SUNDAY JULY 21     YOUNG TO WALLENDBEEN     35kms

No rush to get up and going this morning, as we were only going such a short way.

Fuelled up Bus at the servo conveniently located by the caravan park. $149.9cpl.

Headed south out of town, along the Olympic Way, through the quaintly named hamlet of Wombat, to Wallendbeen. Cherry orchards, grazing and cropping country, lots of granite outcrops and rocks along the way.

The little township of Wallendbeen, located by the Sydney-Melbourne railway, is sandwiched between that rail line and the modern Olympic Way highway, so we had to turn off and trundle through the village to reach the destination of our friends’ home.

For the last several decades, careers had determined that these friends lived in Canberra, but a few years ago, they had purchased a cottage here. Initially, this was to be a weekender, but they had plans to eventually retire here. Less than two hours’ drive from their Canberra home, it was an ideal semi-rural weekend retreat in a quaint village.

Wallendbeen ruins

Clearly, the village had once been functioning as a larger centre than it is today. A common tale for so many rural settlements, sadly. The settlement grew as a service centre on what had started as a large pastoral run, from the mid 1800’s. The railway arrived in the 1870’s and with it a rail passenger service. A large silo complex was built for movement of the grain grown in the district. Today, those silos would be perfect for some new silo art!

Some art work would really brighten this up

It has been decades since passenger trains stopped in Wallendbeen; the Sydney-Melbourne trains and long goods trains just go straight through. With today’s car travel and larger service centres in nearby Young and Cootamundra, the only business still operating in town was the hotel.

Parked Bus out front of our friends’ place, hooked up to power with a long lead and had a great catch up, over lunch.

After lunch, we all went walking. Firstly, along a beautiful tree-lined track to the cemetery – old, historic.

The track to the cemetery

Wallendbeen cemetery

Browsed among some interesting old gravestones.

The cemetery track passed by a paddock containing some cattle. Being curious critters, these all came to the fence, perhaps to see if we had food to offer. Our big, brave cattle dog was having none of it – forget the “cattle” part! Big, brave, stick-retrieving, yes – sticks are much more her scale. She resolutely ignored the cows, much to the amusement of H and C. Not even a bark.

Cattle – what cattle?

Our walk continued around the village, so we could see it all, then adjourned to the hotel. This seemed to be flourishing – had clearly modernized its offering to bring in travellers as well as locals. We supported it with some happy hour drinks before wandering back to the cottage for tea.

Old General Store

Wallendbeen Hotel

H told us that there was a Rest Stop at the town park, by the highway, that was an overnight stop for RV travellers – toilets, a little picnic shelter, but no other facilities, apart from being very quiet and pleasant.

Some interesting walking around the village

Exercise and fresh country air led to an early night, and a good night’s sleep. This was one place I felt quite secure, even private, sleeping on a nature strip in front of a house!