Cassillis to Mendooran

Leaving the dust and the pollution of the Hunter Valley behind us, we headed out the Golden Highway - a little late in the day, but with only a short day ahead of us - making Cassillis our camp for the night.  Having only ever driven through Cassillis once before, it was great to actually take the time to walk this funny but almost extinct little town.

It's not until you walk around some of these little towns that you really get to see what they have to offer.  The towns folk are so friendly and love to pull you up and have a chat.  Tourists being somewhat of    a rarity.

Allan Cunningham, the explorer discovered the district in 1823 and settlement was established through the 1820’s by the predominance of wealthy landholders with the properties (called stations) ranging from five to twenty thousand acres, their pursuits being mainly pastoral. Cassilis is surrounded by the same historic properties today, although some have increased acreage up to 40,000 acres.  The entire village is heritage listed, inlcuding the Royal Hotel, The Anglican Church, the Police Station and Court House and quite a few other buildings.

St Columba Anglican Church

The Old Cemetery of St Columba

Old Headstone

 This old headstone caught my imagination - might be just be me?? but can you see the eyes and what appears to be a face emerging out of the stone?

The Royal Hotel

The Old Police Station and Court House

Catholic Church

Main Street - Cassillis

The amazing tree roots that look like they have been melted down onto the gutter

The Remains of the Old Masonic Lodge

Munmurra River

Camp Ground at Cassillis Rec Ground

Recreation Ground - Cassillis

Great little camp ground for just $10 per night for a powered site and the best hot showers. Take the time to take a break in Cassillis.

Barry At Dunedoo-just making sure he knew where we where going.

Hitting the road again we headed the short 40 kms to Dunedoo. A short stop over for lunch at the local and to stock up on groceries we hit the road for our final few kilometers for the day to Mendooran.  A must see along the way is the famous Ivy Rocks.  The country side is very dry and much in need of rain, and knowing our luck it surely will sometime in the near future.

Ivy Rock

The road to Mendooran is good bitumen road, and once in the town, you follow the signs to the camping ground and with about 6 acres to choose from - you would be hard pressed not to find a suitable site. All with water views of the Castlereagh River.   Just the basic facilities with toilets and a cold shower, but plenty of water and that great opportunity to enjoy that camp fire and enjoy the company of the many other fellow travellers.  So interesting to meet some people and find out where they are going and hear the tales of their adventures along the road.

Our First Night at Mendooran, with Don, Mick, Lorraine and Jenny

When we arrived at e met with Jenny and Mick, first time long term travellers' from Tasmania.  Later in the afternoon, Don and Lorraine arrived from the Central Coast, on their way to Lightening Ridge.  Next thing we are all gathered around a communal campfire enjoying happy hour.  The friendships that have ensured from these few days will be everlasting, we are sure.

Big Full Moon Over Mendooran

Julie, Lorraine and Jenny enjoying happy hour

Don - Telling one of his tall stories along with Peter and Mick

Other fellow travellers joined us later - Julie and Peter Gray from Old Bar - so from what started out as 6 of us - later turned into 12.  What a great time we had and it was really hard for all of us to go our separate ways, over the next couple of days.

The village of Mendooran, with its 300 odd residents,was first discovered in 1817 by John Oxley, on one of first inland expeditions.The small village grew in the 1860s on the old station near the bridge which passed over the Castlereagh River. As at 1866 there were 24 residents recorded in the area. The village was called Mundooran until the 1920's when the name was changed to Mendooran.  The Murals of Mendooran are a main attraction.

One of the 24 Murals of Mendooran

The free campsite on the banks of the Castlereagh River is one of the best you will find, and it is just great to be able to return the favour to the towns people by enjoying a meal at the local pub - the $10 Friday night fillet steak meal being a highlight - the company of the locals, just an added bonus.

Autumn Time

 Autumn is such a wonderful time to be travelling and gives me the opportunity to take shots like this, the colors just so wonderfully inspiring.  Some of the nights getting quite cool now, but the days have just been wonderful

Barry at our Mendooran Camp

We left Mendorran and headed to Brocklehurst, just out of Dubbo.  Another free camp, but not one that I would call our best, and so popular that it is more like  a caravan park.  No water either, which is a bit of an issue when free camping.  Decided to move on to Trangie yesterday after the rain started (see 'told you so lol') as the sites where were very unlevel and causing us some concern, about whether we would be able to get out if it continued to rain.  And rain it did and still is.

So here we are holed up in the Trangie Caravan Park, which is just great - staying for a few days to catch up with family and the washing, before we continue heading westward.

Hope you are all enjoying following our travels and the best is ahead of us.

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Hope to be headed to Hermidale for our next stop and hoping to make Renmark for the 10th of next month for the hot air balloon festival.  We are also booked in for the CMCA rally in Kalgoolie in October which we are looking forward to.

So until next time - family and friends