4 March, 2011 - Tamworth Rotary Airport Rest Area, NSW

Yes, just parked outside the airport beside the road in an approved rest area, with two other parties. The trucks are still rumbling past but the industrious workers through the high netting fence next to us seem to have all gone home for the weekend, so hopefully all will quieten down as the evening progresses. It is otherwise a lovely evening.

We left our camping ground a few minutes after the required ten o’clock this morning, however the proprietor did not seem to be too concerned as he waved us farewell. The rain was still falling and we did not feel inclined to drive out to one of  the several National Parks that are within a days drive of Armadale. Picnic walking days are much better spent when the rain stays away.

We headed south on a much better road, still the same New England Highway, but with fewer potholes. This part of the tablelands was not so terribly effected by the rains over the recent months. However, the further south we drove, the heavier the rain became and the thicker the mist, spoiling the sightseeing aspect of the trip.

We had intended to stop and discover Uralla which apparently offered more than a passing interest if the pamphlets were to be believed, however were put off by the continued rain. One of our many possible plans was to overnight at Bendemeer at the Showgrounds, however it was only 11 am when we arrived there. We paused in time to make a cuppa and greet a family of four children travelling with their parents and a trailer that probably carried camping gear. The children were all busy cleaning their teeth, all faces shiny, manner obedient, and all looked a little Amish. They wished us “Safe travels”, as we did them. 

The site of George Bevege's Traveller Inn  on the corner of Brisbane and Peel Street in Tamworth now a women's wear store.

Off again through the rain arriving at Nemingha, seven kilometres west of Tamworth in the hope of finding great great great great uncle George’s residence, Ningha House, where he expired in 1870. No one was able to shed any light on such a place, so we had our lunch and drove on to Tamworth.

The road had descended steeply from where we set off, 837 metres ASL at Bendemeer, down to 627 ASL at Moonbi part way down the steepest part of the descent, to 404 metres at Tamworth.The weather had cleared wonderfully as we had descended from the tablelands, down into the Peel Valley. Despite the better weather, we spent the afternoon doing research indoors, first at the Tamworth Historical Society’s headquarters where our enquiries led to the purchase of a book titled “One for the Road” which includes evidence of both George’s publican years and those of his son, Alfred.

Our second search was at the library where we searched through a wonderful publication called  “A Chronological History of Tamworth”. There we found no more than the purchased book offered, but discussions with one of the librarians advised of web sources that I had hitherto been unaware.

The temperature has risen and it is again feeling like summer. We will discover more of George’s stamping ground tomorrow if we can tear ourselves away from watching planes land and takeoff.