31/10/2012 nch 0044 - visitwollombi.com.au · 44 newcastle herald wednesday, october 31, 2012...

44 NEWCASTLE HERALD Wednesday, October 31, 2012

WollombiReal Estate

“For a Unique Lifestyle Opportunity”

www.wollombirealestate.com.au

PH: 4998 3219G5495420AA-31Oct

Discover the Noyce Brothers Wine cellar door in the historic Grays Inn in the heart of Wollombi village.

The Wollombi Valley, with its intense summer heatand crisp winter mornings, produces the beautiful grapes used to createNoyce Brothers Wine’saward winning fl avours.

All Noyce Brothers wines are available for tasting and purchase including semillon, verdelho, chardonnay, semillon/sauvignon blanc, sparkling chardonnay, shiraz, sparkling moscato anda wonderful lateharvest semillon.

Grays Inn is a lovely two storey 19th century sandstone Georgian building with beautiful ensuite accommodation on the fi rst fl oor.

While staying at Grays Inn you can relax in the recently landscaped and private back garden or take it all in from the front balcony.

Contact us Noyce Brothers WinesGrays Inn accommodation

Cellar Door 02 4998 3483Mobile 0416 245 655Open 10-30am to 4-30pm every dayWeb www.noycebros.com.auEmail sales@noycebros.com.auAccommodation www.graysinnwollombi.com.au

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Contact Justine Lemercier for sales: 0419 616 596 jlemerci@bigpond.net.au

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Watagan Valley EstateWatagan Creek Road, Laguna via Wollombi

Lower Hunter NSW 2354

Wollombi Country FairA Newcastle Herald advertising feature

Villageboastsnotablepast

HISTORIC: Wollombi’s allure springs from its sandstone and timber-slab buildings which lend it the air of a pioneer town.

FOR a small village, Wollombi has arather large reputation as a must-seedestination for visitors to the HunterRegion.

To the west is the World Heritage-listed Yengo National Park and tothe east is the Watagans NationalPark.

The township’s picturesque valleylocation, framed by mountains, is atthe junction of Wollombi Brook andCongewai Creek. The area is hometo native birds and animals such askangaroos, wallabies and wombats.

The town’s history is linked to theconstruction of the Great NorthRoad in the early 19th century.

Major Thomas Mitchell raised theidea of an inland route to open uptransport to regions in northernNSW, meandering through CastleHill, Wiseman’s Ferry, St Albans,Laguna and Wollombi. The HowesValley Road, now known as the PuttyRoad, was considered inadequatefor commercial travel.

Construction of the Great NorthRoad commenced in 1826 and wascarried out by about 700 convicts. Itwas completed in 1831. Remnantssuch as stone culverts, bridges andretaining walls can still be seen,particularly in the area betweenWollombi and Wisemans Ferry.They are catalogued and cared forby the Convict Trail project.

The convict-built Great NorthRoad is part of the Greater BlueMountains Drive. At Wollombi, itdiverges towards Singleton andMuswellbrook to the north, andCessnock and Maitland to the north-east.

Part of Wollombi’s charm stems

from its 19th-century sandstonebuildings and timber slab-constructed cottages and sheds.

At first glance it resembles aworking pioneer village. It is a joy tovisit in the winter months when thesmell of wood fire is in the air.

The Wollombi EndeavourMuseum is housed in the historicstone Wollombi Courthouse andcontains an interesting collectionfrom the region’s rich colonial past.

Souvenirs, walking maps and localhistory literature are available.

Wollombi is also home to regularcommunity markets and theWollombi Wild Ride, and wineriesin the region take part in the annualSculpture in the Vineyards.

Laguna Wine Bar is the place to gofor live music and Wollombi

Tavern’s hospitality and unrivalledfireplace attracts travellers from farand wide, especially at weekends.Buses run to and from Wollombi formajor events.

Accommodation options andinformation are at wollombi.nsw.au.

DEFIANCE SCULPTURE PARK AT THE GATE GALLERY2 4 8 0 W O L L O M B I R D , W O L L O M B I N S W 2 3 2 5

ENJOY THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW OVER 50 OUTDOOR SCULPTURES BYAUSTRALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS YEAR ROUND AT AUSTRALIA’S PREMIERPRIVATELY OWNED COMMERCIAL SCULPTURE PARK & GALLERY IN WOLLOMBI VALLEY

‘The best sculpture park in Australia’ John McDonald 2012

The sculpture park was officially opened by Art Critic and Author, John McDonald in late September 2012and is now open to the public 10am - 3pm Fri - Mon and by appointment.

CELLAR DOORGrays Inn, 2884 Wollombi Rd Wollombi NSW 2325

Phillip, Michael and Peter Noyceph (02) 4998 3483 or

0416 245 655email sales@noycebros.com.au

THE GATE GALLERY2480 Wollombi Rd Wollombi NSW 2325

Directors Caroline M. van Zanten-Klop and Willem van Zantengallery hours fri-mon 10-3 or by appt

ph (02) 4998 3370 email thegategallery@gmail.comwww.thegategallery.com.au

DEFIANCE GALLERY47 Enmore Rd Newtown NSW 2042

Director Campbell Robertson-Swann Manager Lauren Harveygallery hours wed-sat 11-5

ph (02) 9557 8483 email lauren@defiancegallery.comweb www.defiancegallery.com