Cobar is a town of 4,000 people (2016) in the Northwestern New South Wales whose economy is based mainly upon base metals and gold mining. The town retains much of its colonial 19th-century architecture. The Towsers Huts, 3 km south of town but not accessible to the public, are ruins of very simple colonial dwellings from around 1870. The ancient Aboriginal rock paintings at Mount Grenfell are some of the largest and most important in Australia.
The name Cobar is derived from the Aboriginal Ngiyampaa word for copper, Kuparr, Gubarr or Cuburra, meaning 'red earth' or 'burnt earth', the ochre used in making body paint for Corroborees. The name also represents an Aboriginal attempt to pronounce the word 'copper'. Some of the most significant Aboriginal rock art in NSW is found within the Cobar Shire. The indigenous Ngiyampaa/Wangaapuwan traditions of this diverse bio-region are best represented in the rock art of Mount Grenfell, 40 km west of Cobar. Over 1,300 depictions of humans and animals, as well as hand stencils are found at this site.
Pastoralist settlers began to farm the area in the mid-1850s. One of these pastoralists, rescued a party of Aboriginal trackers from near-certain death in the early 1870s; in gratitude, they guided him to Australia's largest copper deposit. This led to settlements being founded with Australia's European and Asian gold rush immigrant arrivals. The Great Cobar Copper Mining Company Limited was established in 1878.
At its peak, Cobar had a population of 10,000. However, copper mining operations slowed in 1920, and by the 1930s the town's population had dropped to little over 1,000. In the 1980s, gold, silver, lead and zinc were discovered in the area, which led to a population increase.
If you're coming from the NSW seaboard, the most direct way of getting to Cobar is via Dubbo, Nyngan, and the Barrier Highway. The Kidman Way passes through the town north-to-south, and can be used if you're coming from Queensland (via Bourke) or Victoria (via Griffith).
The Broken Hill coach service meets the Dubbo XPT and stops at Cobar.
The next closest airport would be Dubbo, from where rental cars are available.
It's hard to get lost in a town as small as Cobar, and you can see most of it in a couple of hours - at most - of walking. There is a taxi service (+61 2 6836 2684).
The Festival of the Miners' Ghost (dead link: January 2023), held during the last weekend in October, is a festival celebrating the spirits of the old miners
Newey Reservoir, 2 Knight Dr, -31.5097°, 145.8308°. A relaxing day-use-only park by this water reservoir with sheltered picnic tables and BBQ. Water and public toilets available. Not recommended for caravans.
Cobar Memorial Swimming Pool, Cnr Murray & Prince Sts, -31.4988°, 145.8324°, +61 2 6836 1778. Olympic-sized community pool. 2021-02-22
Groceries:
Copper City Hotel, 40 Lewis St, -31.4973°, 145.8416°, +61268362404. 2020-10-30
Cobar Town & Country Motor Inn, 52 Marshall St (Barrier Hwy), +61268361244. 2020-10-30
Cobar Oasis Motel, 76 Marshall St (Barrier Hwy), +61268362844. 2020-10-30
Cobar Central Motor Inn, 18 Murray St, +61268302000. 2020-10-30
Cobar Crossroads Motel, 21 Louth Rd, +61268362711. 2020-10-30
Hi-Way Motel Cobar, 51 Morrison St, +61268362000. 2020-10-30
Cobar Motor Inn, 67 Marshall St (Barrier Hwy), +61268362304. 2020-10-30
Great Western Hotel Motel, 20 Marshall (Barrier Hwy), +61268362503. 2020-10-30
Cobar Caravan Park, 101 Marshall St (Barrier Hwy), +61268362425. 2020-10-30