wheels
GEORGE’S BABY! This 1957 Chevy is owned by Orange local George Gorgiou. The heartbeat of it is a 350 Chev engine, it has a Turbo 350 gear box, a 9 inch diff, with combo pro wheels. George added, “I bought it 16 odd years ago. I love it, it’s a Chevy, the heartbeat of America and Australia. I have always been a Chevy and a Holden man, I do have a lot of other cars but this one is definitely my baby.”
5 MINUTES WITH.... Brendan Breitnauer
Manager at ARB 4 x 4 Accessories
hotrod | classic | vintage | sports | new | used
indulge your passion with this
Who are your typical customers? 4WD enthusiasts, caravanners and campers.
new or used cars over $20,000
What products and services do you offer? We supply and fit an extensive range of 4WD products, especially protection equipment like bull bars, all front, side and underbody protection. We also have a good range of camping accessories.
5.99
What’s unique about ARB? We pride ourself on the quality of our products, our service and that extends to our after sales support. Our warranties are excellent also.
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comparison rate
Are there any new products you feel 4WD enthusiasts might like to come and see? We have the new TredPro Recovery Tracks for when you get stuck in the mud or sand, and also new Skydome swags for one or two people. These have extra bug proofing and ventilation features. Where do people find you? In Cameron Place near Tony Leahey or on the phone 6369 0700.
great car loan rate
Call us today! (02) 6362 2944 www.firstchoicecu.com.au Australian Credit Licence 240722
*comparison rate based on a secured loan of $30,000 over 5 years. This comparison rate is true for the example given. Different terms, fees and other offers might result in a different comparison rate. Fees, charges, terms and conditions apply.
MARCH 29–APRIL 4, 2018
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wheels
ROADTRIPS
BOURKE an Outback adventure WORDS BY JONATHAN ROE
PHOTO BY SCOTT WILLOUGHBY
The Back o’ Bourke has long captured the imagination of Australia; the phrase conjuring visions of shearers, sundowners, vast plains and lonely, remote Outback stations. Located just five-and-a-half hours by car from Orange, Bourke on the banks of the Darling River is a town rich in history, surrounded by raw natural beauty and well deserving a place on anyone’s travel bucket list.
T
he drive out to Bourke is notable in itself for containing the longest stretch of straight road in New South Wales. The road is well travelled and in good condition, but just be wary of kangaroos at sunset. On arrival in Bourke you may be surprised to find green parks, treelined streets and colourful, well-kept gardens with roses in abundance; a striking contrast to the grey-soil thinly-grassed plains that surround the town. A number of wellpreserved Victorian and Federationera public buildings also adorn Bourke’s main street, testament to the vast wealth of the district during its heyday as a busy river port. During the late 19th Century, scores of boats plied the Darling River supplying stores and equipment to the vast surrounding sheep stations and ferrying millions of pounds of wool on barges back to the Bourke where it was then shipped by rail to the Sydney ports on to the English mills. Reminders of this riverboat history can be seen throughout the town, from the Victorian-era lift up bridge that allowed boats to pass in times of flood, to the rebuilt wharf and lock and weir below town -- the only one ever built on the Darling. Legend has it that the crowned spire adorning the local court house indicates it served as a maritime court, probably the most inland in the world!
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MARCH 29–APRIL 4, 2018
Today, the paddle wheel vessel Jandra is the only riverboat operating on the Upper Darling, carrying tourists for a one-hour cruise twice daily. On board commentary provided by the captain, covers facts about the Darling River system and the history of the riverboat trade, while the river and surrounding gums are abundant with bird life. For a more in-depth exploration of local history, the Back O Bourke Exhibition Centre has you covered. Opened in 2009, the Centre is a modern storytelling museum with quality multimedia exhibits on the fascinating history of the district. The displays contain a lot of information and it’s more than you can take in a quick visit, but passes are valid for 48 hours, so you can always return a second time. Rising from the plain east of Bourke is Mount Oxley, named by Charles Sturt for fellow European explorer John Oxley, although he never saw it and calling it a mountain is being generous. The top of the Mount Oxley is accessible by car - for a small fee - and provides stunning views of the surrounding country. Wedge tail eagles are a regular sight and an outback sunset will not be forgotten. Barbecue and toilet facilities have been made available by the landowner. About a half hour drive south of town is the Gundabooka National Park, which has a variety of walking
trails of varying difficulty for visitors to explore the stunning Gundabooka Ranges and the fragile beauty of the red country flora. A must for any visitor is a trip to see the Aboriginal rock art at Mulareenya Creek. West of the river is the historic Toorale Station, also now a national park and conservation area. Toorale was once part of the vast pastoral empire of Sir Samuel McCaughey and at its peak a quarter of a million sheep were shorn in the station’s shed. The grounds of the grand old homestead have recently been opened to visitors and offers a taste of what life was like on a 19th century outback station. Lauded Australian writer and poet Henry Lawson worked as a roustabout at the Toorale shearing shed, which was the setting for his poem ‘The Boss’s Boots.’ Although Lawson only spent nine months in the district, his experiences in Bourke had a life-long impact on his work and some scholars consider it pivotal to his development as a writer. And if your interests turn to the literary, you’ll be intrigued to know Bourke also gave inspiration to poets Will Ogilvie and Harry “The Breaker” Morant who worked together on stations between Bourke and the Queensland border. In Bourke you’ll find a pretty good range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. For unique outback luxury, try the
centrally-located Bourke Riverside Motel. Formerly the 1875 Telegraph Hotel, the beautifully renovated Riverside boast a number of large suits tastefully decorated in a heritage style. The motel’s garden is home to more than 500 rose bushes. For simple, budget accommodation it is hard to beat the Port of Bourke Hotel with a generously-sized bistro meal included in the price of a room. Caravaners and campers can choose between two neat parks: the leafy oasis Kidman’s Camp at North Bourke or the central, dog-friendly Mitchell Caravan Park. Free riverside camping is also available at May’s Bend, a short drive north of town. For those who want to get off the beaten track, surrounding Bourke are numerous options for stationstays with rooms, cabins, powered sites and camping facilities available. It is advisable to book ahead for accommodation during the peak visitor months (April to October) as rooms and van sites can fill up fast. Locals are fiercely proud of the pies from Morrall’s Bakery and for good reason. The town’s sole baker produces a quality range of tasty meat pies and has won awards for his effort. Try the lamb and mint! If you’re more adventurous grab a pack of mock chicken legs from either of the town butchers. You’ll be hard pressed to find a barbecue in Bourke without these local delicacies. Good coffee can be found at most of the cafes in town, but for setting the courtyard at Little Birdy near the wharf is where you want to be. A good Chinese meal can be had at the Bourke Bowling Club, while
the Port of Bourke Hotel offers generously-sized steaks and a buffet salad bar with a kid-friendly beer garden. Just down the road you’ll also get a decent meal at Diggers on the Darling, which has plenty of seating for large groups.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS Bourke’s historic cemetery offers a glimpse into the town’s past full of bushrangers, Afghan cameleers and the hard and often tragic lives of pioneer families. Renowned eye surgeon Fred Hollows is also buried in the Bourke Cemetery. Near the wharf you’ll find a fullyrestored 1923 Crossley oil-fuelled stationary engine. The engine is started daily for visitors between March and October.
DATES OF INTEREST Bourke puts on a program of activities and events every Easter, the centrepiece being the Bourke Picnic Races held Easter Sunday. Every August, the Village of Louth, 100 kilometres down river from Bourke, swells from a population of 30 to more than 5,000 for its annual race meeting. This year’s event on 12 August could break crowd records with the /club making big plans for its 60th anniversary. Bourke’s Ain’t Caught Nuffin’ Fishing Club holds its major fishing competition in August. The Festival of a Thousand Stories in early September is an annual celebration of storytelling, art, poetry and music featuring local and visiting performers.
SOMEONE HAS TO SELL THE BEST USED CARS! A REPUTATION HELD FOR OVER 30 YEARS 2013 Toyota Corolla Hatch
2012 Ford Territory Wagon
2006 RENAULT TRAFIC VAN
2008 Ford Ranger Space Cab
CVB29M - Air Conditioned - Front & Side Air Bags - Cruise Control - Bluetooth - Traction Control - Popular - Economical
CNL34C - Automatic - 7 Seater - Front & Side Air Bags - Cruise Control - Air Conditioned - Blue Tooth TURBO - Sat Nav DIESEL
AL63AJ - Manual - Air Conditioned - Dual Air Bags - Cargo Barrier - Tow Bar - Ready for Work - Plenty of Room
CF34FK - Manual - 3.0L - Tow Bar - Dual Air Bags - Air Conditioned - Bull Bar TURBO - 4 Doors - Driving Lights DIESEL
AUTO
12,990
$
AUTO
TURBO DIESEL
10,990
$
BE56EV - Air Conditioned - Cruise Control - Dual Air Bags - Dynamic Stability Control - 68,000 kms - 1.8 Litre - Popular!
17,990
$
TURBO DIESEL
9,990
$
AUTO
2013 Mazda CX5 SUV
2013 Toyota Prado Wagon CPB32L - Automatic - Air Conditioned - GXL Model - 7 Seater - Front & Side Air Bags - Tow Bar - Blue Tooth
9,990
$
2009 Honda Civic Sedan
2016 Toyota Rav 4 SUV
2016 Mitsubishi ASX SUV CM53GP - Air Conditioned - Cruise Control - Front & Side Air Bags - Bluetooth - Traction Control - Camera - Alloy Wheels
20,990
$
38,990
$
YII03M - Automatic - Air Conditoned - Front & Side Air Bags
- Bluetooth - 18” Alloy Wheels - GXL Model - As New!
12,000 KMS
32,990
$
YII07K - Automatic - AWDrive - Front & Side Air Bags - Bluetooth - Cruise Control - Alloy Wheels - SAT Nav
TURBO DIESEL
31,990
$
2010 Mazda 3 Hatch
Holden Colorado Dual Cab
2012 Mazda BT50 Freestyle
2008 Mitsubishi Triton Dual Cab
BNC92J - Manual - 6 Speed - Air Conditioned - Traction Control - Front & Side Air Bags - 86,000 kms POPULAR - ABS Brakes
CK71ES - Manual - 4x4 - Steel Tray - Tow Bar - Bull Bar - Bluetooth - Front & Side Air Bags
YCJ63V - Manual - 3.2 Litre - Turbo Diesel - Alloy Tray - Bull Bar - Tow Bar - Cruise Control - Bluetooth
AV99AI - Air Conditioned - 4x2 HiRise - Hard Cover - Dual Air Bags - Ute Liner - Tow Bar - Great Value!
9,990
$
TURBO DIESEL
26,990
$
4x4
24,990
$
TURBO DIESEL
12,990
$
2013 Mazda BT50 Freestyle
2006 VW Golf Hatch
2016 Mazda BT50 Dual Cab
2015 Isuzu D-Max Dual Cab
YII04A - Manual - Air Conditioned - 3.2 Litre - Turbo Diesel - Bluetooth - Electric Brakes - Cruise Control - Tow Bar
AXZ50Y - Automatic - Air Conditioned - Front & Side Air Bags - Cruise Control - Alloy Wheels - Sun Roof - Turbo Motor - Popular
YCJ99S` - 4x4 - Canopy - 3.0L Turbo Diesel - Air Conditioned - Bull Bar - Side Steps - Bull Bar - Cruise Control - Blue Tooth
CE72MA - Manual - Turbo Diesel - Steel Tray - Tow Bar - Bull Bar - Front & Side Air Bags - Cruise Control
4x4
29,990
$
GTi MODEL
12,990
$
AUTO
38,990
$
4x4
31,990
$
John Davis Motors Quality Used Cars 38 Bathurst Road ORANGE |
Telephone
6362 0966 | www.johndavismotors.com.au |
JOHN DAVIS MOTORS PTY LTD LIC. No. 030159 MARCH 29–APRIL 4, 2018
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