Whilst in Tamworth we have ventured out on a loop trip to some of the smaller villages in the region.

The excursion took us out west to Werris Creek. Werris Creek is an old railway town.

Built from 1877 to 1880 the heritage listed station is the third largest in NSW, though not sure how this is measured.

There is a substantial museum in the station and outside is a national memorial park to railway workers who have lost their lives whilst on the job. Their names have been listed State by State on panels set among steel caricatures of the job roles.

The town was purpose built as a junction for the development of two major railway lines. The Main Northern line from Sydney to Brisbane and the north west line, which branched from Werris Creek and went to Moree and beyond. Later a cross country branch line in a south west direction was constructed to link Werris Creek to the Western line from Sydney near Dubbo. This was all done to secure transport routes around the State. There were 750 railway workers here at the height of all the action.

Our timing was good here as a two car passenger service arrived from Moree shortly followed by a four car passenger service from Armidale (where the Main Northern line now terminates).

These two trains were then coupled and headed off to Sydney, to return the next morning.

Not far on from Werris Creek is Quirindi, historically this was a big sheep area for wool and lamb. Now also into cereal crops, canola and sunflowers feature prominently.

The local silo complex has had an art makeover, depicting the indigenous past and wildlife through to today’s agricultural and pastoral activities. Interesting work.

From Quirindi the road heads east back to the New England Hwy at Wallabadah. Wallabadah is about 55 km south of Tamworth.

A little north of Wallabadah we took a road that headed east off the highway and curled around to the north through Nundle and the nearby village of Hanging Rock.

Nundle is an old gold mining town near the headwaters of the Peel River. Nundle is now known for its restored woollen mill.

We called in and had a look through the merchandise and also the factory floor operation. The wool comes from Tasmania, it is scoured in Australia’s last operating wool scour in South Australia before being transferred to Nundle for spinning into yarn.

The yarn is also sent off to another location for sock making etc. Nundle is one of the few remaining spinners in Australia. This part of the wool industry in Australia could be in its final days. Who knows?

After Nundle the Chaffey Dam, filled by the Peel River, looms large beside the road. Water is stored here for agriculture in the Peel Valley. The river meanders on from below the dam wall and flows through Tamworth.

It had been a long day on the road but we had made an evening booking to take in a concert at the Capitol Theatre.

It wasn’t country. The tribute band ‘Queen Forever’ was in town and we just had to catch the ‘stand in’ Freddie Mercury, Brian May and the other chaps put on a concert. As did about 500 other Tamworthians, some of whom didn’t return after the interval!

It started off heavy metal (not really our scene) but finished off more like pop or arena rock music with the classics ‘Somebody to Love’, ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘We are the Champions’.

Here is a video to catch some of the action!

Allthego enjoyed the show, Homealone more the last half with the softer rock classics. It was still all very loud!