Inverell and Surrounds

This morning saw take it easy and not get up too early due to the low temperature outside and even inside the Karavan. There was a light frost outside which encouraged us to put the heater on to warm the inside up.

After the sun had risen there was a slight rise in the temperature and in the sun it was quite pleasant as there was no breeze. We had a phone call from one of the Inverell Apex 40 members to tell me that he had some photos of the previous evening’s dinner on DVD. Jeff told me that he and his wife, Val, had been at Lennox Head in October last year for the Harley (Motor bike) Owners Group (HOG) Rally where I did massage with Helen and Gab.

A little later in the morning, the need for a cappuccino became evident. So we drove into the CBD of Inverell and found a reasonable coffee shop. It was a good start. Then we did some things at the bank.

Prue then stayed in town to go to the Art Gallery and peruse the work there. She says the work was great with a number of artists from the Northern Rivers represented. She decided to buy a fine wool scarf to match her beanie. Things one wears when you get away and into colder climates.

While Prue was at the Art Gallery, I went out to the Transport Museum. This is a very large display of privately owned and maintained cars, trucks, motor cycles, bicycles and associated items. Some of the vehicles have been restored really well while there are a number that are in their original ‘working clothes’. Both locations are worth visiting when you visit Inverell.

We both returned to the Tourist Information Centre where there was a demonstration of cutting and polishing sapphires. Several of the group we were with had their stones they found yesterday valued. Several stones were valued at very good prices. Following on from this we had lunch in cafe in the centre. It was very quickly presented and was very nice as was the coffee.

After lunch, we went to the Pioneer Museum. We had been to this place some years ago but we found a large number of new exhibits of machinery and old buildings. This is another really worthwhile place of interest.

After having our photos taken in the old school building we then travel the short distance to the small town of Tingha. It was originally a tin mining town that has fallen on hard times due to the failure of the mining and also its close location to the large town of Inverell.

Our main location in Tingha was the Wing Hing Long and Co., Chinese Australian General Store. It was started in 1881 as a general store for the Chinese miners. This store was owned by Chinese migrant’s right up until 1998. At this time it was purchased by Guyra Shire Council with major help from the NSW Heritage Office and Arts NSW to be operated as a living museum and managed by local volunteers. A wonderful array of items that were stocked in the shop from the early 1960s until its close being displayed. A lot of memories of items long gone are sitting on the shelves.

We were given a lovely afternoon tea of scones, cream and jam along with tea and coffee. During the afternoon tea, we were addressed by one of the volunteers. He gave us a great briefing on the history of the shop and its previous owners and their families along with stories about the area.

The evening arrived and we again went to the Inverell East Bowling Club for dinner with the Apex 40 group. Tomorrow, we all go in different directions, with some to their homes while others, like ourselves, move onto other areas. So it has been a nice couple of days getting to and visiting Inverell and its surrounds.