new south wales tourism

And the Band Played On, an outback tribute…

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The far western New South Wales town of Broken Hill in Outback Australia would seemingly be an odd place to find a memorial to the courageous band members aboard the ill stricken luxury liner, the Titanic.

But, pride of place in a park near to the town’s centre stands tall a monument erected in 1912 by the citizens of the town.

The monument praises the heroic bandsmen, who played to the end, calmly facing certain death whilst women, children and their fellow men were launching into lifeboats on that fateful maiden voyage of the Titanic. Survivors’ speak of the music drifting across the ocean’s waves as the ship slowly sank into the inky depths of the Atlantic.

And given the strong musical traditions of Broken Hill and the important role it played in community life, especially in those early days of the 1900’s, it is no surprise they gave pause to remember those who perished at sea that night.

Inscribed on the monument are the musical notes to the song “Nearer, My God, To Thee”, which has been reported as the final song the band played.

And the band played on…

Photos: Janet & Baz


About us…

We love the colours of the Australian Outback, the red earth touching a blue sky on a faraway horizon; and the fabulous coastline of our sunburnt country, where a golden sandy beach is washed over by a warm turquoise blue sea…

A few years ago we graduated from work and re-entered the classroom of life where an education is guaranteed and all that is needed is an open mind.

Cheers, Baz & Janet

Deadman’s Point…

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Lake Cargelligo, located in the Central West of New South Wales, is a picturesque town located on the shores of a lake with the same name. 

It is just the perfect place to wile away a couple of days basking under the canopy of a blue and cloudless sky.

A pleasant way to take in the lake and surrounds is along a walking track beside the waters edge, and curious, we headed to investigate why one of the points of land on the lake was called “Deadman’s Point”.

The story is told of two men arriving in the town during the depression years, with no money, food or swags, just the clothes on their backs.

Hungry, the men tried to catch some fish to eat and found some string to make a fishing line.  With no luck fishing from the banks of the lake they decided their chances would improve if they were able to drop a line in the deeper water.

Making a raft from some empty kerosene tins and timber saplings the men paddled into deeper water, but were set upon by a strong wind blowing across the lake. They lost their grip on the raft and it floated away.

One of the men could not swim and whilst his mate tried to keep him afloat he slipped beneath the water and drowned.

The survivor headed to town where he informed the police of the mishap and told them there was a dead man “around there”. The police asked “where” and the reply was “there is a man lying dead on the point” And thereafter it has been known as Deadman’s Point.

Photos: Janet & Baz


About us…

We love the colours of the Australian Outback, the red earth touching a blue sky on a faraway horizon; and the fabulous coastline of our sunburnt country, where a golden sandy beach is washed over by a warm turquoise blue sea…

A few years ago we graduated from work and re-entered the classroom of life where an education is guaranteed and all that is needed is an open mind.

Cheers, Baz & Janet

A Birthing Suite, in the Australian Bush…

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Borenore Karst
Borenore Karst

One of the most enjoyable things about travelling is the opportunity it provides to learn something new, to visit faraway places, and to even make discoveries in your own backyard.

We came across a new discovery for us as we head towards the dog fence in far western New South Wales. Well actually, it is as far west as you can travel in New South Wales as it marks the border with South Australia.

Now don’t go thinking we’ve made some amazing discovery that hasn’t previously been recorded, however we came across Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve, situated just west of Orange. We’ve passed the Reserve many times in our travels but have never stopped there, but a chance lunch stop provided an opportunity to visit and to view the limestone cave located there.

Arch Cave and Boree Creek, which runs through the cave, is in Wiradyuri Country and has been used by our First Nations People for thousand’s of years.

The name Borenore is thought to be derived from the indigenous language of the Wiradyuri people; Bora, meaning ceremony, and Nora, meaning shelf or overhanging rock.

There are approximately 400 Karst Caves located in New South Wales and they are amongst the oldest and most complex in the world.

Caves similar to Arch Cave have been used by aboriginal women as birthing sites in days gone by and without doubt it would be a wonderful place to enter the world.

So if you’re out that way, be sure to stop by and take a look, have a picnic and enjoy one of the walks, it’s a magical spot that will delight any visitor…

Photos: Janet & Baz


About us…

We love the colours of the Australian Outback, the red earth touching a blue sky on a faraway horizon; and the fabulous coastline of our sunburnt country, where a golden sandy beach is washed over by a warm turquoise blue sea…

A few years ago we graduated from work and re-entered the classroom of life where an education is guaranteed and all that is needed is an open mind.

Cheers, Baz & Janet