Milparinka History Download pdf guide

Milparinka

No where in western New South Wales is a town quite like Milparinka. Once visited, it will never be forgotten! Make Milparinka part of the Corner Country adventure.

The Milparinka Courthouse

Built in 1886 (some now say 1896) the courthouse was designed by James Barnet, the same architect who designed the Sydney Post Office and Bathurst Gaol.

Comprising four rooms the main section has been devoted to Local History Interpretation. In keeping with the ambiance of the building, simple interpretive panels have been hung in mostly chronological order around the internal walls. Subjects covered include:

Local aboriginal history
Charles Sturt’s expedition
Burke and Wills Expedition
Settlement of the far west
The discovery of gold
Transportation
Information about the school, hotels, police station, post office

On a desk in the courtroom are several copies of interpretive material that have been locally researched and published. Seating is provided for up to 60 people, making it an ideal venue to provide group information for bus and other touring groups.

The rear room of the courthouse has seen life as a court office, a post office and a rural lands board office. Today it is used as the Family History Room. Family History Displays, Milparinka

Simple displays depicting items from the early life and times of pioneers have been created in the room, whilst the walls have been hung with photographs featuring many of these people. ntry to these facilities is by donation, and a box for collection purposes is located at the rear of the building. A ramp provides wheel chair access.

The Barracks Visitor Information Centre

Barracks Visitor Centre, Milparinka Located adjacent to the Courthouse the Barracks or former police station was built in 1883. It ceased to be a manned station in 1920, and in subsequent years was used as a private residence. Acquired by the Association in 2003 the building was restored with funding assistance provided by Regional Partnerships. Again, labour from the Department of Corrective Services was utilised for the reconstruction work.

This is the building most used by the Visitor Volunteer Program. The building has been fitted out to include a tourist information and souvenir shop front, a small gallery room, office, store room and kitchen. This is where visitors will gather for a chat, to buy a souvenir, or to ask for directions to other attractions or accommodation places. Information is kept on site for that purpose, include a Guide to the Corner Country published jointly with the Tibooburra Village Committee, with inclusive maps showing directions to Sturt’s Depot Glen and the Mount Browne Goldfields.

The Centre has the capacity to serve tea and coffee, and generally make visitors feel welcome.

The Police Cells Gallery

Restore police cells, Milparinka The former cells are located immediately behind the Barracks, and comprise two rooms and a security fenced “exercise yard”. The building has its original 1883 solid doors and sliding bolts. Currently used as an art gallery, or for out of season tourist information, the Association is set to convert this building to better use with the establishment of a Mining Interpretive Centre.

The central feature of the displays will be a recently acquired original 1884 map of the mine area, and some working models of equipment used in the early days.

The former police station kitchen is located adjacent to the cells. It is this building we hope to be able to restore and convert to use as onsite accommodation for the Visitor Volunteer Program.

The Harry Blore Memorial Park

Located across the road from the Precinct is a park area that the Association has established and maintains. Featuring native trees and shrubs the park also contains a shelter, panels with local environmental interpretive material and a picnic table. A swing has been built for visiting children. Visitor Volunteers are asked to water the trees which are connected to dripper line. Blockages do occur, and some adjustments to the system need to be implemented.

Milparinka Pioneer Memorial Wall and Silhouette Pioneer Memorial Wall,Milparinka In 2005 local residents constructed a stone memorial wall alongside the park, and invited the descendants of local families to provide plaques commemorating their ancestors. Complemented by a steel silhouette of a pioneer family and a wheel barrow laden with belongings, the site is positioned to be seen first as one approaches the town. It is stark and symbolic of the region’s social history.

Pastoral Industry Interpretive Centre (The Shed)

On the north side of the Heritage Precinct the Association has establish a shed and display area that helps to interpret the pastoral industry of the region, and includes information about :

The wool industry, and especially shearing
Providing water, with a complete boring plant and pump jack on display,
building fences, animal husbandry grazing pressure management,
weed, pest and kangaroo management

The Milparinka Heritage Trail

The Association recognises that there are a number of heritage sites in Milparinka that require historic interpretation. To facilitate this markers have been placed adjacent to the sites, and an information sheet published. This is made available to visitors from the Courthouse or Barracks, and includes the former school, hotel, post office and bank sites.

Milparinka Cemetery

Located just west of the township, the Milparinka cemetery is the final resting place of some three hundred or so people, although just a handful have headstones. The cemetery fence and gates has been replaced by our Association.

Map directions to the cemetery and the former Chinese Garden and Afghan cameleer campsite adjacent to the Evelyn Creek and located on the Walking Trail Guide.

The Evelyn Creek and Milparinka Waterhole

Evelyn Creek The Evelyn Creek and Milparinka Waterhole lie to the east of the Heritage Precinct. Although it remains the collection point of more than one hundred years of “junk”, it is also a valuable natural feature of the area. Native animals living along the creek include kangaroos and birds, as well as, as one Volunteer discover, echidnas.

The town in general.

The best is to just go exploring: there are old hotel bottle dumps, a sandstone quarry and a host of other “ruins” of intrigue and curiosity value. The airstrip has proved invaluable to a model airplane enthusiast Volunteer.

Please view the galleries below for images of Milparinka

Milparinka Walking Trail