Eugowra - Bushrangers, Granite, and Silky Oaks

Eugowra is 37km east of Forbes.  It was badly hit by  the 2022 floods and many museums, hotels etc remain closed.  There was no accommodation available there either.

 

 

So it was a day trip from Forbes.

Bushrangers feature heavily in its history, and in its decorative murals.

It seems that its main claim to fame is that it is the site of the largest robbery ever in Australia. 

Frank Gardiner's gang held up the coach which was going from the gold diggings to Orange, and got away with 77kgs of gold and some cash.  I believe most was recovered. And  local hero Ben Hall was involved.

So we went to have a look at the site of the robbery, called Escort Rock.  .It was 4 km north of Eugowra.

 The rocks are to the left of the road, facing towards Eugowra,  Orange is behind the photographer.

 

Eugowra also has a granite industry.  I believe they supplied granite to the new parliament house.

Even John Howard  got a mention on this granite plaque.  The post office had closed, but the building remained a transaction centre.

And they like their silky oaks!

First stop was the Tourist Info for info.  It was beautifully presented.  In fact, you could see that Forbes had put a lot of work into developing a tourist industry.

And the local bushranger is Ben Hall.  There is a statue of him outside the Tourist Info - looking very patrician.

Then we  went to the Forbes Cemetery

And here was his grave

 

 

 

 

(more to come)

 

The Road to Forbes.

For one reason and another, we had never been to Forbes.  Parkes to the north and Hay to the south , yes,  but not Forbes.

So tonight, here we are.

We had lunch at Leura.  It is a delightful place, and these days, a tourist stop. Much cuter than nearby Katoomba, IMHO.

Mobile phones all out.

Lots of loos in Leura.

And on a sentimental note. Many years ago, beginning a drive from Sydney to Smithfield, we (including Yvonne) were in Leura, looking for something to eat - like a hamburger or fast food of some sort.  All we could find was this eating place called "Silks".  In we went and when the meals came, it was obvious they were much more than fast food.  So we sat back and enjoyed the meal - and I remember a lovely lemon tart for dessert.

Today, Silks has closed down and this is in its place.  

The country looks green and lovely.  Sometimes sheep, sometimes cattle.