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Obley


The town of Obley is no more. Just a few remaining houses and ruins, a map showing what once was and the war memorial still standing proud.



Musing:
By Barcroft Henry Boake (1866-1892)
"Out on the wastes of the Never Never –
That's where the dead men lie!
There where the heat-waves dance forever –
That's where the dead men lie!
That's where the Earth's loved sons are keeping
Endless tryst: not the west wind sweeping
Feverish pinions can wake their sleeping –
Out where the dead men lie!"




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  1. JulieMay 6, 2009 at 8:22 AM

    They are not keen on anyone fiddling with that map, are they? A Phillips-head and that would be solved ...

    Abandonment, eh? I meant to mention the dunnie yesterday. Think there is one today as well.

    I now have teed up with a friend to do the road-trip. Should be good ...

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMay 6, 2009 at 9:40 PM

    Gorgeous colours on the 1st shot! What happened here?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Joan ElizabethMay 6, 2009 at 10:17 PM

    Hi JM, I have just done a bit of quick research. Obley sprang up during the gold rush in the 1860s. It was an important town because it was the only telegraph station between Molong and Dandaloo. There was a police station, hotels, churches, blacksmith shops and goods stores. It was also a camping ground for bullock and horse teams carting produce and wool from the west. Apparently the railway bypassed the town because the gradients were too steep. I guess is just stopped having a reason to exist. There is only the war monument, the police station and hall (now private residences) left along with a few ruins.

    ReplyDelete
  4. PJMay 7, 2009 at 11:09 AM

    This is a very creative post, JE. It must be a very isolated spot. Thanks for the infor on corrugated iron.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Joan ElizabethMay 7, 2009 at 12:22 PM

    Not really all that isolated. It's only 12 kms to a small town and 100kms to a city. It's just one of those places that got bypassed, lost its reason to exist and died over time.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownMay 7, 2009 at 10:41 PM

    Thank you, Joan Elizabeth. I would like to have seen this small during the golden days.

    ReplyDelete

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