Arts Sunday is your extra dose of arts news, artist profiles and photo galleries from the NSW Central West, brought to you by Arts OutWest and Fairfax. Arts Sunday is published online on the first Sunday of the month. If you’ve got a story to share contact artsoutwest@csu.edu.au
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Parkes and Peak Hill Visitor Information Centres, have installed new touch screen iPads for locals and visitors to access the new Gold Trails website, showcasing the region’s history and historic attractions.
Parkes and Peak Hill are part of a network of 22 access points installed in visitor centres and other tourist attractions throughout the gold mining regions of central and southern New South Wales as well as Canberra. The first four trial units were installed at Young, Harden, Temora and Yass in March.
Parkes Shire Council's Tourism Marketing Officer, Katrina Dwyer said, 'the touch screen is easy to use and provides information about what to see and what to do in the Parkes Shire and in 17 other local government areas, stretching from Hill End and Bathurst in the north to Adelong and Kiandra in the south, Canberra and Yass in the east to Peak Hill and West Wyalong out west.'
The Gold Trails project is a regional tourism initiative designed to highlight the rich history of the state, based on gold mining as well as the colourful history of bushranging. 'Parkes' gold mining history dates back to the early 1860's when the discovery of gold at the Bushman's Gold Mine helped the district to become one of the richest gold producing areas in the colony' she said.
The Gold Trails website www.goldtrails.com.au can be accessed on PC's, tablets and mobile phones. It gives information about the history of gold mining, regional attractions, activities and events, as well as links to the region’s tourism websites and maps.
By using the website, visitors can plan an itinerary, check out local events, plan where to eat and stay and what to visit including the Henry Parkes Centre, Bushman's Hill walk and the Peak Hill Open Cut Experience locally.
Parkes Shire features prominently on the website with the most north-eastern part of the trail highlighting Peak Hill's gold mining history which was established as a separate goldfield in the 1890s. The historic Peak Hill mine operated between 1893 and 1917 producing about 60,000 ounces from 500,000 tonnes of rock.
Alkane re-excavated for gold on the site between 1996 and 2002 retrieving 145,000 ounces gold from 4.9 million tonnes of rock. While most of the historic operations were consumed by the recent mining activity, some of the old workings have been preserved. The Open Cut Experience includes both the historic works and the more recent mines with several walking paths and viewing platforms having been constructed.
The Parkes Visitor Information is located within the Henry Parkes Centre complex on the northern approach to town on the Newell Highway. The centre is open 7 days, from 9am to 5pm weekdays and 10am to 4pm on weekends and public holidays. The Peak Hill Visitor Information Centre operates within the Peak Hill Open Cut Gallery and is open 7 days from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
MORE ARTS SUNDAY: