Mon, 27th May, 2024 Showgrounds Campground, Orange to Byrnes Park 48hr RV Stop, Eugowra, NSW (exploring Eugowra)

The heater stayed on which made it very nice to sleep in and to get up in the morning though we did crank it up a bit more for when we had breakfast. I checked the BOM and at 7am it was -0.4 degrees but feels like -2.5 with a maximum of 14 for today and Jodie & Bryon love the cold here - crazy!

The grass was all frosty when we went outside to head to the shops for some groceries.

Drove out to Ophir Road and checked out Banjo Paterson’s birthplace in 1864. There is a cottage at the Botanical Gardens called Emmaville Cottage and is believed to be one of the last buildings from the Narrambla property which was the home of Banjo’s great uncle & aunt.

The silhouette had two seats so you could listen to his poems or his life story - very interesting.

Across from that was the site of the old flour mill built by Banjo’s great uncle & aunt. Nothing left but a pile of bricks and the foundation.

A monument was erected up by the road in 1947.

Back through town and onto Escort Way to head to Forbes. Rolling up and down the mills through some wineries, apple orchards and farms. Lovely scenery.

A nice little cottage makes a great photo with the rocky escarpment in the background - I think it is Mt Nangar (there is a national park over there but it is closed at the moment).

Stopped for a cuppa at Escort Rock where bushrangers held up a stage coach and stole gold and money but they were eventually caught and most of the gold and money was recovered. Wonder where the missing bit is?

Into Eugowra and across Mandagery Creek to Byrnes Park where we can park up for 48 hours. Lovely green grass by the creek with fire pits. We set up for the night.

Headed off for a walk - try to get some exercise each day. Interesting fire pits across the road. Made locally by Aussie Fire Buckets.

The shed was open with a lovely old car on display.

There a lots of murals here.

Not much left of the hotel.

Great mural of the robbery at Escort Rock too.

The murals continue telling stories of businesses of the township.

Cute little flowers on the bush as we head back over the creek. The bridge was built in 1941. Hard to believe this little creek flooded the township so badly. I googled up some information - Torrential rains hit the Lachlan Valley which covers a lot of small towns in the central west. The rivers, creeks and dams were full and the water had nowhere to go. The Mandagery Creek burst its banks and caught everyone by surprise. Same as in Molong.

Some sculptures in the park with a replica of the coach that was robbed. Steve tried to lift the ‘gold’ in the back cage.

The town suffered terribly during the November 2022 flood that reeked havoc through a few towns around here. Fabulous to think they could save the coach after it was washed away.

Across the road is the Central Hotel.

In the shop front where lots of sculptures of the local artist. This one is great.

A couple of fabulous paintings too - one showing the flood and the other the Nangar escarpments.

Another sculpture and information about the shearing shed.

Across the road is a colourful cafe.

You can buy your own gold wagon. Lots of beautiful things for sale in this shop.

Looks like the old shire hall or court house is now the hairdressers, built in 1926. Across the road was the police station then further along the sports area.

A chap said to us as he approached ‘Do you known you can drink 20 litres of fuel?’ We said, ‘who’, he replied, ‘Jerry Can’. Haha!

Back along to the cafe - this guy has been waiting a long time for his mail! Lots of interesting sculptures in the garden.

Across the road was the old post office. Great mural of the Nangar National Park. Will have to come back and check it out when it opens again.

Further along is the museum that is closed due to flood damage in Nov 2022. Great mural down the side.

Turned around and headed back to the main intersection. This cafe had the lovely things for sale in it. Look at the detail in the bricks on the roof.

Crossed over to a park and my battery died in the camera. Luckily I had my phone with me so I could continue snapping away.

The granite mine was affected by the floods too but Central West Granite got it all sorted and are back in business.

We should have started here with the guide to all the murals. I think we have seen most of them. Certainly is a great town to visit.

A great mural by the students.

Flood plaque. Obviously the warning system put in after 1990 floods didn’t work well enough.

Back over the tranquil creek.

Wandered past some houses that still show the flood damage. There are a few kit homes on stilts in back yards too.

Around to the War Memorial Park. There is another mural on the side of the school but we didn’t walk over that far.

Back to the truck. Chap from Wholesale Automatics will send a seal kit to us for free which is great. I checked with Margaret in Adelaide to get it sent there as they won’t send to a post office. All good, they should be home on Thurs - having a great time in Exmouth swimming with the whale sharks etc and it’s a lot warmer up there. Out of something bad, good comes, we get to see our friends and visit my cousin too. We weren’t going to Adelaide this time but now we are - lucky we live a flexible lifestyle. Only deadline is to be in Alice Springs by 8^th July to meet the Tassie group.

All quiet here - only two other travellers are parked up.