20210406 NSW Manilla
20210406 Arriving in Manilla to a town that was larger than I thought so we parked the van and walked the streets with my camera in toe. As like most of these towns there are many shops shut down or struggling but to my surprised I found some interesting gift shops to brows through and get my shopping fix as I send Des on his way. It was over 165 years ago a George Veness founded the towns first commercial operation and named it after Gamilaraay (Aboriginals whose lands extend from New South Wales to southern Queensland and were one of the four largest Indigenous nations in Australia) word meaning, Winding River.
The first thing I noticed was a poster in one of the shops windows saying “Save Manilla Railway Viaduct” and I instantly thought, now that I have to see, we continued down the street stopping at a News Agents and got direction, this I have to see.
And the old railway didn't disappoint, what a beauty she is, these lines we definitely built to last but it is in need of repair and that could cost millions, personally I think they should repair it and keep our history alive.
The rail line opened in 1908 and crosses over the Namoi River and through the showgrounds but unfortunately the station is no longer there.
I found this link on line, check it out.
An engineer with more than five decades of experience issued a plan to help save the Manilla Viaduct from demolition, but unfortunate hasn't filed one Councillor with hope, pricks.
The main street of Manilla, with the river close by the side walks are extra high in preparation for when it floods but this town is a survivor and soon recovers.
The "Royal Hotel" Manilla roughly built in 1914, establishment offered for the first time since 2001 as freehold purchase only and with income of $36,000.00, not a lot considering but it is a small town.
Then you have the Post Office Hotel directly opposite that's also up for sale and was first built in 1882 but burnt down and was rebuilt in 1900.
Built in 1875, and with a fire place, it must get awfully chilly out here. in the winter.
The Memorial Garden honours the early Chinese pioneers whose involvement in market Gardening, tobacco farming with tin and gold mining helped to make Manilla a thriving community. The headstones were moved to Manilla in the 1990's and head-stone texts were translated by Mr Bing Chen and although we have little written history of the Chinese story in Manilla, the Garden goes some way to acknowledging that important contribution made here as in the rest of Australia.
Mum, I found a rock from Gympie, the next step is to take a photo and post it on their Facebook site then find a new location and hope that someone else finds it, how cool is that.
Unfortunately we just missed this event but it's in Manilla were they have hosted 18 international level paragliding events Since 1994 and Mount Borah is Australia's only world class flying site, Godfrey's Manilla Paragliding School is the only school in Australia that owns its own mountain, air sports building, and serviced cabins and camping facility, ha Des they could have free power, I'm kidden Eddie.😅
A Great Town Full of History
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