The town of Cobar

 I am writing this blog from Griffiths, 364 km south of Cobar.   A wealthy city, I think, surrounded by green grass, crops and orchards.   

But back to Cobar, the last place we visited on the Barrier Highway.   Obviously there had been rain sometime in the recent past, from Wilcannia to Cobar, as there was a slight green fuzz everywhere.

Plus the thousands of wild goats happily feeding on the green grass (more like fuzzy green grass).   I managed to avoid hitting a goat, although they are canny animals who look before crossing the road.   Unlike the poor kangaroos who bound out without a sideways glance.

But back to Cobar.    Such a lovely town, friendly, prosperous and with some shops in which to browse. 

  We stayed three nights and were quite reluctant to leave.   The spacious camping ground had a large patch of ground at the back for dogs to run around in, and interestingly people spent time talking to each other there, which says a lot about a camping ground.     It was full every night, although most people stayed one night as they were on their way north, to Queensland, and many to the Birdsville Big Bash.

The nights were very cold, with the temperature hovering around 1 degree, but the days were sunny, and during the afternoons we sat outside in the sun, and read our books.   Very pleasant.

We found a cafe which made excellent coffee, and had an assortment of delicious cakes.   It was also on the sunny side of the street!

Walter enjoying the sunshine, and the verandah roof conveniently shaded his eyes 

We met the reverse angle parking again, a New South Wales idea, which works well.   Other drivers wait patiently as you reverse your car into the parking spot, which is much better than waiting for the road to clear when reversing out of a car park.

                                         

                                         
It was starting to get very cold when I took the photograph of the sunset.

Cobar was the traditional home of the Ngiyampaa and Wangaaypuwan people.   European settlers had large holdings here prior to 1870, when copper was discovered which lead to copper mining.    At the turn of the 19th century the population of Cobar was approximately 10,000 and mining had become the most important industry in the area.    

in 1919 the Great Cobar Mine's fortunes crashed with the drop in demand for copper during World War I and the mines ceased production and was dismantled over the next couple of years.   There was a fire in one of the mines which burned for 16 years.   This also contributed to the closing of the mines.

Then it opened and closed a few times after that but it is now mined in a large way, with heavy machinery, producing zinc, lead and silver. 

We drove to the mine viewing platform, which is on the only hill in the area.   The view over the flat countryside.

The open cut mine is very deep.   Up until 1919 all mining was done underground, but now, with all the heavy machinery available, it was open cut mining in Cobar.

Thank goodness there was plenty of safety fencing to stop people from falling into the mine from the viewing platform.    I hate heights so did not stay here long.

The original railway station, not used anymore as the trains do not stop here anymore.   Freight only.

An old disused shop with an equally old petrol pump in the front.    The price of petrol was marked with a £ sign so has not been used since 1966 when dollars and cents were introduced into Australia.

I love the old churches in the country towns.    The Catholic Church.

Not sure of this church, but it is very pretty with pepper trees framing it.

The courthouse, always very smart.

The Great Cobar Museum and Information Centre, which was the former administration building of the Great Cobar Copper Mine.   It was built in 1912, just in time for the mines to close in 1919.

The exhibits inside included information and photos of life in Cobar, plus mining information.   And outside there was plenty of old mining and farming machinery.   

The highlight for me was the old Royal Far West Railway Carriage.   Inside it was set up as a travelling medical and baby clinic.    Sadly I could only see through the small windows as the doors were closed due to vandalism.   

And to finish, a photograph of Piper lying under my throw.   Piper has her own bed at home, and is not allowed on our bed, ever!    But in our new caravan there is no room for her bed, so she sleeps on my double bed, in her own little corner.   On the last night in Cobar it was so cold at night she slept against my legs and would not move.  I tried pushing her and prodding her but no luck.    Consequently, I slept on one third of the bed!

Today Piper had a wash in the Doggy Wash at a service station.    A shampoo, special rinse and dry, all for $10.   

She smells so lovely now, not all sweaty and doggy.   I told her if she is going to share my bed she had to have a bath, not that she agreed of course.

A lovely clean Piper sleeping in her corner of the bed.