Milbrodale, New South Wales facts for kids
Milbrodale is a small village located in the beautiful Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Singleton Council area.
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Where is Milbrodale?
Milbrodale is found in a countryside area, about 23 kilometres south of the town of Singleton. To the north, you'll find Darkey Creek, and to the east is Wollombi Brook. West of Milbrodale lies the amazing Wollemi National Park, which is a huge area of rocky sandstone wilderness. It's the second-largest national park in New South Wales! Milbrodale is about 29 kilometres from Singleton and 78 kilometres from the city of Newcastle.
A Look Back in Time: Milbrodale's History
Milbrodale was first started in 1832 by a man named Rev. Richard Hill. He came from England to help as a minister in the colony of Sydney. He worked at St Philip's Church and later at St James's Church in Sydney.
The Governor at the time, Lachlan Macquarie, gave Rev. Hill a large piece of land, about 485 hectares (1200 acres), in the Hunter Valley. After travelling along a path that became part of the Great North Road, Hill arrived and built a stone house. He built it where Wollombi Brook and Parsons Creek meet. He named his new property "Milbro Dale" after his mother, whose name was Marlborough, often shortened to Milbro.
Rev. Hill passed away in 1836. His wife, Phoebe Sapphira, sold the farm and moved back to Sydney. Over the years, the property was owned by different people. The original house eventually fell apart and was taken down in 1978.
As time went on, the village grew. For a while, children from Milbrodale had to travel to the nearby village of Bulga for school. The government even helped pay for a horse and cart to take them! Finally, a public school opened in Milbrodale in 1921. It was built on a 2-hectare (5-acre) property given by the government.
Ancient Aboriginal Art: Baiame Cave
One of the most important places near Milbrodale is an 80-hectare site with rock shelters. These shelters show many signs that Aboriginal people lived there a very long time ago. Experts from the Australian Museum in Sydney have dug at the site. They found lots of evidence from a time in Aboriginal history called the "Small Tool Phase."
A main feature of this site is a rock shelter known as Baiame Cave. Inside, you can see a group of amazing Aboriginal paintings. The biggest painting is a large male figure. Many believe this figure represents Baiame, who is known as the Sky Father in Aboriginal beliefs. This special site is on private land.
Because of its importance, Baiame Cave is listed on the New South Wales Heritage Register. This means it is a protected place due to its historical and cultural value.
Gallery
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Detail, Baiame Cave
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Detail, Baiame Cave
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Detail, Baiame Cave
