On an Australian Outback Adventures road trip from Sydney to Broken Hill (or vice versa) a stop over at Cobar should be on your itinerary. Cobar with kids is an adventure and provides an opportunity to learn a little about mining.
Australian Outback Adventures : Cobar with Kids
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Situated on the crossroads of Kidman Way and Barrier Highway, Cobar is a town whose central focus is copper mining. It is said that way back in the early 1870s, a man by the name of ‘Papa Cornish’ saved a group of Aboriginal trackers from death. To say thank you, the group led him to what is now Cobar, named from the Aboriginal Ngiyampaa word for copper, Kuparr, Gubarr or Cuburra. In 1878, the Great Cobar Copper Mining Company Limited was founded. The town then became a booming mining town. The towns population is now around 3,500.
There are a range of attractions to see when in Cobar, mostly revolving around mining. It’s a great location to teach kids about minerals, ore and the production of many materials. We’ve pulled together some of the historic and modern day sites that you can view and experience today.
Fort Bourke Hill Lookout
Standing to the east of Cobar, Fort Bourke Hill Lookout provides a platform to view both a vista over the township and an opportunity to see the open pit and entrance to the New Cobar Gold Mine underground mine.
Limited access to the lookout is possible by contacting the Cobar Heritage Centre on (02) 6836 2448
Great Cobar Open Cut
Now full of water, the Great Cobar Open Cut is no longer accessible to the public but can be viewed behind the fence that now surrounds it. It was originally created by hand over 100 years ago, with the rock from this quarry used to backfill the underground mine stopes in the “cut and fill” method. Watch out for old mine shafts!
Cobar Sound Chapel
Developed by composer and sound artist Georges Lentz in collaboration with architect Glenn Murcutt, the Cobar Sound Chapel merges acoustic design with visual artistry, creating an immersive space where sound and light interact harmoniously. The chapel features unique, resonant materials that enhance auditory experiences, making it a striking cultural landmark.
The Cobar Sound Chapel has locked gates at all times. You will need to contact the Great Cobar Museum to obtain the key. Full details are here.
image provided by Cobar Shire
The Old Reservoir and Devil’s Rock
In the early days of Cobar settlement, the town water was supplied from the Old Reservoir which is around 3 kilometres away. Lack of water could be a problem during the drier months and water was delivered by train until the water pipeline from Nyngan was laid in the 1960s. If you take a one kilometre walk from Old Reservoir you will find Devil’s Rock, an ancient rock formation at which the Ngemba people performed ceremonial rites.
The Great Cobar Heritage Centre
Formerly the Administration building of the Great Cobar Copper Mine, the Great Cobar Heritage Centre houses a number of carefully curated exhibits showcasing Cobar’s history from 1869 to the present day focusing on both mining and pastoral industries. The kids will love the opportunity to play the ironstone xylophone while your entire group ca learn about the local Aboriginal Ngiyampaa through the Long Time Comin’ exhibit. It’s a great attraction to experience Cobar with kids.
Outside Cobar….
Mt Grenfell Historic Site
The Mt Grenfell Historic Site is a great detour if you have time up your sleeve. You will find Mount Grenfell Historic Site in Cubba. This site protects the Ngiyampaa rock art, an important Aboriginal site.
Click to read more about the Mt Grenfell Historic site.
Planning an Australian Outback Adventure
Our Australian Outback Adventures covered over 3,000 kilometres in just under a fortnight. Our route covered:
First Leg: Sydney – Mudgee – Dubbo – Nyngan.
Distance: Approximately 555 kilometres or 6 1/2 hours.
Read about Nyngan with kids
Read about Dubbo with kids
Read about Bathurst with Kids (alternative route)
Mudgee with Kids coming soon
Second Leg: Nyngan – Cobar – Emmdale Roadhouse – Wilcannia – Little Topar – Broken Hill
Read about Cobar with Kids
Distance: Approximately 590 Kilometres or 6 hours
We will update this post with coverage of each leg as they are uploaded. Stay tuned for more Australian Outback Adventures.
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