Ariah Park, Ardlethan to Wyalong NSW

As we drove out of Temora we passed a huge bulk storage of grains, more evidence of the significant growing region.

We made our way westward to Ariah Park, a 1920’s heritage village. Just 5min before the town we stopped at Broken Dam rest area where there is a 1.3km walking trail with interpretive signs about the original settlement here in 1863.

It didn’t last long due to the rail line going to go through Ariah Park instead in 1906. The village became the first place in rural Australia where wheat shipments were bulk loaded for rail travel. They have the original carriage in display and a statue of a wheat lumper in dedication of their hard work. 

The main street is very picturesque with the old shop fronts and verandas.

Several antique bowsers can be found along the way. The central medium strip has Peppercorn Trees planted in 1917 along with a war memorial. Another fun fact is that the pig from the Babe movie was born and raised here. 

A few more kilometres west we arrived in Ardlethan which in the early 1900’s was prosperous due to the tin mines in the area. It is believed that the open cut mine was one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. After the mines closed in the 1980’s the focus returned to servicing the local district.

It is also renowned for being the birthplace of the Australian Kelpie dog. It’s quite a story…

The other statue in town was of Frank Bradley who won the Stawell Gift race in 1937. 

Another local managed to develop the first single dose of the anthrax vaccine in 1897. 

After our stroll through town we continued on our way to West Wyalong founded on gold, sheep grazing and cropping, all still active today. The Cowal Gold mine produces 240,000 ounces annually.

After a stroll along the Main Street, we head to the free RV parking area at Cooinda Reserve, where the Poppet Head and Neeld’s Hut is erected. We explored the area for a bit and then settled in for the night.