| GUYRA - NEW SOUTH WALES - 2365 | ||||
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Population: 1,721, Height above sea level: 1,320m Latitude: -30.1300 Longitude: 151.4000 Location: 610km north of Sydney. Highway: New England Hwy Nearest Major Town: Armidale 38k s Nearest Airport:Armidale Touring Area: New England |
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 The nearby Ebor Falls in the Guy Fawkes National Park. | |
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Known as the 'Top of the Range' because of its height in the Great Dividing Range, Guyra
is the highest town on the New England Tablelands. Activities include trout fishing, bird watching, fossicking and bush-walking. There are several significant national parks in the area and varied accommodation is available. Guyra was found and named by surveyor John Oxley in 1818, although settlement did not occur until the 1830s. Among the early settlements was Ollera Station, a property still rum by the same family who established it in 1838. In the late 1800s and early 1900s the region developed around minerals with gold, tin and diamond mines established on a section of the original lagoon. Other gold mines were at nearby Bear Hill, Paddy's Gully and Kookabookra, tin was also mined at Elsmore and Tingha, 75km west. The arrival of the railway in 1884 led to expansion of the town which was officially proclaimed in 1885. Several national parks will be found near Guyra including the Guy Fawkes national Park, New England, Cathedral Rock National Park and Styx River National Parks. The Ebor Falls in the Guy Fawkes National Park are a popular visitor destination and the noted bird-watching lagoon, 'Mother of Ducks' is on the town edge and has a bird hide to observe the prolific bird life which includes Japanese Snipe, white-bellied sea eagles and terns. Trout fishing is a popular pastime and several creeks within a short distance of town offer good fishing. Sapphire, Jellybean Crystal, and Grass Stone will be found at Stannifer, Sapphire and Topaz can be found in the Sara River near Kookabookra. Guyra is noted for its fossicking opportunities. PLACES OF INTEREST:
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