Ollera The Ollera Station, one of the first in the New England area, was selected in 1838 by the Everett brothers who trekked overland from Morpeth and beyond what was then the most northerly settlement in NSW . The name is said to derive from the brother's Aboriginal guide who, when they first neared what the Everetts named George's Creek, after their oldest brother, said: 'See 'im Ollera", meaning 'Look! sweet water'. The Everetts returned to Sydney to register their selection and then returned laden with their possessions, equipment, supplies and 451 sheep which they purchased along the way. Within hours of their arrival they were robbed of their horses and guns by the bushranging gang of Gentleman Dick. John travelled on foot to the nearest police outpost at Tamworth. Another bushranger, Thunderbolt, raided the station's store in 1867. Another source claims he robbed the home of the superintendent in 1868 and hid out in a cave near The Pinch 11 km south of the present townsite. The Everetts built a two-roomed slab hut and cleared the land, establishing fruit trees and vegetable gardens. Younger brother Edwin arrived in 1842 with a prize Hereford bull, thus becoming one of the first Hereford producers in the region. They also established dairying with Ayrshire cattle. Ollera soon became a large, semi-autonomous village with its own bakery, post office, store, bank, school (1862) and church. Masons, journeymen, farriers, shepherds, jobbers, cattle herdsmen, shearers, carpenters and their families were all resident employees with their own houses. There was a medical fund and an amateur theatrical group. A cricket pitch had been established by 1862 and it was the venue for a match with a touring English team in 1885. A wool scouring works was set up in 1895. By 1877 the property covered 74 000 acres with 46 000 sheep and 4000 cattle. Now consisting of 5000 acres it is still owned by Bill and Lynda Skipper, descendants of the Everetts. The rural history of Australia is, in effect, documented in the property's heritage display, featuring not only the architecture but horse-drawn and early motor vehicles, early steam engines used to power shearing equipment and domestic items. There is a large brick and timber manor house on the property dating back to 1870 with extensive Edwardian additions made in the early twentieth century, including a fine sunburst gable over projecting bay windows. Some of the slab outbuildings date from the 1850s and are still in use. They include stores, carriage sheds, cottages, stables and a large woolshed made of trimmed tree trunks and galvanised iron. The blacksmith's shop with its huge leather bellows is still in working order and the property store, with its cedar counters, has been turned into a museum containing artefacts collected on the property over 160 years. Saint Bartholomew's Church of England is a small rural brick church designed by distinguished colonial architect J.Horbury Hunt and built of handmade and locally-fired bricks in 1876-77 for the usage of employees. The cemetery was established in 1843 and is still open to the descendants of the original pioneers, including veterans of the Battle of Waterloo, a poet laureate, and Sister Kenny. Another interesting grave is that of a bullock dray driver who always travelled with his coffin. It is said that he insisted that whereever he died the locals would have to put his body in the coffin and return it to Ollera. This was done. Recently described by an academic as an 'unusual and interesting' rural complex of high heritage value Ollera is a living museum and is truly one of the area's highlights. A visit is not a self-guided trek through another country museum which displays history coldly and without context. The Skippers give generously of their time and effort. Morning teas and a period picnic in the beautiful English gardens with quality country cooking are part of the service, which includes an educational guided tour of the outbuildings and an oral history of the station's persons and significant events. The property is definitely only open by appointment and only to groups, tel: (02) 6779 4566. Visitors should allow about four hours. All monies are aimed at restoration projects on the property. To get there head west out of town along the road to Tingha and Inverell. After 18 km there is a left turn on to the Ollera and Tenterden Road (bitumen). The property is 2 km along this road. Regards Alan [email protected] Alan Eade