| By Gabrielle & William Beams |
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There's more at Moree
The vibrant town of Moree is situated 216 kilometres from Coonabarabran on the Newell Highway. One of the most productive agricultural shires in Australia, Moree began in 1851 when the Brand Family stared a General Store on the Mehi River.
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Now graceful historic buildings form part of the City Centre reflecting the prosperity of that bygone era. The Newell Highway is the main street of Moree and up to 2000 transports a day traverse the bustling town centre.
In the middle of the 1850’s, wheat, sheep and cattle were the major industries, now Moree and the surrounding areas produce two thirds of Australia’s cotton, of which approximately 90% is shipped overseas, mainly to Asia. The crop is planted in October and is harvested in late March when the cotton bulbs explode and huge machines can be seen picking the fluffy white puffs of cotton from the plants. The process known as “ginning” then commences where the raw cotton must be separated from its seeds and cleaned. The lint is then compressed into bales weighing approximately 227 kilograms. Tours of the Cotton Gins are conducted during May through to August and it is fascinating to observe this process and to realize that 249 pairs of jeans and 2104 pairs of boxer shorts are made from one bale of this precious plant.
Another successful product of this area is the popular pecan nut. The Trawalla Pecan Farm is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and was established in 1968 by an American who found that the rich soil around Moree was similar to that found in New Mexico. Now this farm boasts 70,000 trees on 700 hectares and provides 95% of Australia’s Pecan Nut crop. Specially built tractors with mechanical arms shake the trees to release their prized harvest. Tours are conducted to this enterprising orchard and you can then sample the finished product fresh from the trees.
Moree sits on the Great Artesian Basin and the naturally hot artesian mineral waters now fill the 3 public pools which are visited by 300,000 patrons annually. This “inland health resort” is reputed to heal arthritis, rheumatism, restore nerve, bone and muscular damage and relieve stress. A visit to the Moree Hot Spas is an experience to remember. Many of the Caravan Parks in Moree also have hot artesian pools for the benefits of weary travelers.
Another object of tourist fascination is at the famous Amaroo Tavern on the west of town. Here a World War 2 DC3 aircraft is in the front yard. Tours of this historic aeroplane are available.
While we were at Moree, we decided to take a tour to the remote community of Lightning Ridge 244 Kilometres away. This town was created in the 1880,s with the discovery of the famous black opals. Quinn’s Tours, with its very experienced operator, drives through the dusty outback to this historic small settlement with riches beyond belief. You are greeted by the sign “LIGHTNING RIDGE – POPULATION ?”, as the number of individuals living in this town is difficult to calculate. Thirty five nationalities currently work in the Opal fields and the ingenuity of these hardy souls is reflected in their homes made of anything handy, including iron, boulders, sandstone, mud and even beer bottles and beer cans. You can be mistaken thinking you have arrived in “Camelot”, as a perfect replica of a castle forms part of the urban sprawl. Even an amazing Cactus Garden is flourishing in this harsh outpost. Lightning Ridge is the largest source of the precious Black Opal in the world. Skilled cutters and polishers transform these gems and you can purchase ready made opal bracelets, earrings, necklaces and key rings from reputable retailers. There are caravan parks motels and cafes in town and you can immerse yourself in the outback life of this frontier community or listen to the stories of the battlers who came here dreaming of “striking it lucky”, only to leave empty handed, but richer for the experience.
We journeyed back to Moree knowing that we had just seen one of the harshest but most unforgettable part of the Australian Outback.
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