Copley - a friendly town

My laptop has died! I knew it was getting old but did not expect that suddenly it was no more. And not at a good time. But then it never is! And now I am trying to use my telephone, which is amazing when it comes to most things. But blog writing? We will see! I will have to keep the words down, no touch typing. 

Tomorrow we leave Copley. We are reluctant to go. The weather is warm and sunny, the camping ground is relaxed and open, the people are friendly, and Copley itself has heaps of character. The photos above were taken in the camping ground. 

Mind you the facilities are not wonderful. A small ablutions block with cracks in the wall but the owners keep them painted. The units are very good compared to many out this way. 

And there is dust everywhere! 

Next door there is a newly developed Botanic garden.

We were most impressed with the range of native plants. 

We have many visitors, namely local horses, kangaroos and emus. All the taps have to be covered due to the horses being able to turn them on! 

Amazing sunsets too. 

Copley is a few km from Leigh Creek, which was a coal mining town. More about that later. 

In fact Copely was named Leigh's Creek initially, after Harry Leigh, who was employed on a nearby Pastoral Run. 

When the railway came through in 1881, the station was built just south of where the line crossed the creek. Coal was discovered here in 1888. 

When the town was surveyed the name was changed to Copley, after the Commissioner of Crown Lands. 

The old railway station. 

 Where is the train! The lines are still here due to the coal mine having only recently closed in 2015. 

The Copley hotel, a very popular place judging by the number of cars parked outside. 

The Quandong Cafe/bakery which also houses the office for the camping ground. Another very popular place, and caters for passing travellers, people in the camping ground as well as local people. Excellent coffee, pies and cakes. Quandong fruits are small red berries, and have a tarty sweet flavour. 

And the rest of the town? There are a number of houses on the other side of the railway line. The 'main street' on one side, has the cafe, camping ground, an old roadhouse (closed), hotel, garage, and a hall with a basketball court. No footpath of course. All very rough. But friendly.