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Observing

Aboriginal sites on the road betwwn MSO and SSO

Information courtesy of Robert Smith rsj@astro.livjm.ac.uk

Axe grooves near Dubbo

Coming from Coona, before Dubbo you go through Broklehurst. In Broklehurst is a cross-roads where you turn right. (If you come through Mendooran, Broklehurst is where you rejoin the highway, so you arrive at the same crossroads and go straight over crossing the highway. Does that make sense?) About 1-2km up there you see signs to Jinchilla (or something) Gardens and Tea rooms. Just after (100m or so) is a reserve on the left. I cannot remember the name, but it is well signposted. It is a dirt road down to a carpark with a picnic tables and a toilet. Standing in the carpark facing the river follow the bank off to your left. i.e., heading back towards Broklehurst. STAY HIGH ON THE BANK. I was tempted down some paths which go to the waters edge. I got muddy, stung by nettles and grumpy. About 400m from the carpark are several flat rock slabs with very impressive axe grooves in. Note: impressive as far as axe grooves go. they are best I have ever seen, but they are still only grooves in the rock!!!

Molong burial site

Not an ancient site, but interesting all the same. Dates from the early colonial period. Best preserved tree carvings in NSW. Coming in to Molong from Coona, one normally turns right off the Newell highway before really entering the town. Stay on the Newell highway right into town. It bends right into the town and then sharp left coming out the other side. Leaving town there is a picnic/rest area on your left and the roads widens out rather impressively. About 1km (2km tops) from town there is a little tiny side road off to your right. It is signposted, but not dramatically. I think it is only a small sign. It says "Yurangh's Grave". After about 1.5km, a mud track turns off through a gate. I parked outside the gate and walked from here. You could drive in if you wanted, but I would not recommend it if the ground is muddy. By the gate there is again a little sign pointing to the grave. The grave site is about 400m across a field. As I say, you COULD drive, but......

When you get there you'll find one dead tree with obvious carvings on and three with apparently nothing. It took me ages to find the carvings. I searched everywhere. Eventually, just as I was giving up I found them and they are pretty cool. (The tricky bit is that the bark has grown back over them enclosing the carving inside the tree. In each tree there is a narrow slit in the bark and if you lean close to the tree and peer into the crack, you'll find the tree is almost hollow. The carvings are on the dead wood inside).

The Molong site is I think more interesting and is also better placed for a driving break to stretch your legs. Dubbo is too soon after leaving Coona.