Abandoned and reclaimed, Newnes whispers stories of ambition and abandonment. This place, the Newnes Plateau, once hummed with the industry of oil shale mining. Now, nature reasserts itself.
Let me paint you a picture of Newnes back in its heyday. Imagine a bustling village. It was 1907 and Newnes’ population boomed to 800. The town was named after Sir George Newnes. He was chairman of the Commonwealth Oil Corporation.
Newnes was originally known as Wolgan. For a short time it was called South Newnes. This distinguished it from North Newnes in Capertee Valley.
The Commonwealth Oil Corporation built everything here. They constructed a 50-kilometer railway line. It connected Newnes to the main railway. The terrain was challenging. The line descended dramatically into the Wolgan Valley. This railway is no longer in use.
Imagine the Newnes railway. It transported oil shale from the mines. The shale fueled Australia’s early petroleum needs. The main works site sprawled along the Wolgan River. Retorts, distillation areas, and oil storage tanks dominated the landscape. Workshops and a power station stood ready for expansion. Construction began in 1906. It wasn’t until 1911 that the plant was fully operational.
Two major oil shale mines fed the Newnes operation. One mine tunneled toward the Capertee Valley. The goal was to connect with earlier workings. Mining conditions were better in Capertee. The shale quality was low. Work concentrated on the No. 2 mine. The tunnel to Capertee remained a dream.
The Newnes Hotel was the heart of the community. It thrived for a time. Operations shifted to Glen Davis. This affected the hotel’s business. The Wolgan River was a constant threat. Flooding undermined the structure in 1986. Volunteers moved the hotel in 1987. The liquor license was sold in 1988.
The fortunes of Newnes mirrored the mines. By 1914, the population fell to 96. A brief revival occurred in 1924 with 200 residents. By 1940, only four families remained. The 2016 census recorded a population of just four.
Today, Newnes is surrounded by Wollemi National Park. Camping is available along the Wolgan River. There are limited facilities. Pets are not allowed in the National Park camping areas. Firewood should not be collected. The former Newnes Hotel operates as a kiosk on weekends.
Visitors explore the extensive brick ruins of the refinery. Old mines dot the surrounding area. The Glow Worm Tunnel is a popular attraction. It is a remnant of the old railway.
Several walks start from Newnes. Pipeline Pass leads to Glen Davis. The Wolgan River offers routes to Rocky Creek and Annie Rowan Creek.
Keep an eye out for native wildlife. Newnes is home to diverse flora and fauna.
As you wander through Newnes, remember its past. This was a place of industry. Now, nature and history intertwine here. The ruins stand as a testament. They remind us of the fleeting nature of boom and bust.