Moree Centre

Moree NSW 2400 (Pop 10 000)

Moree is a pretty North West riverside town 628 km n-w of Sydney. It sits at the junction of the Mehi & Gwydir Rivers which accounts for its various attractive riverside parks & reserves. Original inhabitants were the Kamilaroi Aborigines whose descendants still live in town and who named the area meaning ‘long waterhole’. White settlement began with pastoral  squatters (1830s) followed by the railway (1897). Today cotton is a major part of the economy together with wheat, pecan nuts & olives. Moree is also one of the largest farm machinery distribution centres in Australia. Moree Markets 1^st Sunday each month. Carnival of Sport (Easter), Golden Grain Festival (Nov).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Artesian Spa Baths (cnr Anne & Gosport Sts.) Originally sunk in 1895 looking for irrigation water into the Great Artesian Basin, the result was mineral-rich water at 41 deg C.  The pools are open (6.30am-8.30pm) weekdays & (7am-7pm) weekends/public holidays and are emptied and cleaned daily. The Barry Roberts Walk scenic bush and riverside trail. Historic Moree. Despite two major floodings (1910 & 1955) and a fire (1928), some historic buildings remain. The Courthouse (1903), Lands Office (1894), ‘Alloway’ (1890s). Moree Plains Gallery, Frome St superb collection of contemporary Aboriginal paintings & artifacts. Open (0am-5pm) weekdays, (10am-2pm) Sat & (11am-2pm) Sun. Amaroo DC3, Amaroo Dr. A WWII DC3 transport plane. Mary Brand Park, cnr Gwydir & Frome St pretty park with a replica slab hut & Meei Cottage. Moree Cemetery, Greenbah Rd contains the grave of Edward Dickens (son of Charles) who came to Australia in 1868, became mayor of Wilcannia and died 1902. Also buried here, Mary Brand, one of the town’s founders.

Nearby:
Tareelaroi Weir (20 km east), Combadello Weir (25 km west), Boolooroo Weir (8 km north) excellent fishing, birdwatching, swimming & picnic locations. Waa Gorge (86 km s-e) at the northern tip of Mt Kaputar NP features the  'Devil's Waterholes', two deep swimming waterholes & the gorge with bright orange walls.

Accommodation:
Moree has 16 motels, five hotels and 3 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: Lyle Houligan Park, cnr Newell & Gwydir Hwys. Tel (02) 6757 3350.

Airport:

Moree Airport (MRZ) off Newell Hwy. Tel (02) 6752 1483. (4 km south).

Hospital:

Moree District Hospital, Alice St. Tel (02) 6757 0000.