Autumn poplars on the road from Oberon to Jenolan Caves

 

Oberon (including O'Connell, Tarana, Gemalla, Black Springs and Burraga)
Isolated township beyond the limits of the Blue Mountains
Oberon is a settlement of some 2500 people located on a chilly plateau, 1113 m above sea-level, 42 km south-east of Bathurst and 183 km west of Sydney. Prime lambs and beef cattle are the main rural industries although vegetable production, tree nurseries, nut tree plantations and bulb farms all play their role. Timber processing by CSR and Boral Timber is a significant secondary industry with wood taken from NSW State Forests, radiata pine plantations and private forest growers.

Prior to European settlement the area was inhabited by the Wiradjuri peoples. Gold was discovered on the Fish River in 1823 and settlement along the river, and of the area between Oberon and Taralga to the south, began that same decade. The land hereabouts was used for pasturage during drought periods by settlers from the Bathurst Plains.

The first permanent land grant in the area was 'Glyndwr', made out in 1839 to Charles Whalan who was associated with the European discovery of the Jenolan Caves the previous year. He was followed by immigrants from Northern Ireland in the 1840s. Oberon was proclaimed a village in 1863 on the site known as Bullock Flats. Presumably seeking a more euphonious title, a local woman apparently suggested 'Oberon', a name taken from the King of the Fairies in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (in 1904 a nearby village was renamed Titania after the Queen of the Fairies).

Silver, copper and bismuth mining have all occurred in the area over the years, particularly on Wisemans Creek. A local council was formed in 1906. Pea-growing began that year and forestry became a staple industry for the first time in the 1930s. Hardwoods became important after World War II and a pineboard factory was established in 1959.

The Oberon Show is held on the second weekend in February. The following weekend is the Oberon Rodeo. The Daffodil Festival occurs on the last weekend in September. The Oberon Woodcraft Exhibition runs concurrently at Malachi Gilmore Hall, tel: (02) 6336 1002 (a collection of woodcraft is kept at the council chambers). During the festival, and in October, the district's best gardens are opened up for inspection. The Oberon Community Art-and-Craft Exhibition is held in mid-November. There are two golf tournaments held in December at the local golf course which boasts kangaroos, birdlife and views of Lake Oberon.

 

 

 

Things to see:  

 

Ramsgate Guesthouse & Tearooms in the main street

 

Tourist Information
Click HERE to visit the town's detailed and comprehensive web page. .Tourist information is available from the new Oberon Visitors Centre at 137-139 Oberon Street. It has comprehensive information on the town and the surrounding area. Every year, from late January to early May, many visitors come to pick exotic wood mushrooms in the Jenolan, Gurnang and Vulcan State Forests. There is an associated pamphlet and another outlines local fishing spots.

 

Heritage Buildings
Many early buildings were of pise construction and have not survived. St Barnabas Anglican Church (1869) in Queen St is of some interest. There are two buildings of note in the main street. 'Ramsgate' (1906) is a two-storey Victorian residence, built by storekeeper Albert Fox of Ramsgate in Kent. It features verandahs on both floors, a rubble-stone and cast-iron fence and decorative effects in wood and cast-iron. The Art Deco Malachi Gilmore Hall (1937) is named after the Irish immigrant who was the original European owner and donater of the land upon which the hall stands.

 

 

Old tractor at Oberon Museum

 

Museum
The Oberon and District Museum is located in the old railway station on Lowes Mount Road. It is open from 2.00 p.m to 5.00 p.m. on Saturdays or by appointment, tel: (02) 6336 1016.

 

Cobweb Craft Shop
Cobweb Centre and Craft Shop in Oberon St. It has eight tapestries, hand-stitched by 70 local needle workers, which reflect Oberon's landscape, historic buildings and primary industry.

 

Lake Oberon
Lake Oberon in Jenolan St, at the south-eastern outskirts of town, is formed by the Fish River Dam. It is noted for its brown and rainbow trout which can be fished all year round. Boats and swimming are not permitted as the water is used for drinking purposes. There are picnic, barbecue and childrens' play facilities and an amphitheatre.

Fishing is also popular at Chifley Dam, Rockley Weir, on the Fish River between Tarana and O'Connell and near the bridge on Bathurst Rd at O'Connell.

 

Lookout
The Rotary Lookout is located at the western end of town, on the Black Springs-Goulburn Rd. It provides good views of Oberon and north-west towards Bathurst.

 

Town Common and Other Parks
The Town Common in Edith Rd offers passive recreation. There is a band rotunda, a picnic area and a small lake. Apex Park in Carrington Avenue is another passive recreation area with toilets, barbecues and picnic facilities. The Recreation Reserve in Cunynghame St has a caravan park, tennis courts, playing fields, children's play facilities and a heated swimming pool. The Reef Reserve on Reef Rd is an area of natural bushland with access to the lake foreshore.

 

The pond in the Town Common

 

 

Daffodil Farm
Brenda Lyon's Specialty Bulbs is a daffodil farm (called 'Falkirk') on the Jenolan Caves Rd which has 1500 varieties of bulbs for purchase from February to March. The gardens are in bloom from September to October, tel: (02) 6336 1282.

 

Titania Tulip Patch
Titania Tulip Patch is a tulip farm which is open to visitors when the gardens are in flower in October. Bulbs can be bought in March and April, tel: (02) 6336 1696.

 

Mt Bindo
The Oberon Rd heads east for 26 km until it meets the Hampton-Jenolan Caves Rd. There is a roadside rest area here on Hampton State Forest. A dry-weather forest road, the Tea Tree Rd, turns left here and heads through the pines to the summit of Mt Bindo (1364 m above sea-level) from whence there are fine views over the Megalong Valley, taking in Oberon to the west, Lithgow to the north, Blackheath and the Hydro-Majestic Hotel at Medlow Bath to the east and two towers to the south.

 

O'Connell
23 km north-west of Oberon on the Bathurst Rd, O'Connell is an historic village on the Fish River which is classified by the National Trust. The township developed in the 1820s on the first road extending west to Bathurst. The hotel dates from 1865. The old Catholic Church and convent have been converted to private residences while the Anglican Church is still in use. Swimming and trout-fishing are popular near the Fish River Bridge on the Bathurst Rd.

 

Shiloh Farm
At Shiloh Farm, between Oberon and O'Connell, pure merino wools are knitted into garments and accessories which are sold on the premises. From April to October they are open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. every day but Sunday. From November to March ring first, tel: (02) 6337 5781.

 

Emu Farm
Also between Oberon and O'Connell (17 km from Oberon) is Dunmovin' Emu Farm where emus and deer are bred. Tours can be arranged by prior appointment, tel: (02) 6337 5627.

 

Tarana
Tarana is a small village situated in a picturesque valley, 21 km north of Oberon. There is a hotel in town. Just east of town, on the road to Lake Lyell and Bowenfels, there is a turnoff to the right into Honeysuckle Falls Rd which soon leads south past Evans Crown Nature Reserve, an attractive bushwalking area with diverse fauna and flora and some outstanding granite tors. Crown Rock was an initiation and corroboree site for the Wiradjuri people. From its apex George Evans first sighted the Bathurst Plains in 1813. Today it is popular with abseilers. The track to the summit is not that difficult and takes about half an hour. There are no facilities nor designated walking trails.

 

Gemalla
7 km west of Tarana, within the locality of Gemalla, are the landscaped grounds of Ross Conifers from whence a wide range of conifers and some cool climate plants are sold every day but Sunday, tel: (02) 6337 5555. Next door is Winooka Park Winery which is open by appointment, tel: (02) 6337 5534.

 

Black Springs
Black Springs is a small village 24 km south-west of Oberon. The Forestry Reserve Camping Area has water, toilets and fireplaces. Opposite are some tennis courts, a recreation ground, a community hall and a shop which sells petrol and supplies. It doubles as a visitor information centre.

South of the village, in a lovely setting, is the historic stone Avoca Catholic Church and Shrine. Fossicking can be enjoyed at Sapphire Bend, off Riverview Rd, in Vulcan Forest. Exotic wood mushrooms can be found in the forest from late January to May and there is trout fishing nearby.

 

Burraga
Burraga is 25 km south-west of Black Springs in a wool-growing and cattle area where large pine plantations exist. It was established as a mining town in the 1880s around the Lloyd Copper Mine which was one of the major copper producers in the country until it closed in the early 1900s.The population reached a peak of 6000 (it is now about 800). A few remnants can still be seen on the outskirts of the village, such as shafts, slag heaps and the largest chimney stack in the Southern Hemisphere. Memorabilia relating to the mine can be seen at the Mill Museum in Rockley. The mine was served by Burraga Dam, just north of the village. Today it is used for camping, fishing and picnicking.

The nearby reserve at Campbell's River is a popular fossicking site and it is close to the limestone formation, Sanchos Hole.

 

Horseriding
Horseriding can be enjoyed with High Country Trail Rides (tel: 02 6336 5115), Mountain View and Yarrabin.

 

Fossicking
There are a number of fossicking sites in the area although there is currently a moratorium on many while preservation orders are considered. Rebecca Scott (02 6335 8217) and Debra Littleford (02 6335 8207) will take visitors on fossicking expeditions. For detailed information contact the Department of Mineral Resources

 

 

Kanangra Walls

 

Kanangra Boyd National Park
5 km west of Jenolan Caves a 26-km road heads south along Boyd Plateau into the rugged and scenic terrain of Kanangra Boyd National Park where you can indulge in bushwalking, li-loing, fishing, photography, nature study and car touring.

The access road traverses Boyd Plateau and passes the Boyd River Camping Area, situated adjacent Morong Creek and amidst tall eucalypts and granite outcrops. Pit toilets are provided but it is necessary to bring in drinking water and a fuel stove. Creek water must be boiled before drinking.

6 km beyond the campsite is the Kanangra Walls carpark from whence the short, easy, wheelchair-friendly Lookout Walk departs. It takes in two excellent viewing areas - the first peers over the Kanangra Creek Gorge with Mt Cloudmaker to the north-east and the main ridge of the Blue Mountains beyond; the second takes in Kanangra Falls and the rugged ravines at the head of the gorge. From this latter lookout the Waterfall Walk takes you down into a gully to Kalang Falls. The longest trail is the Plateau Walk which branches off the Lookout Walk before you reach the first lookout. It takes in the heath-covered plateau of Kanangra Tops from whence there are excellent views of Kanangra Walls, Mt Colong to the south and Pindari Tops to the west.

There are other longer overnight walks in the park, including one along the Unirover Track to Colong Caves, some undeveloped limestone caverns at the southern end of the park. To visit them you will need a permit in advance from the Oberon NPWS office.

A highlight of the park is the Kowmung River, one of the last wild untouched rivers in the state. It is particularly good for trout fishing. Bush camping is permitted anywhere in the park, as long as you are 500 m from any road.

Fire trails which head off Kanangra Walls Rd are only accessible by 4WD and Park management roads are out of bounds to all private vehicles.

 

The Big Trout outside the Big Trout Motor Inn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Oberon