We have had a day out of Armidale backtracking a short way down the Waterfall Way to check out the old mining town of Hillgrove. Some gorges got in the way of this expedition, as they do.

The back road to Hillgrove took us via the remnants of another old gold town, Metz. There were about 750 people here in the late 1900s before mining petered out around 1920. Now, mostly privately owned pasture lands.

A nearby lookout provides views down into the Bakers Creek and Metz Gorges where mining took place and across the valley to Hillgrove on the opposite rim.

Moving on from Metz, Chinaman’s Gully Road took us back to the Waterfall Way and another lookout down into Metz Gorge and Bakers Creek Falls. The falls were not running, but big pools of water were at the bases of the tiered waterfall.

A little further along is the turnoff to Hillgrove. Hillgrove’s population was around 3,000 in the late 1900s and was the main centre for the mining activities. It was also the social centre for the region. The English cricket team came here in 1888 and played on the Recreation Ground.

Like Metz the population declined after 1920 and much of the urban infrastructure was removed apart from the post office ( now a private residence) and school (now a mining museum).

There is a town brochure that has a street guide to all the old buildings. Trouble is they are all gone and it is vacant land or something else has been built on the spot where it used to be. It is though how we found the old post office.

Hillgrove now seems to have a few newbies and off grid types in residence, maybe some mine workers. There is also new housing, energy efficient type places. There is a big processing plant on the edge of the town where the road comes up from the valley floor.

After 1920 there were periodic bursts of gold mining and also tungsten from 1930 to the late 50s. Tungsten strengthens steel. Today, mining continues with antimony the main product along with gold. Claims to be Australia’s biggest antimony mine. Antimony is used as a lead alloy in batteries and as a semi conductor, also an additive in paints.

Another road into nowhere took our liking, about 17 km of gravel to Long Point. No time for any walks here but we enjoyed a late lunch in the very quiet forest. Wattle and other natives in bloom.

On the way back out Allthego went for a short wander to the Chandler Gorge and River lookout, another one of those long way down looks from a narrow platform!

Final stop for the day was at the upper Gara Gorge just a few kilometres out of Armidale. This is an interesting little parkland beside the Gara River.

It is where Australia’s first hydroelectric scheme was developed. The plant was switched on in 1895 and provided power to the then booming town of Hillgrove, Australia’s first town to be to be lit and powered by hydroelectricity. It remained in operation till 1920.

A weir which dammed the Gara is still there and further downstream are the remains of the power station.

It was late in the day and we didn’t venture in that direction.

Back to the van for a rest and our last night in Armidale.

Another sunny morning for our departure but first we had an early brunch stop at a nearby cafe, the Corner Crêperie.

Not only crepes but quiches, pies and other flakey things.

We settled for a chicken quiche and a spicy beef crepe. Very tasty and a great start to the day. Uralla here we come! A short hop of 22 km.