VILLAGES Rich in history, the origins of our villages come from mining, European settlement, agriculture, post World War I soldier settlement and the development and maintenance of rail networks. The varying styles of architecture provide clues to the timeline of when each village was established.
Monteagle
Koorawatha
Enveloped in orchards and olive groves, the village of Monteagle is 15 minutes north of Young. Touts Lookout is a 15 minute drive from Monteagle along the gravel Scenic Road. Offering stunning panoramic views of the district, it is also a perfect spot for kite flying. Iandra Castle, a 20 minute drive from Monteagle, is open periodically throughout the year. The property was originally purchased in 1878 and over time the homestead has been converted and restored a number of times and is listed on the NSW Heritage Database. Set on a working farm dating back to the 1850s, the Rustic Maze and Country Garden is like stepping back in time. Wander through the beautifully maintained garden and enjoy a coffee at The Old Shearers Quarters Café. Open by appointment only for tour groups of 12 or more people, please ensure you call ahead of visiting.
Derived from the Wiradjuri language meaning ‘pine trees’, Koorawatha is a 30 minute drive from Young and 20 minutes from Murringo. Once a prosperous railway junction, the village now moves at a calmer pace. Originally established in 1884, Hotel Koorawatha serves delicious country pub meals and local wines. Enjoy ice cold beer in the beer garden and stay the night in one of six comfy hotel rooms. A cairn marks the former site of the old Bang Bang Hotel where in 1864, infamous bushranger Ben Hall and his gang engaged in a gun battle with police after trying to steal racehorses.
Visit the Koorawatha Nature Reserve for bush walking and bird watching; birds to be spotted include the chestnut-rumped heathwren and brown-headed honeyeater. Travel through Murringo gap on the 20 minute drive from Koorawatha to Murringo and stop at the small picnic area located next to the Murringo Creek; an ideal place to enjoy lunch and watch the local wildlife.
BELOW LEFT: Iandra Castle, nearby in the Weddin Shire BELOW: Hotel Koorawatha
Photo credit: John Mewett
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