CARCOAR - POPULATION: 218

TUES 4 - WED 5.3.2014:  First stop was at Grenfell - Henry Lawson's birthplace. Henry Lawson (17 June 1867 – 2 September 1922) Australian writer and poet. Along with his contemporary Banjo Paterson, Lawson is among the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial period and is often called Australia's "greatest short story writer". He was the son of the poet, publisher and feminist Louisa Lawson. Shayden had his "off lead game" in the park next to Henry's memorial, that is until the leathered up 'bikies' arrived - turned out to be more akin to the "Wild Hogs"!
Before Grenfell was settled, the area then known as Emu Creek was a farming area. In 1866 shepherd Cornelius O'Brien discovered a gold bearing quartz rock outcrop. The site became known as O'Brien's Reef and by 1867 up to 10,000 people were on the goldfiends and the town was renamed Grenfell. By 1870 production started to decline.

GRENFELL RAILWAY STATION 1901



Travelled down the highway and spotted the sign "Carcoar the town time forgot" - had to call in. Absolutely stunning, only hiccup was the town scheduling their weekends on a Monday and Tuesday so naturally 80% of the shops were closed! Carcoar was once one of the most important government centres in Western New South Wales. The town has been classified by the National Trust due to the number of intact 19th-century buildings. Carcoar is a Gundungura word meaning either frog or kookaburra. By 1850 Carcoar was the second most populous town west of the mountains, second in size to Bathurst and become a banking and administrative centre for the area.



 

 Spent a lovely couple of days at Carcoar Dam then the rains came!



GRENFELL - POPULATION: 1,996

MONDAY 3.3.2014: Bogolong Creek Rest Area 9km north west of Grenfell was the port of call for the evening - a somewhat 'public' stop, but the sunset was well worth the stay!

 

 

RANKINS SPRINGS - POPULATION: 230

SUNDAY 2.3.2014: Left Hay and headed for West Wyalong. The Nullarbor is known as "the treeless plains", but the area from Hay to Goolgowi would have no trouble competing for the title. Stayed ay John Oxley Rest Area 12km west of Rankins Springs.

HAY - POPULATION: 2.636

SATURDAY 1.3.2014: Driving along and we saw an older man pushing a bike laden with personal belongings. 45km and some time later we saw him again walk by - not only validated our snail's pace of travel, but also reinforced our apathy toward exercise! Stopped at Balranald (population: 1,159), and completed the domestics, then of course visited the shops. Whilst travelling we have seen so many emus that we just had to purchase a life size garden feature of mother and chicks - easily transported in a motorhome (not)!

Had planned a stop at Sandy Point Reserve Parking Area, but trees and the road surface were questionable. Instead stayed at Hay Showground ($17.00 powered site). Lang’s Crossing Place Post Office opened on 16 April 1859 and was renamed Hay in 1861. In early 1860 a brick court-house and lock-up was built at Hay (at the site of the present post office).