Cobar: Mining History and Nature at Newey Reservoir

Cobar combines the town’s mining history with opportunities for outdoor activities and nature watching. Outdoor activities take centre stage at Newey Reservoir, while the museum and memorials reflect the mining past. If you’re looking for a hotel in Cobar, these themes can help you tailor your stay to your interests: are you more interested in spending time in the bushland and by the reservoir, or in the history of mining?

Walking and nature at Newey Reservoir

The Federation Walking Track starts at the Great Cobar Museum and heads south around Newey Reservoir. On the outskirts of Cobar, it winds through peaceful bushland; the trail offers opportunities for birdwatching and a picnic. The stated starting point and southerly direction give the walk a clear route.

Activities at Newey Reservoir include fitness walks, kayaking, fishing, cycling and birdwatching. The options vary by type of activity: walking and cycling sit alongside kayaking and fishing, while birdwatching offers its own connection with nature. The reservoir is also home to a diverse range of birdlife. Picnic tables and a covered pavilion add to the options for an outdoor break.

Mining history at the museum and memorials

At the Great Cobar Museum, you can explore the exhibition on a self-guided visit. Its interactive features include one with a “job title” and a “payment window”. The museum also provides access to the open-cut mine, which was part of the original mining operations, as well as a view over the original mine and the slag heap. In this way, the museum brings together several perspectives: an exhibition, an interactive feature and a view of the mining operations.

Along the Federation Walking Track, signs also provide information about Cobar’s mining history. They also explain former settlements, the people who lived there, and the region’s flora and fauna. The trail thus covers both the history of settlement and mining and the region’s natural environment.

The Cobar Miners Memorial commemorates the people who lost their lives in local Cobar mines. The Cobar Mining Heritage Park features, among other things, a two-metre-high bronze sculpture of a miner and various pieces of equipment. These include a restored stamp battery from the Mount Boppy Mine, a loader from the CSA Mine, and the headframe and winding engine from the Old Chesney Mine. The provenance information connects the exhibits to several named mines.

Cobar Sound Chapel

Cobar Sound Chapel is a permanent sound installation and artwork in the town of Cobar, offering a different focus from the mining sites. To plan your visit, contact the Visitor Information Centre before arriving in Cobar, check availability and book a time for Cobar Sound Chapel.

Discover more destinations: Grenfell, Wollongong, Vacy, Shoalhaven Heads, Euston, Picton, Lake George, Culcairn.

For the main travel overview: New South Wales.