Nundle: Gold history, wool tradition and riverside walks

Nundle brings together the history of gold and goods trading, wool production, collections and a riverside walk that follows the Peel River through town. This means you can discover the town from several angles: through its historic buildings and exhibitions, the processing of raw wool, or time spent outdoors by the water. When planning your trip, consider which of these interests you would like to shape your stay.

Museum and local history

The Nundle Courthouse Museum is housed in a two-storey red-brick building with distinctive arched windows. Local builder George Davidson constructed it in 1880; in 1975, the Australian Heritage Commission classified the building as an outstanding example of 19th-century colonial architecture. Its architecture thus provides a distinct feature of the town’s history.

The museum’s collections include farming equipment, kitchen utensils, furniture and clothing, as well as the Nundle Aboriginal Memorial. They also include information about the 1948 crash of a Lutana DC-3 aircraft on Crawney Mountain. Three crew members and ten passengers lost their lives. Exhibits may change. The museum’s listed opening hours are Saturday, 10–11:30 am, and Sunday, 12:30–4 pm; check the hours before your visit.

The Odgers and McClelland Exchange Stores were founded by John Odgers and William McClelland and began trading in the early 1890s. They supplied the surrounding farming community and served as an exchange for trading gold and produce. The Peel Inn is also one of Nundle’s oldest surviving buildings. Both places complement the museum’s story with the town’s trading history.

Wool craft and collections

Nundle Woollen Mill is one of Australia’s last operating spinning mills. It uses traditional spinning machines, including several that are almost 100 years old, and makes Nundle knitting yarn from raw wool in 8-ply, 12-ply and 20-ply weights. Alongside the historic buildings, the mill represents a craft that continues to this day.

The Gil Bennet Rocks, Gems and Minerals Collection offers another perspective on local collecting history. It comprises about 1,300 specimens and was assembled over more than 20 years by the late Gilmore Thomas Bennet of Tamworth. The collection is housed at Nundle Library, 8 Innes Street. Nundle is also one of nine stops on the tourist Fossickers Way through gemstone country.

Riverside walk and fossicking

The sealed Nundle Riverside Walkway is one kilometre long and follows the Peel River through town. It connects Nundle’s historic walking trail with a natural riverside path where you can walk, fish and watch birds. The path offers a different focus from the buildings and collections: here, the river landscape and activities by the water take centre stage rather than local history.

In Nundle, you can fossick for gold and sapphires; permits are required for gold panning. Its place on the Fossickers Way gives this activity a regional context, while the Courthouse Museum and the Exchange Stores bring local history to life.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ebenezer, Griffith City, Karuah, Howlong, Singleton, Grong Grong, Woodburn, Denman.

Return to the main travel guide: New South Wales.