Welcome to Blayney and Surrounding Villages

Some other villages within the Blayney Shire include:

LYNDHURST

Today it is difficult to imagine that Lyndhurst was on a short-list of sites for the national capital but owing to the changing nature of the mining industry, the town has had many ups and downs.

As the closest centre to the rich Lyndhurst Goldfields, also now known as Junction Reefs, the town prospered during the late 1800's and at one stage boasted three banks, three general stores, a cinema, a pub, professional photographer, farrier, baker, fruit shop, butcher, three garages, railway station, memorial hall and showground.

The fourth Prime Minister of Australia, George Reid described Lyndhurst as a magnificent location for the capital. It already had a large dam on the nearby Belubula River that could easily service the capital.

But it wasn't to be with Canberra chosen. Although it is a shadow of its former self, Lyndhurst owes a lot to the existence of a large mining company at the Junction Reefs site. The Royal Hotel is still thriving with another popular spot in the town being the Lyndhurst Post Office and Takeaway in the old bakery building. There is also a golf club.

Nearby Junction Reefs is one of nature's gifts not only to Lyndhurst and Mandurama but to the entire Central West. The Belubula River has carved out a spectacular gorge complete with waterfalls and quiet water holes. Previous mining operations have also left a rich mining heritage, including the impressive dam which has silted up.

MANDURAMA

Mandurama began in the mid 1800's as a private settlement for the nearby large Icely family property with workers on the property establishing their homes.

The town has become a service centre for a rich agricultural area which boasts some of the finest properties in the Central West.

This service role has been aided by its location on the busy Mid Western Highway and alongside the Blayney-Cowra railway line.

Evidence of the town's importance can be seen by the fine old buildings, including the magnificent Royal Hotel, Masonic Hall, churches and bank premises. There is a mix of architectural styles in the village, which also boasts an impressive park and a number of businesses servicing highway travelers.

In the immediate vicinity are a number of impressive country homesteads which now host visitors from throughout Australia and around the world. Sunny Ridge and Millamolong both boast rich family traditions with the Fagan and Ashton families to the fore.

Both are now popular farmstay destinations which provide visitors with an excellent sample of rural life. Sunny Ridge also boasts a restaurant and golf course, complete with sand and greens.

Tourist information is available at both properties, the Royal Hotel, Mandurama General Store and the BP Service Station.

NEVILLE

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Blayney Shire, away from the highway traffic but retaining a proud sense of heritage and community spirit is Neville.

Neville today boasts a population of 100 who all care a great deal about their town and its facilities. There is enthusiastic interest in a range of pursuits including sport, bushfire brigade, church, the Public School and other projects like the Memorial Park and Community Hall. The hotel is a popular meeting place.

Tourist information is available from the Valley Store while the Neville Siding Accommodation Units provide comfortable facilities for visitors from far and wide. The units utilise the redundant Mandurama Railway Station and railway goods vans from 1950-1970.

Neville is the closest Blayney Shire town to the popular natural wonderland at Abercrombie Caves.

NEWBRIDGE

Although there were a number of fine properties established in the area, including Sunnybank, the town of Newbridge resulted from the arrival of the railway and construction of a station in 1876. The name may have come about due to the construction of a new pedestrian overhead bridge to the railway station but could also be traced to the Newbridge in Ireland owing to the strong Irish presence in the town at the time.

The importance of the railway has always been emphases by the townsfolk with Newbridge winning a number of awards for one of the best presented stations in the State. The Queen's Royal Train stopped overnight at Newbridge during the Royal Visit of 1970.

Unfortunately the station is seldom used today but residents still ensure the building and surrounds are kept in magnificent condition.

Apart from the old buildings, one of Newbridge's main attractions today is the Stringybark Craft Cottage where the art and crafts of Blayney Shire residents is displayed in a hall which is more than 90 years old. Another popular drawcard in the Village is the Newbridge Cottage Garden Nursery.