Dubbo CBD

Dubbo NSW 2830 (Pop 39 000)

Picture: Ruth Ellison

Dubbo is an important Central-West NSW city 416 km n-w of Sydney. It sits at the intersection of the Mitchell, Newell & Golden Hwys and original inhabitants were the Wiradjuri Aborigines with white settlement following in 1820s. The railway (1849) helped boost the town’s economy with Dubbo being declared a city in 1966. Today Dubbo is a major stock-selling centre with a number of abattoirs and it is also an important educational centre. Dubbo markets held 2^nd Sun each month. Orana Country Music Easter Festival (Easter), Red Ochre Corroboree Festival (Apr), Jazz Festival (Aug).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Old Dubbo Gaol, Macquarie St (1871-1966) now a museum, featuring a gallows pole with hangman’s equipment (8 men were hung here), solitary confinement, a padded cell, graffiti cell, watchtower etc. Open (9am-4.30pm). Heritage Walk begins in Talbragar St and ends in Macquarie St and takes in many historical buildings of note from 1859 onward. Dubbo Museum, Macquarie St (1873)  contains colonial farm, domestic, Aboriginal and commercial artifacts. At the rear is a collection of 19^th century buildings positioned to form a village square.  Open (10am-1pm) and (2pm to 4.30pm) daily.  Shoyoen Sister City Garden & Jurian Ceremonial Tea House, Coronation Drive East built together with Minokamo, Dubbo’s Japanese sister city to help celebrate the city’s 150^th anniversary. Open (10am-4pm) daily except Xmas.

Nearby:
Western Plains Zoo (4 km south) Australia’s first open-range zoo and home to a thousand free-roaming animals set on over 300 ha of bushland. The Zoo is also renowned for its conservation and breeding programs. Open (9m-5pm) daily. Free admission after 4pm. Dundullimal Homestead, Obley Rd. (7 km s-e) (1840s) set on the Macquarie River and on a 26 000 acre sheep station, it is one of the oldest homesteads still standing in western NSW. Open (10am-5pm) daily. It is also the departure point for river cruises. Narromine (40 km east) small agricultural town known for gliding and excellent aviation museum. Festival of Flight (Nov).

Accommodation:
Dubbo has almost 30 motels, 15 hotels, 3 B&Bs, 2 cabins/cottages, numerous holiday apartments, a farm stay and 5 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: Cnr Newell Hwy & Macquarie St. Tel (02) 6884 1422 or 1800 674 443.

Airport:
Dubbo Airport (DBO) Cooreena Rd, off Mitchell Hwy. Tel (02) 6801 4560. (4 km n-w of CBD).

Hospitals:
Dubbo Base Hospital, Myall St. Tel (02) 6885 8666 and Lourdes Hospital, Cobbora Rd. Tel (02) 6841 8500.