Bullocks Flat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bullocks Flat New South Wales
Skitube railway cars and traction railway track
Bullocks Flat Location in New South Wales
Postcode(s)	2627
Elevation	1,134 m (3,720 ft)
Location	380 km (236 mi) SW of Sydney
LGA(s)	Snowy Monaro Regional Council
State electorate(s)	Monaro
Federal Division(s)	Eden-Monaro

Bullocks Flat (or Bullock's Flat) is a flat area in the Thredbo Valley. It sits right next to the Thredbo River in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia. This beautiful spot is known for its stunning nature and fun activities.

Skitube: Your Ride to the Snow

Bullocks Flat is home to the bottom station of the Skitube Alpine Railway. This special train is a rack railway, which means it uses a toothed track to climb steep hills. It carries skiers and snowboarders from the Alpine Way road, near Thredbo. The train goes through a long tunnel and up into the Kosciuszko National Park. It takes you to the popular Perisher Valley and Blue Cow Mountain ski resort areas. This whole ski area is known as Perisher Ski Resort.

Bullocks Flat: A Glimpse into History

This area has a rich past, from its first inhabitants to early European settlers.

First Peoples: The Ngarigo

Long ago, the Indigenous Australian Ngarigo people were the first to live in this region. They cared for the land for thousands of years.

European Settlement and Early Industries

In the 1830s, European settlers started bringing sheep and cattle to graze here in the summer. Later, in the 1850s, people found some gold along the Thredbo River. However, there wasn't a lot of gold discovered.

Early in the 1900s, people began cutting down Eucalyptus delegatensis trees, also known as alpine ash. These logs were taken to a steam-powered mill by teams of bullocks. This is how the area got its name, "Bullocks Flat."

Fishing Fun: Trout in the Streams

Around the early 1900s, Trout fish were brought into the local streams. This was done for sport fishing. Today, fishing for trout is still a very popular hobby and a big draw for tourists visiting the area.

Dr. Howard Bullock's Mountain Retreat

In the 1930s, a medical doctor from Sydney named Howard Bullock bought some land here. It was a flat piece of land where the Thredbo River meets the Little Thredbo River. Back then, it took Dr. Bullock and his family two days to drive here for their summer trips. They loved camping, fishing, hiking, and horse riding.

In 1934, a man named Charles Conway built a small, one-room cottage for Dr. Bullock. It had bunk beds, a fireplace, one door, and two small windows. Later, a separate kitchen was added in 1938. A garage and stables were built in 1947. Today, the National Parks & Wildlife Service looks after this historic cottage area.

Lake Crackenback Resort: Adventure Awaits

Next to the Skitube station, an artificial lake was created. Around this lake, a holiday resort called Lake Crackenback Resort was built. It has chalets where people can stay during both winter and summer. The resort is right next to the Little Thredbo River.

Lake Crackenback Resort is located on the edge of the Kosciuszko National Park. It's a fantastic place to explore the Snowy Mountains. It's a great base for many activities, including:

• Sightseeing and visiting local attractions.
• Enjoying snow sports in winter.
• Trying summer activities like walking trails.
• Riding mountain bikes.
• Going canoeing.
• Enjoying fishing.

Gallery

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  Bullock's Flat homestead and Skitube railway bridge, with the Thredbo River on the right and Little Thredbo on the left.