100 Towns

Lyndhurst (population 400) began as a rural town in the 1860s, boosted along with gold discovery in 1870. However, it really began to prosper with the arrival of the railway in 1888.  Back then there were  more 30 shops and services. Many of these old buildings can still be seen today. There is a hotel, a general store, church, CWA and soldiers memorial hall and quite a few houses. Lyndhurst was one of the possible sites considered for the new Federal capital which eventually went to Canberra. I'm rather happy it didn't get chosen though it is a rather nondescript country town.

Pyramul is in the gold mining district around Sofala and Hill End so I'm fairly sure it would be an old gold mining town.  Today there are some homes, some churches, a school and the old show grounds.

Glen Davis is a tiny settlement situated in the beautiful Capertee Valley.  It came into being when the shale oil mining and refining operations at Newnes closed down and moved to Glen Davis in 1938. But as shale oil was ultimately not viable the operation closed down in 1952 leaving the town to slowly disappear. However there are still some dwellings, a boutique hotel, a camp ground used by walkers keen to explore the nearby Wollemi National Park, the ruins of the old shale oil works (on private land) and a  beautiful backdrop of cliffs. This a great spot to take a day drive or a weekend stay.

The town of Newnes sprung into being with a shale oil mine and refinery which operated from 1906 to 1932. It quickly disappeared when the operation was shut down with just the pub and ruins of the old works remaining. The pub was moved to its current position in the 1980s because it was too close to the river and subject to flooding. It also sold its last beer in the 1980s. It now operates as a facility for tourist. The scenery around here is magnificent and for those who love camping there is a great camp ground near old hotel and shale oil ruins. For those who like luxury and have deep pockets there is the six star Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa a kilometre or two back along the track. For 4WD enthusiasts there is plenty of good driving in the nearby Newnes State Forest.

As you drive on the Mitchell Highway towards Orange there is a tantilising glimpse of old cottages through the trees at Shadforth, after the exit to their street.  One day we remembered to take the exit and go and see what there was to be found. The were a few streets, some ramshackle buildings, some well kept buildings, orchards and the three cottages which I guess were workers cottages, though they look so picturesque they could be modern replicas for the tourist trade. There was and I think still is a quarry at Shadforth.

Lucknow has its mining history on proud display with two poppet heads speaking of the towns mining past. Apparently there is a near intact gold stamper battery in one of the sheds that is open to the public. We must stop a while and go look at it one day. The other treasure in this town is an huge second hand shop full of loads of wonderful junk.