Page 182 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

180  NE W SOUTH W ALES AND A C T

One of the incredible views across Gibraltar Range National Park
8Gibraltar Range annual Australian Celtic Festival historic “One Nation” speech.
National Park (see p46). The town’s Standing The address explained his
Stones are a traditional vision of all the colonies in
Gwydir Hwy. Tel (02) 6739 0700. monument to all Celtic settlers. Australia uniting to form one
Open daily. & only for camping Sapphire mining remains a country. Parkes’ Tenterfield
and facilities. 7 ∑ nationalparks. major industry. Public digging address led to a popular
nsw.gov.au
(“fossicking”) for sapphires, movement of support, resulting
Situated 70 km (43 miles) east topaz, garnet and beryl is still in Australian Federation on
of Glen Innes, Gibraltar Range possible near the mining villages 1 January 1901 (see p60). The
National Park is known for its of Emmaville and Torrington. School of Arts was the first
giant rocky tors towering Glen Innes hosts a gem and building to be acquired by
1,200 m (4,000 ft) above sea mineral fair each September. the New South Wales National
level, surrounded by heath and Trust because of its political
swamp land. The area is at its and historic importance.
most beautiful in the summer, 9Tenterfield Other historic buildings in
when wildflowers such as * 3,500. ~ @ @ n 157 Rouse St this small town include the
waratahs and Christmas bells (02) 6736 1082. ∑ tenterfield Victorian mansion Stannum
bloom. The park also has tourism.com.au House, the bluestone saddlers’
good walking trails and shop (made famous in the
camping facilities. The rural town of Tenterfield, song “Tenterfield Saddler”),
Gibraltar Range National Park to the north of the and the restored courthouse
is linked to Washpool National New England Tablelands, with its glass ceiling.
Park by a 40-km (25-mile) World occupies a special Also not to be
Heritage walk. Washpool has place in Australian missed are Bald
visitor facilities at Coombadjha history. Often Rock and Boonoo
Creek but wilderness walking is described as the Boonoo, which
its main feature. “Birthplace of Our are about 40 km
Glen Innes and its surround- Nation”, it was at (25 miles) north
ing villages of Glencoe, Ben the town’s School of Tenterfield.
Lomond and Shannon Vale are of Arts building Plaque celebrating Henry Bald Rock is the
known as Australia’s “Celtic on 24 October Parkes’ speech second biggest
Country”. Settled by Scottish, 1889 that local monolith in
Welsh, Irish and Cornish politician and towering figure of Australia after Uluru (see pp290–
immigrants in 1852, the area’s 19th-century Australian politics, 93) and the largest exposed
heritage is celebrated by the Sir Henry Parkes, made his granite rock, dating back to
the Lower Triassic period which
was over 200 million years ago.
It is 750 m (2,460 ft) long and
approximately 200 m (650 ft)
high. It offers magnificent
views of volcanic ranges to
the east, Girraween National
Park in Queensland to the
north and Mount McKenzie to
the south. Boonoo Boonoo
Falls cascade 210 m (690 ft)
into the gorge below, ideal for
swimming, and surrounded by
rainforest bathed in moisture
Tenterfield’s School of Arts building from the falls.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp483–4 and pp507–9