Attractions

Visit Gum Bend Lake, a manmade lake three kilometres from Condobolin and when full is 1.75 metres deep. Opened on 22 October 1988, Gum Bend Lake was a project to commemorate Australia’s bicentenary and was jointly funded by the NSW Bicentennial Council, the people of Condobolin and the Lachlan Shire Council. The Gum Bend Lake extension was opened on 20 May 1990, to commorate the centenary of Local Government in Condobolin. Gum Bend Lake is ideal for water skiing and also proves popular with bird watchers and fishing on the nearby Lachlan river. Facilities include picnic tables, free BBQ, playground, toilet and shower facilities and a large rest area to the east of the Lake to take a break and enjoy. To visit Gum Bend Lake travel west on Bathurst street.

While taking a break at Gum Bend Lake, be sure to stretch your legs on the 6km walking track from Gum Bend Lake into Condobolin to the end of Bathurst street and back to the Lake again. Its peaceful surroundings make it a perfect place to relax and enjoy spending time with family and friends.

The Lachlan River is responsible for much of the Heart of NSW landscape. To experience the history and beauty of this iconic inland river, visitors can admire the river at Condobolin or through any of the Travelling Stock Reserves (TSR’s).

The Wiradjuri Study Centre is located on the corner of Cunningham Street & McDonnell Street and was constructed with the express purpose of promoting the study and understanding of Wiradjuri culture. The centre offers a local hub for training, development and employment, cultural appreciation, cultural awareness and heritage issues, a keeping place and a space to yarn up. Local Indigenous art and products are available for purchase. You are welcome to visit this centre by appointment, please phone 6895 4664.

The Lachlander Museum at 46 Bathurst Street Condobolin was printing their newspaper on one of the last operational hot metal printing presses in Australia up until January 2004. All of the equipment previously used has been kept complete and is available for inspection by appointment at the Lachlander Museum. Machinery includes three presses and two intertype machines. To make an appointment please phone the friendly staff at The Lachlander on (02) 6895 4010.

The Condobolin Railway Museum at Madeline Street Condobolin, is a must – see for train buffs. It houses a diverse collection of old trikes, trailers and railway items as well as other pieces including old motors and horse drawn machinery donated by local people. Visitors to the museum on Madeline Street in Condobolin are most welcome; simply ask the staff at Western Plains Regional Development Centre or call 6895 3301 to arrange a visit.

Enjoy the view of Condobolin at Reservoir Hill Lookout at the eastern end of Brady street or visit Mt Tilga, eight kilometres north of Condobolin on the Cobar road where you can park your vehicle and stretch your legs to see great views.

The Condobolin Community Centre on the corner of Denison and Bathurst Street displays photos and other documents depicting the history and heritage of the area. Upstairs a room has been furnished as a bedroom of bygone years, while downstairs offers tourist information, local arts and crafts and art completed by the local china painting group which is all available to purchase.

Utes in the Paddock is a unique tourist attraction near Ootha NSW, (30 km from Condobolin on the Parkes road) which showcases the work of some of Australian’s best artists on a wide range of Holden utes.

This unique experience can be viewed more times than one with the backdrop of rural farming land and the central NSW sky ever changing with the seasons offering new perspective every visit with interpretative signage to provide more in-depth information behind each work of art.

Western Plains Regional Development Centre (WPRD) at 18 William street Condobolin has internet access and computer hire, photocopying and printing services, a selection of tourist information, a variety of Indigenous art and craft on display and a large meeting room for hire. WPRD is also home to services such as Centrelink, Lands Council, Job Network agencies, JP Services and secretarial, and Youth Services for the Lachlan Shire.

The Goobothery Monument – King’s Grave site was found by the Surveyor-General John Oxley on the 29th July 1817, on his return journey when exploring the Lachlan River.

This site is significant as it was recorded by John Oxley as the burial site of an Aboriginal chief who drowned while crossing the river in a flood.

On the 21st July 1913 Edmund Milne and a party of men located one of the carved trees still intact and the lower portion of the other.

The two carved trees were removed and relocated to the Australian Museum in Sydney and a stone cairn and replica posts were erected to commemorate the Oxley expedition and the discovery of the sacred site.

On your way to Burcher taking Shire road 90 or Grassmere Rd, visit the Signature Alpaca Farm. This enterprise is run on 3,000 acres of cropping and grazing country 33 km south of the township of Condobolin. This is a working farm so there is generally some form of hands on work with the animals each day. Come out and see some of the young cria (baby alpacas) and if the weather is good, enjoy a “Picnic in the Paddock with the alpacas. This is a chance to get up close and personal with these curious creatures. To come and visit us please call and make an appointment and don’t be shy to ask us for directions ph: (02) 6895 7665..

The truly unique Bush Chapel just outside of the town of Burcher. This is the perfect place for meditation and reflection in close proximity with the natural wonder of the Australian bush.

A climb to the top of Manna Mountain just outside the village of Burcher 50kms north of West Wyalong also offers a broad view of the landscape. The scars left in the rocks from generations of Aboriginal people sharpening their axes indicate Manna Mountain has been a popular location with special significance for centuries.

Nearby is Lake Cowal which is home to the gold mine, Barrick Gold of Australia. The mine provides a boost to Burcher and its community with many residents of the town employed by the mine.

At Tullibigeal you will find a Cockies Shed Lavender Farm. Grower Kerry AmoAmo will be happy to explain how lavender is grown, distilled and used. Lavender products made from Cockies Shed lavender shed are available for sampling and purchase. Visitors to the Cockies Shed are by appointment only. Please phone 6972 9243.

Also in Tullibigeal is the Tullibigeal Craft Corner in the RSL Memorial House opposite the park. Craft Corner offers homemade cakes, jams, pickles and local handicrafts every Friday afternoon. Visitors passing through on other days can call ahead to arrange a visit on 6972 9243.

Lake Cargelligo, the showpiece of the largest natural inland lake system in the state. Lake Cargelligo has a volume of 36,000 mega litres, a surface area of 1,440 hectares and an average depth of 3.7 metres, providing the perfect place for recreation of all kinds including water skiing, fishing, canoeing, swimming, camping and much more. Summer sees the Lake shores packed with speed boats, sail boats and jet skis as families come from across NSW to enjoy this wonderful oasis in the outback.

Lake Cargelligo also provides an ideal environment for bird watching with part of the Lake being classified as a bird sanctuary. Keep an eye out for such water birds as the Great Crested Grebe, Black-Winged Stilts, Great Egrets, Spoonbills, Pelicans and Black Swans. Bird watchers also enjoy visiting nearby Round Hill Reserve, Yelkin State Forest and Nombinnie Reserve in mallee country, which support a variety of rare and threatened species. A bird guide and binoculars are available for hire at the Lake Cargelligo Tourist Information Centre.

Bird watching is also excellent around the lake and at Lake Curlew. Bird Hides are installed at the sewerage ponds and at Nilsson’s Lane.

While in Lake Cargelligo enjoy a stroll or a bike ride around the lake on the picturesque bicycle track and look for the heritage signage along the way which provided local information and history about the sites. Fishing is another wonderful way to pass the time in Lake Cargelligo and on the nearby Lachlan River, and is popular all year round with cod, silver perch and Redfin for the taking.

The Lake Cargelligo Museum is located in Holt Street Lake Cargelligo and is a community owned and operated museum which houses a large collection of rural machinery, household relics, much more. Open every Wednesday from 10am to 3pm, entry fee is five dollars for adults and two dollars for children under 12 years of age. For bus tours with over 20 people, entry fee is four dollars. The Museum is also home to a unique live display of working horses on the June Long Weekend Open Day or by appointment for large groups so please ask! To make a booking, please phone Steve or Jan on 6898 1384 or 6898 1051. Or ee how things used to be done on the land with Jan and Stephen Johnson’s Draught Horse Museum, McInnes Street Lake Cargelligo. Bookings essential please phone 6898 1384.

The Lake Cargelligo Tourist Information Centre houses the unique Alf Tyack Stone Butterfly and Gem Collection. It is also a great stopping point for souvenirs, local art and craft and information on Lake Cargelligo and the surrounding area or Discover traditional Aboriginal art at Kejole Koori Studios, 98 Grace Street, Lake Cargelligo.