Cobar

After leaving the Cobar Tourist Information Centre we took their first suggestion and walked across the road to the Miners Memorial and the Mining Heritage Park.

The Miners Memorial is in an artificially created, architecturally designed tunnel. The history of mining in Cobar, the associated tragedies, the impact on families and improvements to mining practices are well detailed as you walk around the tunnel.

At one end there is a board which uses metal clock in cards to show, in chronological order the over 170 deaths of miners since mining began in the late 1800s.

Outside there is a Memorial to the miners.

On a nearby plaque there is information about Industrial Disease. Reading it brought back memories of a Dire Straits song from my younger days.

Outside the display in the Mining Heritage Park contains a wonderful sculpture of a miner – Rick, and a number of mining machines.

At one end there is a poppet head and winder, which I enjoyed taking photos of from different angles.

Meanwhile Karen and Mel were enjoying a run around the lawn at the back.

A little daylight time remained so we drove out to the Fort Bourke Lookout which gives an impressive view of the ginormous hole in the earth, at least eight levels down, created by the mine.

We didn’t stay long as the bitter winter wind was howling and just about blowing us over. Back to the caravan we drove for a good hot cuppa. Lots more to see the next day.