Barraba
Pleasant service town on the Manilla River
Barraba is an agricultural and pastoral centre on the
Manilla River with the Nandewar Ranges to the west, the
Horton Valley to the north-west and undulating tablelands to
the south-east and north. The district is concentrates on
the production of wool and sheep.
The town is situated 500 m above sea-level, 502 km north
of Sydney and 90 km north of Tamworth on the Fossickers Way.
Its population has risen from 1500 in 1986 to 2370.
The area was occupied by the Kamilaroi Aborigines before
white settlement. In 1827 Allan Cunningham crossed the
Manilla River, which he named Buddle's Creek, a little to
the west of the present townsite.
Barraba station was taken up in 1838. Its name derives
from an Aboriginal term, said to mean 'camp by the
riverbank'. In the mid-1840s Scotsman John McKid opened the
first store on the future townsite which was surveyed in
1852.
Later in the decade gold was discovered in the area at
Woodsreef, Ironbark Creek and Crow Mountain. Woodsreef
became a vital village at this time but virtually
disappeared when the gold was exhausted in the late 1860s.
In 1861 the first school was opened at Barraba in rented
premises. A post office was built in 1866, at which time the
population was 80. The first Anglican church was erected in
1874-75 and the first bank, the CBC, was established in
1876.
Another boom period developed when copper was discovered
at Gulf Creek in 1889. The first mine was established in
1892. At its peak, in 1901, 200 men were employed in
conjunction with the copper mine which was one of the
largest in the state. A prosperous village developed with
bark-hut residences, stores, a school, a hotel and a post
office. However, the last major company pulled out in 1911
although the mine teetered on for some years with a handful
of employees. The school eventually closed in 1957 and the
post office in 1965.
Barraba became a municipality in 1906 and the railway
arrived from Manilla in 1908, although it has long since
closed down with the tracks removed from town.
Asbestos was first mined at Woodsreef from 1919-1923.
However, it was not until 1972 that a large open-cut
asbestos mine was opened there, furnishing much local
employment, although it closed down in the 1980s. Diatomite
mining began north of Barraba in 1982. The area is also rich
in chromite, fireclays, gold, limestone, magnesite, copper,
chalk and quartz.
Local festivals are BarrArbor, the festival of Barraba,
held on the first weekend in November, the Frost Over
Barraba Art Festival on the second weekend in July, and the
Barraba Potters & Craft Guild Exhibition in September. The
local markets are held on the first Saturday of the month.
For summer visitors the town boasts a 70-m waterslide.
Things to see:
Tourist Information and Bird Watching
Barraba's information centre is located at 116 Queen St, tel:
(02) 6782 1255. They can provide material relating to 'bird
routes' which outline the best places for birdwatchers. The
Barraba area is home to a couple of rare species, the regent
honeyeater and the turquoise parrot.
Heritage Buildings - Queen Street
The tourist information centre is located in an Edwardian
structure which was originally a general store and garage,
built in 1908.
Other buildings in the main street are of interest. The
courthouse was erected in 1881 with additions in 1907 and
1936. The Dean and Smith Stores, with their old-fashioned
shopfronts, were built in 1900. They are now the Barraba
Shopping Centre. The Commercial Hotel (an old Cobb & Co
changing station) was built in 1890. The Central Hotel dates
from about 1908. The large and very prominent clock tower
was erected in 1924 in memory of local men killed in World
War I. The Methodist (now Uniting) Church at the Edwards St
corner was erected in 1898-99. The porch is a recent
addition. Barraba Antiques and Olde Wares at 101 Queen St is
located in a 1910 building with an ornate brick parapet.
Victoria Hotel
The Victoria Hotel was built in the early 1890s. The
building was initially used by the Commercial Bank. In 1894
it was robbed. At the time the manager was having lunch with
his wife and six children in the dining room. Hearing a
noise he entered the banking section to find two masked men.
Ordered to bail up he refused and made a break for the
dining room. Prevented by a gunshot he grappled with one of
the culprits for the gun, in the course of which he was shot
in the head. When his wife screamed the robbers fired two
shots through the door leading into the dining room. The
bullet holes can still be seen in the door that divides the
lounge and bar of the hotel. The culprits were caught and
hanged. The building became a hotel in 1899. The second
storey was added in 1909.
Nandewar Historical Society Museum
Nandewar Historical Society Museum at 71 Queen St is housed
in a former shop, built in the 1890s. It is open by
appointment, tel: (02) 6782 1523 or (02) 6782 1212. The
town's first sale yards were once located behind it.
St Laurence's Church of England
St Laurence's Church of England (built of locally-made
bricks in 1908-1909), at the corner of Fitzroy and Maude
Sts, is one of the town's more notable buildings. The
19th-century pipe organ is a beauty. The vestry was added in
the early 1950s. The original church was designed by
distinguished architect J. Horbury Hunt and built in 1874-75
but was demolished in 1906.
St John's Catholic Church
St John's Catholic Church (1905-06) is at the corner of
Fitzroy and Savoy Sts. Additions were made in the late
1940s.
Morrow Row
Also in Savoy St is the Morrow Row, originally eight
identical drop-slab houses built of timber from the forests
around Narrabri in 1895 for the employees of store owner
William Morrow. Three retain their original structure.
Adams Lookout
Adams Lookout, 5 km north-east, is named after Alfred Adams
who purchased Barraba Station in 1850. To access the site
turn right off Fossickers Way at the signpost, 3 km north of
Barraba This is the access road to the old Woodsreef mining
site. There are fine views of the town and surrounds.
Woodsreef and Ironbark Creek
About 18 km from Barraba are Woodsreef and the Ironbark
Creek picnicking and fossicking area. Gold was discovered at
Woodsreef in the late 1850s and a thriving village soon
developed with a post office, stores and school, but it
virtually disappeared when most miners left in the late
1860s. A small number, employed by larger companies, stayed
on. Asbestos was mined here from 1919-1923 and a large
open-cut asbestos mine opened at Woodsreef in 1972,
furnishing much local employment, though it closed down in
the 1980s.
Today there are some remnants of those various phases of
the village's existence, such as old copper, gold and
asbestos workings. There are only a few buildings extant.
The tiny wooden structure was built c.1895 and used as post
office. The little wooden church dates from 1923. The site
is open to the public at all times. Gold, agate, petrified
and opalised wood, and jasper have been found in the area
which is popular with fossickers.
Cunningham Memorial
The Cunningham Memorial, a roadside obelisk, is 7 km west on
the Trevallyn Rd. It marks the site where, in 1827, Allan
Cunningham crossed the Manilla River (which he named
Buddle's Creek), making him the first European in the area.
Little Creek
Little Creek is 21 km north-west of Barraba on the Trevallyn
Rd. It is attractively situated with picnic and toilet
facilities. There is a 25-ha recreation area adjacent.
Further along the road is Bereen Mountain which has
excellent views of the Horton Valley.
Horton River Falls
Just before reaching the Little Creek Reserve, there is a
turnoff to the left into Mt Lindsay Rd, 20 km from Barraba.
This road soon becomes gravel and can be affected by weather
so phone the Barraba Information Centre to check road
conditions before setting out. Follow this road for 10 km
then turn right at the signposted turnoff. 6.5 km will bring
you to the Horton River Falls which plunge a considerable
distance amidst rugged mountain scenery (but only after
decent rains). There are picnic and barbecue facilities,
bushcamping and bushwalks, including a steep and difficult
trail almost to the bottom of the gorge (over one hour
return).
Elembee Farm
The last stretch of road to the falls takes you past Elembee
Fine Fibre Farm, a goat stud set amidst 500 ha of bushland
with bushwalks, pet farm animals, sales of cashmere products
made on the farm, barbecue and picnic areas, morning and
afternoon teas.
Mt Kaputar National Park
Continue west along the main road for another 13 km. Stick
to the right at the intersection and the road continues on
to Mt Kaputar National Park. The dry-weather-only road
concludes at a gate. From there you can walk the last 4.5 km
along Mt Kaputar (1524 m) to the Dawsons Springs campsite
where there is an amenities block, two cabins and
picnic-barbecue-toilet facilities. There is a camping fee
and a short nature trail. In all the park has a dozen
walking tracks (some are outlined in a pamphlet available
from the National Parks and Wildlife Service office at 100
Maitland St in Narrabri, tel: 02 6799 1740). The main access
route to the park is via Narrabri.
Diatomote Mine
About 10 km north of Barraba along the Fossickers Way is a
turnoff on the right to the Barraba Diatomite Mine,
Australia's largest producer of the mineral. Viewing of the
operations can be arranged through the Barraba Information
Centre.
Old Gulf Mine Site
Cobbadah is located 19 km north of Barraba on the Fossickers
Way. 5 km further north there is a turnoff on the right
which leads to the Old Gulf site where copper was discovered
in 1889. The first mine was established in 1892. At its
peak, in 1901, 200 men were employed in conjunction with the
copper mine which was one of the largest in the state. A
prosperous village, with a population in excess of Barraba,
developed with bark-hut residences, stores, a school, a
hotel and a post office. However, the last major company
pulled out in 1911 although the mine teetered on for some
years with a handful of employees. The school eventually
closed in 1957 and the post office in 1965. All that remains
today are the old school (built in 1896) and a poppet head.
Three Creeks Gold Mine
28 km north is the turnoff on the right on to a 22-km loop
road which, after 12 km, passes the Three Creeks Tourist
Gold Mine and Fossicking Site. In an area long worked for
gold there is also a working gold mine. Bushwalks and tours
of old mine shafts are carried out by the owner. There is
also bush camping, panning and fossicking and a small museum
of mining-related artefacts.
Split Rock Dam
The turnoff to the Split Rock Dam Recreation Area is clearly
signposted to the left, 30 km south of Barraba along the
Fossickers Way. There are toilet, barbecue, picnic, boating
and camping facilities. It is noted for its fishing and
aquatic activities.
Broadwalk
Business Brokers
Broadwalk Business
Brokers specialise in General Businesses for Sale, Caravan Parks for
Sale, Motels for Sale, Management Rights & Resorts for Sale, Farms for
Sale, Hotels for sale, Commercial & Industrial Properties for Sale.
Australian
Businesses for sale
Caravan Parks for sale
Motels for sale
Hotels for sale
Broadwalk Business
Brokers
Businesses for Sale in Barraba : Buy or Sell Hotels, Motels, Caravan Parks, Bed & Breakfast,
Pubs, Wine Bars, Restaurants, Cafe, English Tea Rooms, Coffee Shops,
Deli, Catering Business, Pubs, Bars, Sandwich Bars, Pizza Delivery,
Bakeries, Hot Food Take-away, Fish & Chips, Petrol & Service Stations,
Australian Businesses for sale, Car Sales, Motor & Transport, Car/Van
Hires, Newsagents, Dry Cleaners, Salons, General Stores, Retail Stores,
Post Office, Printers, Convenience Stores, Clothes shop, Hair Dressers,
Beauty Salon, Fruit Markets, Butchers, Florist, Card & Gift shop, Sports
shop, Book Shops, Care Agency, Pharmacy, Tool-Hardware & DIY shops, Pet
Shops, Auto Mechanical, Auto Parts & Accessories,
Bakery Businesses for sale , Motel sales, caravan park sales, Hotel
sales, Business sales, Bar for sale, Juice Bar for sale,
Beauty Salon for sale, Bike and Motorcycle Businesses for sale ,
Australian Businesses for sale, Blinds and Shutters Businesses for sale , Boat Business for sale ,
Book Shop , Bread Run, Building and Construction , Butcher Shop,
Café Business for sale, Car Dealerships for sale, Car Rental
Business for sale , Car Yard, Cleaning Business for sale, Computer
Business for sale, Childcare Centre for sale, Confectionary
Business for sale, Convenience Store for sale, Deli Businesses for
sale , Distribution Businesses for sale , Earth Moving Businesses
for sale , Businesses for sale , Engineering Businesses for sale ,
Export/Import Businesses for sale , Fitness Centres for sale,
Florist for sale, Franchise Businesses for sale , Fruit and Veg
Shop for sale, Function Centre for sale, Funeral Parlour for sale,
Furniture Businesses for sale , Garden Equipment Businesses for
sale , General Store s for sale, Gift Shop for sale, Hairdressing
salons for sale , Hardware Businesses for sale , Hire Businesses for
sale , Businesses for sale, Motels for sale, Caravan Parks for sale,
hotels for sale, Ice Cream Businesses for sale , Juice Bar for sale, Laundrette ' s for sale, Lawn Mowing Businesses for sale , Magazine
Businesses for sale , Manufacturing Businesses for sale , Marine
Businesses for sale , Menswear Businesses for sale , Milk Run 's
for sale, Mixed Businesses for sale , Mobile Businesses for sale ,
News agency Businesses for sale , Pawnbroker Businesses for sale ,
Preschool for sale, Pest Control Businesses for sale ,Business for
sale Pet Shop, Plumbing Businesses for sale , Post Office for sale ,
Removalist Businesses for sale, Restaurants for sale, Roadhouses for
sale, Rubbish Removal Businesses for sale , Rural Supplies
Businesses for sale , Sales and Distribution Businesses for sale ,
Security Businesses for sale , Service Station for sale, Shoe Shop
for sale, Supermarkets for sale, Takeaway Businesses for sale ,
Taxi Businesses for sale , Transport Businesses for sale , Vending
Machine Businesses for sale , Wholesale Businesses for sale,
Wrecking Yard for sale in Barraba .
NSW towns
Abercrombie Caves
Aberdeen
Adaminaby
Adelong
Albury
Alstonville
Appin
Araluen
Ardlethan
Ariah Park
Armidale
Ashford
Australian Businesses for sale
Avoca Beach
Barham
Ballina
Balranald
Bangalow Baradine
Barham Barmedman
Barooga
Barraba Barrington
Tops Batemans
Bay Bathurst
Batlow
Bega
Bell Bellbrook
Bellingen
Belmont
Bemboka
Bendemeer Bermagui
Berridale
Berrigan
Berrima
Berry
Bilpin
Binalong Bingara
Binnaway
Blaxland
Blayney
Bodalla
Boggabilla Boggabri
Bombala
Boorowa
Bourke
Bowenfels Bowral
Bowraville
Boydtown
Broadwalk Business Brokers
Braidwood
Brewarrina Broadwater
Broken
Hill Broulee
Brunswick Heads Bulahdelah
Bulli
Bundanoon
Bungendore Bungonia
Burrawang Burrinjuck
Byrock
Byron
Bay Campbelltown
Canowindra Capertee
Carcoar
Casino Cassilis
Cattai
Central
Tilba
Cessnock Clarence
Town Cobar
Cabargo
Coffs Harbour
Coleambally
Collarenabri Condobolin
Coolah
Coolamon
Cooma
Coonabarabran Coonamble
Cooranbong Cootamundra
Coraki
Corowa Cowra
Crescent
Head Crookwell
Culburra-Orient Point Culcairn
Dalgety
Darlington Point
Delegate
Delungra Deniliquin
Denman Dorrigo
Dubbo
Dunedoo
Dungog Durras
Ebenezer Eden
Emmaville
Emu Plains
Enngonia
Eugowra Euston
Evans
Head Faulconbridge
Fitzroy
Falls Finley
Fingal Head Forster-Tuncurry
Forbes
Frederickton Girilambone
Guyra
Gunnedah
Gulargambone
Goulburn Gosford
Glen
Innes
Gulgong Griffith
Glenbrook Gundy
Gresford
Grafton Gilgandra
Gerroa
Greta
Gunning Gloucester
Gundaroo
Goolgowi
Gerringong
Grenfell Gooloogong
Gundagai
Harden
Hargraves
Harrington
Hat Head
Hawks Nest Hay
Hazelbrook Henty
Hill End Hillgrove
Hillston Hinton
Holbrook Howlong
Hungerford
Huskisson
Iluka
Inverell
Ivanhoe
Jamberoo Jenolan
Caves
Jerilderie Jerrys
Plains
Jervis Bay Jindabyne
Jindera
Joadja Jugiong
Junee
Kameruka Kandos
Kangaroo Valley
Karuah Katoomba
Kempsey
Kendall
Khancoban
Kiama
Kiandra Kincumber
Kingscliff Koorawatha
Kurnell
Kurrajong
Kurri Kurri
Kyogle Lake
Bathurst Lake
Cargelligo
Lake Macquarie
Lake Mungo Lapstone
Largs
Laurieton
Lawson
Leeton
Lennox
Head Leura
Lightning
Ridge
Linden Lismore
Lithgow Lockhart
Lord
Howe Island Louth
Lucknow
Maude
Macksville
Maclean Maitland
Majors Creek
Manilla Manly
Marulan
Mathoura
Mendooran
Menindee
Merimbula Merriwa
Medlow
Bath
Michelago Millthorpe
Morpeth Mudgee
Milparinka
Milton
Mittagong Moama
Mogo Mollymook
Molong Moree
Morisset
Moruya Moss
Vale
Moulamein
Mount Kosciuszko National Park
Mount Victoria Mount
Wilson
Mullumbimby Mungindi
Murringo
Murrumbateman Murrurundi
Murwillumbah
Muswellbrook
Myall Lakes
Nabiac
Nambucca Heads
Narooma
Narrabri
Narrandera
Narromine
Nelligen
Nelson Bay
Nevertire
Newcastle
Newnes
Nimbin
Nimmitabel
Norah Head
Nowra
Nundle
Nyngan
The Oaks
Oberon
Ophir
Orange
Pacific Palms
Palm Beach
Pambula
Parkes
Paterson
Patonga
Peak Hill
Pearl Beach
Penrith
Penrose
Perisher Valley
Picton
Pitt Town
Pokolbin
Pooncarie
Port Macquarie
Port Stephens
Portland
Queanbeyan
Quirindi
Rankins Springs
Raymond Terrace
Richmond
Robertson
The Rock
Rockley
Royal National Park
Rylstone
Sawtell
Scone
Seal Rocks
Shellharbour
Shoalhaven Heads
Silverton
Singleton
Sofala
South West Rocks
Springwood
St Albans
St Georges Basin
Stockinbingal
Stockton
Stroud
Stuart Town
Sussex Inlet
Sutton Forest
Swansea
Sydney
Tabulam
Talbingo
Tamworth
Taralga
Tarcutta
Taree
Tathra
Tea Gardens
Temora
Tenterfield
Terrigal
Thirlmere
Thirroul
Thredbo Village
Tibooburra
Tingha
Tocumwal
Tooraweenah
Toronto
Toukley
Trangie
Trunkey Creek
Tumbarumba
Tumut
Tuross Head
Tweed Heads
Ulladulla
Ulmarra
Uralla
Urana
Urbenville
Urunga
Vacy
Wagga Wagga
Wakool
Walcha
Walgett
Walla Walla
Wallabadah
Wallerawang
Wangi Wangi
Warialda Warren
Wauchope Wee
Jasper Wee
Waa Wellington
Wentworth
Wentworth
Falls Werris
Creek West
Wyalong White
Cliffs Whitton
Wilberforce
Wilcannia
Windeyer
Windsor
Wingham
Wisemans
Ferry Wollombi
Wollongong
Wombeyan
Caves Woodburn
Woodenbong
Woodford
Woolgoolga
Wooli
Woy Woy Wyong
Yamba
Yarrangobilly
Yarrangobilly
Caves Yass
Yerranderie
Yetman
Young
Broadwalk
Business Brokers Businesses
for sale Caravan
parks for sale Motels
for sale Hotels
for sale Bed
& Breakfasts for sale Management
rights Farms
for sale
Australian Businesses for sale Businesses
for sale
Australian Businesses for sale
Businesses Brokers
Australian Businesses for sale Businesses
for sale
Australian Businesses for sale
Businesses Brokers Commercial
listings
Business renovations
Barraba
