Albert Goldfields as the pharmacist. He was much respected as a highly intelligent and sociable man who was experienced at helping to treat the community for some of their ailments, but also amongst the mining community.

So, it was a great shock to all in August 1893 to learn that Harry had died from the self- administration of strychnine. Reports in the Sturt Recorder of August 11, 1893 speak very highly of Harry. You can read all about it in a copy of the Sturt Recorder of that date that can be found on the touch screen in the Barracks.

At this point it may be wise to check your map and decide which way you want to go. By now you should be at the intersection of Loftus Street and Cemetery Road. A short distance along the Cemetery Road is a narrow track leading to the west across a small water course and over some white quartz stones. This pathway leads to the site of the Milparinka Public School.

Stop 8 The Milparinka Public School

The old school is now a pile of soft sandstone rubble, barely recognizable as a building. The building was hurriedly constructed early in the 1880s to accommodate the educational needs of the growing number of children in Milparinka. Attracting and retaining teachers was a problem, and it came about that the teacher was shared with a very little school at Mount Browne (on the southern end of the line of blue hills to the west). So, every other week the children of Milparinka and Mount Browne didn’t go to school.

The poor workmanship of the school resulted in its abandonment. Conveniently this also coincided with the closure of the post office so children were able to continue their schooling, at least for the time.

As one approaches, look carefully around the area because, although it is very hard to see today, there is a perimeter “fence” of stones raked or placed in a rectangle.  Presumably this marked out the school yard. Off to the south east is another little track…leading to what remains of the “facility”.

Of most significance are two mosaics made from large rounded quartz stones. These have a chain barrier to protect them but one reads “Milparinka Public School”, the second shows a kangaroo and an emu facing each other. One can only assume that it was intended as a reproduction of the Australian coat of arms which came into being in 1907.

Figure 7 Part of the mosaic created by children at the public school more than 100 years ago.

Stop 9 The Blacksmith

Back on Loftus Street, on the north western corner was the blacksmith business. In the days when transportation was by horse, wagon, carriage or coach the local blacksmith would have been a fairly busy person, fixing horse shoes, broken buggy springs, axles and more. There is plenty of evidence of blacksmithing on the ground here, old horse shoe nails, broken springs from carts, even charcoal from the fire used to heat the smithing tools.

Edward Herman Kuerschner was the last blacksmith in Milparinka. He was a descendant of Ludwig (Louis) Kuerschner, a German Immigrant, and his wife Louisa.

He was recognised as a great horseman and a skilled blacksmith. He had a reputation that ‘there was not a thing made of steel that Edward Herman could not make a copy of’. But times in the bush were hard and water was scarce so to support his family he contracted the building of water storage tanks/dams, using horse-drawn equipment.

He also participated in boxing matches behind the local hotel to raise money. Edward Herman was also the local funeral director, and he played a violin and piano accordion in the local dance band held in Tibooburra town. To the concern of several of his dance band members and friends, he also used his work truck to transport the ‘dearly departed’ to their final resting place at the local cemetery… and yes transported the dance band members and their instruments to the monthly dance gathering in Tibooburra.

Edward Kuerschner secured the lease of the property known as Peak Hill, right on the highway just south of Milparinka. It has now been in the Kuerschner family for over 100 years.

These were both corrugated iron structures, like many other buildings in the town, but with a few differences.

Stop 10 Cocky and Huezenroeder’s Stores

Across the road from the blacksmith’s were two stores, Cocky’s and Huezenroeders. Cocky was a Chinaman.

Out the back of Cocky’s store was a collection of sheds and lean-tos. It’s not known what was in them exactly but with a number of other Chinese in the district it is possible that they contained special herbs that were used in their cooking. It may even have been that Cocky sold opium. It was commonly used for pain relief and the Afghan’s teams brought supplies to the area were also known to use opium.

When the store closed, local children found Chinese coins with holes in the middle of the cellar and took delight in stringing them on wires for souvenirs.

Figure 8 Huezenroeder’s store

Huezenroeders Store was along-side Cocky’s although it later became A C Geyer’s Store. In 1880 Selma and Carl Huezenroeder left Wilcannia for Milparinka planning to join the many miners who had travelled there before them. They walked the distance alongside their dray loaded with mining implements.

Their plans took a bit of a turn however, and they decided to open a general store. You can read more about the brothers in the Barracks.

Further along on the eastern side of the road were other buildings one of which was used as a dance hall.

Stop 11 Baker’s Store

Back on the western side, just north of the blacksmith’s is the ruin of a cellar. This was William Baker’s home as well as his store that he built in 1893. The newspaper at the time congratulated Mr Baker for his foresight in excavating the site and building on top of it. “This underground apartment should be a very pleasant resort in the heat of the summer”, the paper read.

Ever the entrepreneur, William Baker advertised in the local paper, “William Baker of Loftus Street, “begs to announce that he has just received a large quantity of supplies of every description and of the best quality, which he is prepared to sell at the very lowest prices on prompt cash terms.”

He had “a very large stock of groceries, summer clothing, haberdashery etc, including ladies’ dress material, ladies’, gentlemen’s, children’s and infant’s boots and shoes etc.”

Bill Baker also had a saddler’s shop and butchery, with a delivery of meat to Mount Browne and Bendigo mines.

Behind the ruin is an area fenced off with pool security fencing. In the centre of the fencing is a circular stone opening to an underground water storage tank. The tank is also circular, the walls have been plastered and the domed roof is stone, held together by the centre ring of stones. Quite a feat of engineering in a township like Milparinka. Baker’s Store closed in the 1920s

Walking northward still along Loftus Street you will pass over Sutherland Street. Note how wide it is…built to turn a horse and cart or wagon around.

There are many house ruins along here. Only in our imagination can we see families in their homes, children playing, horses and wagons and the occasional pig. Some of the localities have name posts that help to identify where people lived.

After a short walk you will come to the fenced in memorial plaque for George Thomas Smith. George’s family lived at this site in Milparinka. He was descended from one of the earliest families who took up a property called Millring. George went on to become an academic. Many of the quotations published in the courthouse are attributed to George and from a document entitled “A Hundred Years of Corner Life”.

Stop 12 Royal Hotel

The ruin of the Royal Hotel is on the left at the “bottom” of Loftus Street. It was built by Duncan McBryde of the Mount Poole Run for the “benefit of travellers” with stables at the back and down the Mount Poole Road to the west. John McIndoe was the first licensee.

Judging by the rather significant “bottle dump” at the rear, quite a few travellers and locals benefited from a visit to The Royal, as, no doubt, did the operators. Quite a few operators it seems over a relatively short period of time.

John McINDOE 1882-1883; Arthur W. SHERARD 1884; William BAKER 1889-1890; George BLORE 1892-1893; Neil McLEAN 1894-1895; Edward BAKER 1896-1899

then back to Edward’s brother William…or was it Jeremiah? Just depends on whose report one reads as to who owned what, and when.

About the time of William Baker’s second period of ownership funds were being raised for a cottage hospital. William, so it seems, sold the premise for that purpose but continued to operate as a business, and the hospital never eventuated. Tibooburra got in first.

Stop 13 The quarry

If you now look to the west where the sandstone plateau dips down toward the gutters and water courses, you will see that the side of the hill has been excavated. This is the site of the town quarry. It has been certified that the majority of stone buildings in the town were constructed from sandstone cut from this hill.

Stop 14 Town’s End

At this point you are more or less at the end of the town. In April 2023 a wire sculpture of Sturt and his horse was installed at this point.  The pieces have been created by wire-artist Brian Campbell. Sturt is heading toward the creek which he would then have followed to the campsite at Mount Poole.  The pieces have been created by wire-artist Brian Campbell.

Figure 9 Camels first came to Milparinka in 1882

Diagonally opposite is the flood out flat of the Evelyn Creek where the so-called Afghan cameleers camped with their animals after they carried goods to Milparinka.

Further along the creek, about 2 kilometres from the centre of Milparinka, are the alluvial flats where Chinese gardeners grew vegetables to sell.

Chinese men were present in the area from about 1890 when several were working as miners at Mount Browne. After disagreements with the European miners their homes were burned and they were run off the mine-sites.

It’s not known whether these same miners dug the wells and established gardens along the Evelyn Creek flats but it is recorded that without their fresh produce the population of Milparinka would have had a very poor diet.

Now for the hike back up the road to the township.

Stop 15 Albert Hotel

The Albert ( Milparinka) Hotel is arguably the oldest building still standing in Milparinka, the Albert Hotel. In the early 1880s there was great expectation that the Albert Goldfield would prove to be very profitable. While there was no gold found in Milparinka the township rapidly developed as a service town. What better way to service the thirsty miners than with an ale or two at the local.

 Figure 1 Mrs Bonnett entertaining a visit by Government dignitaries. 1930s

George Blore is known to have built the Albert Hotel for Samuel Penrose using sandstone that was cut from the hillside just to the north-west of the town. George and his father and brother (both named Frederick) came into the area as stockmen and horse breakers. Frederick senior had been a builder in London and his skills were taken up by George who built and was licensee for the Cobham Lake Hotel.

Sam Penrose didn’t stay long as the Albert Hotel licensee and had several jobs moving on to the Warratta Hotel in 1890. Having had a bit too much ale one night he fell from his horse and was killed. His long suffering wife Evelyn became the district’s much-loved midwife.

The Albert Hotel had a series of owners after Samuel; the Blores, the Bakers, the O’Connors and the Bonnetts.

After her husband died Mary Ann Bonnett maintained the hotel, operated the post office and telephone exchange from the building, and hired our motor cars, much to the irritation of her competitor Austen Clune across the road at the Royal Standard Hotel.

Notable among visitors to the Albert Hotel was Mr EBL Dickens, son of the famous author Charles Dickens, who held a public meeting at the hotel in August 1893. Mr Dickens was the state member of Parliament for the seat of Wilcannia.

The hotel has undergone many changes since it was built but retains the atmosphere of a historic outback pub.

Stop 16 Houses and newspaper

Heading south along Loftus Street, which used to be the main road to Broken Hill, is a space where Jeremiah Baker lived with his family, Les, Nell, Girlie and Jack.

Jeremiah and his brothers came into the area around the 1890s.

Jeremiah then worked as a labourer and is reputed to have erected the first corner post at Cameron Corner with surveyor John Cameron. He and his brothers held the licenses for the Albert Hotel and another further back along the road to the north. He acquired the contract for postal services to Milparinka just prior to World War One.

His sons Ross and Les both enlisted; Ross was killed and Les was badly hurt.

In the early 1920s leases of the Kidman station properties expired and Jeremiah, Les and Jack were granted Theldarpa Station.

In this space was also the house of T.W. Chambers, the livewire of Milparinka. He was the editor of the newspaper The Sturt Recorder which ceased publication in 1899. Chambers was a champion of the Milparinka – Tibooburra district, especially with regard to public watering places, town commons, the dangers of the Labor Party, the enormous wealth of gold he believed still to be in the district. His newspaper heaped abuse on all politicians for their neglect and indifference towards the needs of country people. Copies of these papers are on a touch screen in the old barracks building.

To the rear of this space are several new buildings that accommodate the pastoral history of the area, a mining heritage centre and a gem centre and a large mural. Entry to these spaces is by a fee to be paid at the courthouse visitor centre.

Decision time:

It’s a bit of a hike out to the cemetery along the airstrip just on the other side of the water tanks, so if you don’t feel like it right now it may be best to return to Cemetery Road and head back towards Loftus Street. The cemetery is worth a visit and information about it will be included in this guide.

As you go back toward Loftus Street take note of the many artefacts lying on the ground; broken pieces of pottery, nails, screws, bits of timber from homes. About halfway along on the northern side of the road is a rectangular excavation that has been lined with sandstone. One can only assume that this was used as a dairy cellar. It is certainly recorded that people kept milking goats in their yard. There are also the ruins of several other stone buildings. They are worth a look but take care walking across the ground, it is quite uneven and there are also sorts of hazards.

17 The Cemetery

The Milparinka Cemetery can be accessed by following the airstrip for the full length and then continuing along a two wheeled track. Please do not drive on the airstrip itself but keep well left in order to prevent wheel ruts forming on the strip.

Figure 10 Stella Wood’s headstone.

The Milparinka Cemetery was laid out on a windswept hillside at the time that the township was surveyed.

From available records of Milparinka from around 1880 to 1920 we know that there were at least 300 people who died during that period. Almost fifty were infants or small children who succumbed to epidemics of typhoid or diphtheria. Some families lost multiple children.

The first European children whose deaths are recorded in Milparinka are the Morphett babies, George David and David Milparinka Morphett. They are not buried in the cemetery but in a small gravesite on a rise overlooking the town. It has been fenced by members of the Morphett family and a plaque installed. It can be seen from the courthouse verandah looking to the south west.

Not everyone whose deaths were recorded at Milparinka are buried there although it is likely that the majority would have been .Today ground disturbance may suggest a burial site but there are only a few distinctive headstones or grave fences. Some are ornate, some little more than rotted timber today.

Amongst the historic graves in Milparinka are those of Jeremiah Baker and his wife Ellen (Nell). You have heard quite a bit about old Jerry during the course of the tour.

Frederick and George Blore are also buried in Milparinka; their family has shown their respect for these pioneers by constructing a significant memorial wall.

Henry Bonnett is there also, the former Albert Hotel publican and wife of Mary Ann. One of their sons was killed in action during World War One.

Fred Conners from the Royal Standard Hotel is buried in Milparinka along with his brother James’ little girl Kathleen O’Connor who died from typhoid at Yandeberry Hotel on the road to Wilcannia. Her father built her little wooden coffin in order to transport her to Milparinka on the Cobb and Co coach service.

There is no headstone for little Sarah O’Connor, not related to Kathleen, who died after swallowing strychnine in a room behind their house. Her brother Barney served during World War One and was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Service Order.

Stella Wood was the daughter of William Wood, the town’s long serving senior constable.

Mildred Chambers is also buried here, a young woman engaged to be married to Tibooburra store keeper Fred Cornthwaite who died in a house fire in Milparinka.

And so it goes. Tread carefully as you will no doubt.

Thank you for taking the Milparinaka Walking Trail. We hope you enjoyed the walk to our unique corner country town.

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TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT

Project update.

The Sturts Steps Infrastructure Project is now complete and has been handed over to Milparinka Heritage & Tourism Association to run and manage from here. Check out our wonderful images that showcase what has appeared in the Corner Country region through this project. A list of all the additions is below. 

MasterPlan, Waterhole, Camp Kitchen, Post Office, Accommodation and Museum

Town Walking Tour, Museum, Camp Ground Camp Kitchen, Art Trail

Sculpture Trail

Sturt National Park, Tibooburra, Milparinka, Packsaddle

Wayfinding, Interpretation Shelters and Information Posts

The town in the centre of Sturts Steps Touring journey is undergoing much change in this project and elements include;

Waterhole refurbishment

Town MasterPlan

Post Office renovation 

New interpretation spaces

A Night Sky Park

Additions to the existing caravan park including a Camp Kitchen and Shelter 

Extra Accommodation for caretaker

The Milparinka Sculptures

Also a significant town within the journey, Tibooburra also has many additions being added to the visitor experience. These include; 

A new interpretation centre

Town walking tour

Additions to the existing camp kitchen at the Local Aboriginal Land Council camping ground

The Tibooburra Sculpture of a Cameleer

A Mural on the interpretation centre

New amenities in the park

Other Elements include;

Wayfinding and Interpretation Signage

Digital integration with extra engagement for visitors

The component of the Art Trail that is now complete includes the 3 sculptures in Sturt National Park that take the form of a Bandicoot (Artist: Brian Campbell), a Bilby, and a Quoll (Artist: Ivan Lovett)*. Each adds an element of representation to the Wild Deserts project and the icons that Sturt National Park will once again be recognised for. 

Thank you to the Managers of the Wild Deserts Project, Reece & Bec Pedler for their assistance and coordination of the installation of these magnificent icons in the area.

In addition, the pieces at Milparinka are also now complete, produced by Bonny Quayle and Gritta Walker. These pieces tell the stories of Milparinka, a testament to the Women of Milparinka in the 19th century, reflecting the letters that were written to families and loved ones acknowledging hardships and joy. In addition, a beautiful artwork that can be found in the museum was commissioned by artist Clarke Barrett, depicting Captain Charles Sturt.

The Tibooburra sculpture is now complete and stands outside the new Tibooburra museum. The cameleer and his camel are a testament to Tibooburra's beginnings, as, without camels, settlement in the far reaches of Outback Australia would have been impossible.

In Packsaddle,  the addition of a sculptural monolith is a testament to the past and current. Stone pieces engraved by artist Ian Marr of the Outback locations in the region, visited by many including Captain Charles Sturt and the names of Sturt's party on the Inland Sea Expedition. One stone is left unengraved ready for the future to be written. Enjoy this sculpture by sitting around the yarning circle under the windmill... a great place to stop and rest.

The Silhouette images are an important part of bringing art into the region. Each tells a component of the stories that appear on the sign that is situated beside them and is an artistic creation that when set in the backdrop of the landscape brings the history to life. Not to mention a fabulous selfy tour for tourists!

The remaining pieces to the Art Trail include;​

Tibooburra Museum Wall  - On the side of the museum will be a mural that will showcase the elements of the history and today in Tibooburra . Clark Barrett is the artist.  Status; Work has commenced off-site.

Milparinka - Another artwork for the trail is another wire sculpture at the intersection of Milparinka Township and Sturts Steps Touring Route. It is of Sturt and his horse, a moment at a time as he traverses the landscape toward Depot Glen.  Status; Work has commenced off-site.

Milparinka Night Sky Park - in the image gallery you will see a construction with welded metal. This is the construction work of artist Harrie Fasher. The outcome of which, you will see it is in place... something you will have see!

Thanks to West Darling Arts for their assistance in this area of the project.

* Sturt National Park Sculptures were all made from the left-over wire fencing from when the Wild Desert conservation area was fenced. 

Artwork images can be seen below.

Contact West Darling Arts

What makes Sturts Steps an engaging touring journey is not only the towns you visit but the comprehensive signage strategy that stops visitors and helps them to understand the importance of the landscape and activities that occurred on that place before them.

The signage comes in 3 forms; 

128 Road Signs pointing to key attractions and the route

9 Interpretation Shelters located on roadsides with comprehensive information for visitors

32 Interpretations Posts located in significant locations that interpret one particular story or icon.

The successful tenderer for the Interpretation shelters and interpretation posts has been confirmed as AW Signs. Artwork is at the approval stage for all bar the current 3 Interpretation Posts already installed in Sturt National Park and supplied by Country Mile Signs.

Digital Interpretation

As part of the project, the team knew that we needed to get the history to come alive in more than just words on a sign, or words on a wall, and this is where the digital content will assist. Working with Jason King Media, there will be downloadable content for all visitors to engage in the spaces, places, and characters in Corner Country. And there will be a few characters (digitally) to guide you. Here is a sneak peek of what to expect.

Night Sky Park

A massive opportunity in the outback is for visitors to engage in the night sky. There are more opportunities to see more stars and astronomy events in the darkness of the outback areas during the night. Milparinka will house the first Corner Country stargazing park complete with interpretation signs, a planisphere, landscaping, seating, and a sculpture that will be a testament to the Aboriginal interpretation of the night sky. All of which is under construction and expected to be ready by early 2023. 

Camp Kitchens

There is a new camp kitchen being added to Milparinka and an extension being built alongside the existing Tibooburra campground facilities. Concept drawings are going through the approval stage prior to procuring and can be seen below. These facilities will provide excellent amenities for visitors to the region, with 58% of all visitors to the region caravanning or camping. 

Milparinka Camp Shelter

Interpretation centres.

The addition of interpretative signage is an important aspect of this project as we help visitors to understand the history of this place, our traditional carers of the land and their stories, European settlement, the geology, flora, fauna, and how the region operates today. New interpretation centres have been added to the region to engage and inform all visitors on a number of areas. 

OSM was successful in the tender process for the Milparinka Sturt & Kidman Museum and Taylor Made was successful in being the supplier for the Tibooburra Museum. The construction of these buildings is now complete and images of construction and installation can be seen below. Milparinka's is fully operational while the Tiboooburra Museum is undergoing its fit-out over the summer period.

In addition, OSM has helped with the development of the Percy and Doris Fripp Rock and Mineral Centre,  which brings very relevant content for visitors to immerse themselves in as the geology of the corner country is diverse and iconic. Relocating from Nelligen, this collection of minerals, fossils, and gemstones is a proud addition to the other 11 interpretative spaces in Milparinka. Charmaine Fripp, daughter of Percy & Doris, noted that her parent's last trip was to the Corner Country, an area they loved due to the fossicking opportunities so it's quite fitting their collection is now on display in Milparinka. 

Milparinka Waterhole

As part of the Sturt's Steps Project the Waterhole at Milparinka received a make-over removing considerable silt build-up and rubbish that had to be dumped over the years. This truly started to form an oasis in the desert and a great place for visitors to relax. Located just below the Milparinka Caravan Park, it provides an excellent outlook as well. 

Now located overlooking the waterhole is the new accommodation offering for the precinct. 

Industry Famil

Two itineraries were confirmed in March 2021 to take key industry stakeholders on the journey and gain their feedback on our additions and allow shaping of the elements to better suit industry needs. Unfortunately only one of those tours has been able to go ahead as we have been challenged with obstacles such as the March 2021 floods, peak season restricting availability, and now COVID lockdowns in Sydney and NSW.

The second famil ran in March 2022 and enabled more of our stakeholders to see what we had done and what was coming. This resulted in some great coverage for the project in the RACQ magazine and RM Williams Outback Magazine.

Conversations with these stakeholders continue regardless to ensure that we plan for organised tours, inbound interest, and an inclusive approach to the promotion of this touring route amongst other amazing touring journeys. Thanks to Destination NSW for their inclusion on www.visitnsw.com .

Sturt's Steps new addition

There are 2 letters next to Sturt's Steps - TM. Sturt's Steps is now a touring experience that is trademarked.

This approval confirms the importance of history when connecting with visitors across the region, and emphasising the importance of Charles Sturt's legacy in Outback Australia. Sturt's Steps can then tell more stories, offer more experiences, and welcoming more visitors to the region long into the future.

General Information

Outback etiquette tools available for industry use.

To assist in educating our visitors on some of the nuances to Outback travel, access and amenity, the Sturts Steps Committee have provided these tools for any business, region, council, town to use to communicate to existing and potential visitors. 

Download your version that suits your requirements, add your logo and display away! 

Download and add your logo to it

Past Activities

Industry famil  march 2021.

One of the planned research familiarisation tours was able to take place in March 2021. Thanks to Destination NSW, Insights Australia, GoWay Travel, and Broken Hill City Council for attending and to the amazing partners in Corner Country who hosted them; Milparinka Heritage & Tourism Association, Pimpara Lake Station, Mt Gipps Station, Pincally Station, Milparinka Hotel, Tibooburra Family Hotel, TJ's Roadhouse and Motel, Tibooburra Beds & Camping, Corner Country Store, Tibooburra Local Aboriginal Land Council, Tibooburra Village Committee, Wild Deserts Project, Cameron Corner Store and Packsaddle Roadhouse. 

Community Forum 11th November 2020

Lori Modde and Ruth Sandow were in Tibooburra for a community forum on the 11th November 2020. This was a great opportunity to update the community on what has been achieved to date and what is next on the agenda for the project. This was also a time where the community could ask questions and give input on the museum contents as well as the sculpture that will be added to the town.

This meeting coincided with a project site visit that entailed many meetings in Broken Hill with current and future stakeholders as well as a site visit to Sturt National park to confirm the location of the elements in the Park. A few photos from the trip can be seen below. 

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nsw Tourism Awards 2022

The nsw tourism awards recognise over 25 categories for outstanding performance. it is our pleasure to present the winners for the 2022 awards categories., thank you to everyone in our amazing industry and  congratulations to the winners.

The very best of luck to all our State winners of the nationally-aligned categories (1-25) who will represent NSW at the prestigious Q antas Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Darwin on 15 March 2024   Jump to  Honorary Awards  lower on page.

Hall of Fame 2022

Congratulations to our newest inductee

• Riverside Holiday Resort Urunga  ( Excellence in Accessible Tourism)  

Major Tourist Attractions

Gold:   Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo Silver:  Australian Reptile Park, Somersby Bronze: The Big Banana Fun Park, Coffs Harbour

Tourist Attractions

Gold:  Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail, Port Macquarie Silver:  Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary Bronze:  Aussie Ark, Barrington Tops  

Major Festivals and Events

Gold:  Bluesfest Byron Bay Silver:   GLOW at Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee  

Festivals and Events

Gold:  Tumbafest Inc, Tumbarumba Silver: Bathurst Winter Festival  Bronze:  The Coffs Coast Food & Wine Festival  

Gold:     Sydney by Kayak, Lavender Bay    Silver:  Vision Walks - Eco Tours, Mullumbimby    Bronze:  Tweed Eco Cruises, Tweed Heads  

Cultural Tourism

Gold: Local Sauce Tours, Sydney Silver:  Old Dubbo Gaol Bronze:  Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail, Port Macquarie

Excellence in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experience

Gold:  Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours, Coffs Harbour Silver:  Bundyi Cultural Tours, Wagga Wagga Bronze:   Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation, Coffs Harbour

Retail & Hire Services 

Gold:  Sydney Harbour Kayaks, the Spit Bridge, Mosman Silver: Ask Roz Blue Mountains

Visitor Information Services

Gold: Mudgee Region Tourism Silver:  Bathurst Visitor Information Centre   Bronze: Eden Visitor Information Centre, Sapphire Coast

Business Event Venues

Gold:  Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains by MGallery Silver: Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Tour and/or Transport Operators

Gold:  Tweed Eco Cruises, Tweed Heads Silver:  Beyond Ballooning, Lovedale Bronze:  Blue Mountains Stargazing  

Adventure Tourism

Gold:  Balloon Aloft, Hunter Valley, Camden Valley, Mudgee and Byron Bay Silver: Sydney Harbour Kayaks, The Spit Bridge, Mosman Bronze:   Beyond Ballooning, Lovedale

Tourism Marketing and Campaigns

Gold:  MidCoast Council: Destination Barrington Coast Silver: Shoalhaven City Council, Tourism Bronze: The Tweed Tourism Company

Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services

Gold:  Potager, Carool Silver: Bent on Food, Wingham Bronze:  Antica Australis, Carcoar  

Caravan and Holiday Parks

Gold:  North Star Holiday Resort, Hastings Point Silver: NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort, Central Coast Bronze:  BIG4 Deniliquin Holiday Park

Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries

Gold:  Courabyra Wines, Tumbarumba    

Hosted Accommodation

Gold:  Blueberry Hills on Comleroy, Kurrajong Silver:  Belle Bois, Capertee Valley Bronze:   Amaroo Valley Springs, Kangaroo Valley

Unique Accommodation

Gold:   Zoofari Lodge, Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo Silver: Glenayr Farm Mudgee Bronze:  Berger Houseboat Holidays  

Self-Contained Accommodation

Gold:   Bandalong Cottages, Mudgee Silver:  Peppertree Hill, Mudgee Bronze:  Mt Warning Estate, Dum Dum  

4 – 4.5 Star Accommodation

Gold:  The Byng Street Boutique Hotel, Orange Silver: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains by MGallery Bronze: Wildlife Retreat at Taronga

5 Star Accommodation

Gold:  Mt Hay Retreat, Berry Silver: Kalinya Estate, Bargo Bronze: Fullerton Hotel Sydney

New Tourism Business

Gold:  Italian Cooking Experience with Stefano Marvello, Bowral Silver: Navigate Expeditions, Sapphire Coast Bronze:  Evamor Valley, Mudgee Highly Commended: ????

Excellence in Food Tourism

Gold:  Margan Wines & Restaurant, Broke Silver: Food I Am, Wagga Wagga Bronze: Country Food Trails, Orange

Excellence in Accessible Tourism

Gold: Riverside Holiday Resort Urunga Silver:  Cocky Guides, Sydney Bronze: Sea Horse Diamond Beach

Local Government Award for Tourism

Gold:  MidCoast Council: Destination Barrington Coast Silver: Central Coast Council - Destination Central Coast

Honorary Awards 2022

Judges’ tourism star award.

This special accolade acknowledges the resilience shown by the tourism industry during a year impacted by floods, bushfires, and COVID-19.  Awards were decided by the judges from amongst eligible finalists. 

Joint winners Glenayr Farm, Mudgee

Joint winners Love Lord Howe

Dean Gorddard Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual

Ms. ruth sandow, chair of milparinka heritage & tourism association.

Ruth Sandow has been described as a hardworking, community-minded individual with a heart of gold. She's dedicated over 25 years of tourism development, promotion and advocacy. Ruth’s commitment to the community is seen not only in tourism but with Landcare , Distance Education (School of the Air), Regional Development Australia, and as the former Chair of the Royal Flying Doctor Service , Southeast Section where she welcomed Prince Harry & Meaghan to the Royal Flying Doctors Service during their 2019 royal visit .

Starting as a registered nurse, Ruth and her husband Jon, purchased a station property in outback NSW and faced the usual adversities that come with station life. Her love of history helps in her efforts to promote the region of Corner Country to visitors and share the knowledge of the area, which in turn helps support local businesses. In creating the Milparinka Heritage & Tourism Association she has spearheaded the injection of millions of grant-funded dollars into the area over her time.

Milparinka has an average population through the year of four, at its lowest, two, and at its maximum, six. Yet Ruth’s programs attract over 100 volunteers who become part of the community in its peak season.

Milparinka wouldn't host 20,000 visitors a year if it weren't for Ruth! She understands that by building Milparinka as a destination, all of Corner Country benefits. In 2020 she successfully linked the whole region together in a monumental project which has set the town up for ongoing tourism success.

This project is known as Sturt's Steps .

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