Emmaville (New South Wales) - locality in New South Wales, Australia

Emmaville is a village with a population of 519 (2016) in the New England region of New South Wales in Australia was a mining town that has been enduring a decline since the industry collapsed in Emmaville.

Understand

Emmaville located within the country of the indigenous Ngarabal people. Their name for the district is 'Marran' which means 'plenty of leeches'. Tin was discovered on the nearby property 'Strathbogie Station' in 1872 and the settlement was originally named 'Vegetable Creek' after the Chinese market gardens supplying the miners. The name of the settlement was changed to its present name in 1882. Emmaville's main industries are tourism, agriculture, and mining. A creature named The Emmaville Panther was sighted in the district in the 1950s and 1960s, believed to be a big cat that had escaped from a travelling circus. Emmaville is known for good fishing and fossicking.

Emmaville is in the Glen Innes Severn Council Local Government Area.

Visitors information centre

• Glen Innes Visitor Information Centre, 152 Church Street (next to Woolworths), +61 2 6730 2400, tourism@gisc.nsw.gov.au. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-3PM, Su public holidays 9AM-1PM. 2019-09-01

Get in

By car

Emmaville is 68 km north-west of Glen Innes via New England Highway/A15 northbound, at Deepwater turn left onto Wellington Vale Road, continue ahead to Emmaville (48 min).

Emmaville is 79 km south-west of Tenterfield via New England Highway/A15 southbound, at Deepwater turn right onto Wellington Vale Road, continue ahead to Emmaville (58 min).

Emmaville is 60 km south-east of Ashford via Martyn Street north-westbound, turn right into Inverell Street, continue ahead as Bonshaw Road, at the intersection with Coalmine Road turn right and continue ahead on Bonshaw Road, cross the Severn River bridge, turn right onto Emmaville Road, pass the Kangaroo Flat Road turn-off on the left and continue ahead as Gordons Road, turn left onto Strathbogie Road, continue ahead to Emmaville (50 min).

By bus

A bus service by Michael Jillett (Route 17N) rus between Glen Innes and Emmaville. The bus departs from the Glen Innes Visitors information Centre M-F 1PM and arrives at the Emmaville Post Office 1:45PM. The bus departs from the Emmaville Post Office M-F 9AM and arrives at the Glen Innes Visitors Information Centre 9:45AM.

A timetable can be downloaded here (dead link: January 2023).

Stops and bookings

• Emmaville - bus stop, Lot 1 Post Office Street (outside the post office), -29.44440°, 151.59886°. 2019-09-01
• Glen Innes Visitor Information Centre - bus stop, 152 Church Street (next to Woolworths), -29.73815°, 151.73797°, +61 2 6734 7210. 2019-09-01
• Michael Jillett - bookings, +61 2 6734 7210. Phone for fares. Bookings essential 2019-09-01

Get around

Private transport is essential, as there is no taxi service nor is there a local bus service in Emmaville.

The nearest car rental agency is in Glen Innes.

See

In and near town

• Emmaville Mining Museum, 86 Moore Street (opposite Tattersalls Hotel), -29.44515°, 151.59802°, +61 2 6734 7025. F-W 10AM-4PM - closed Th and public holidays. Showcases over 4,000 mineral and gemstone specimens, Foleys General Store Museum, a replica blacksmith's shop, an old wood-fired bakery, old mining equipment, the interior of an hessian-lined miner's hut, photographic collection, bottle collection. A gold coin donation ($1-$2 per person) 2021-03-20
• Ottery Mine Site, -29.40836°, 151.66097°. Abandoned but preserved tin mine and arsenic mine site (made safe in 2003). Tin mined here from 1882, arsenic from 1920, mine closed 1957. Information boards explain the mine site. Short walk from the car park. 2021-03-20

Out of town

• Blatherarm Campground and Picnic Area (Torrington State Conservation Area), Blatherarm Road (36.5 km north-east of Emmaville via Irby Street/Wellington Vale Road eastbound, turn left/north onto Tent Hill Road, pass the Marven Trail turn-off on the left and continue ahead as Emmaville Road, continue around the bend to the right onto Bates Road, turn left/north onto Silent Grove Road, turn right/east onto Blatherarm Road, continue ahead to campground and picnic area on the left), -29.25526°, 151.70603°, +61 1300 072 757, npws.ntab@environment.nsw.gov.au. Unpowered sites - some sites may only be accessed by four-wheel-drive. Picnic tables, pit toilets, no showers, tank water available but must be treated or boiled, or preferably bring your own. Wood-fired barbecues but bring your own - gathering of firewood is not permitted. No pets. No smoking. Roads are boggy when wet. Booking essential for camping 2021-04-12
• Kings Plains National Park, Ironbark Drive (59 km south-west of Emmaville via Moore Street southbound, turn right into Inverell Road, continue through the intersection with Buffalo Street and Cryland Street and continue ahead as Strathbogie Road, cross the Severn River bridge and continue ahead on Strathbogie Road, turn right onto Polhill Road, turn right onto Kings Plains Road, pass the Eastern Feeder turn-off on the left and continue on Kings Plains Road, turn right onto Jindalee Road, cross Kings Plains Creek, turn left onto Ironbark Drive, continue ahead through the four-way intersection, pass the Three Waterholes Trail turn-off on the left, at the fork take the right road, continue ahead to the campground), -29.58395°, 151.38953°, +61 1300 072 757. Kings Plains offers excellent bushwalking, swimming, ephemeral waterfalls. Campground (tents only, unpowered sites), picnic tables, barbecue facilities, toilets. Bring own drinking water, cooking water, firewood. No mobile phone signal. Roads are boggy when wet. Free entry - bookings essential for camping 2021-03-20
• Mystery Face Picnic Area (Torrington State Conservation Area), Mystery Face Road, Torrington (31.5 km from Emmaville via Irby Street/Wellington Vale Road eastbound, turn left/north onto Tent Hill Road, pass the Marven Trail turn-off on the left and continue ahead as Emmaville Road, continue around the bend to the right and continue ahead as Bates Road, turn left/north onto Silent Grove Road, turn left/west onto Butlers Road, Mystery Face Walking Track is on the left), -29.29571°, 151.64237°, +61 2 6736 4298, npws.ntab@environment.nsw.gov.au. Parking area with picnic tables, from where you can set off on the Mystery Face Walking Track to explore fascinating rock formations and the Mystery Face. Bring binoculars for birdwatching and enjoy wildflower displays in spring. Walking track is a 2.6 km loop, Grade 3, 1 to 1.5 hours. Bring drinking water and wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Find out more about the trail here. Roads are boggy when wet. 2021-04-12
• Pindari Dam, Pindari Dam Road (53 km north-west of Emmaville via Inverell Road/Strathbogie Road, cross the Severn River bridge, turn right onto Nullamanna Road, turn right onto The Pocket Road, cross the Pindari Creek bridge, pass the Glengowrie Road turn-off on the right and continue around the bend to the left, turn right onto Pindari Dam Road, continue ahead to the dam), -29.39635°, 151.25819°, +61 2 6728 8161. Open 24 hours. Camping, barbecues, picnic areas, toilets, shower facilities, fishing, water sports, boat ramps, bushwalking. Phone number is the Inverell Tourist Information Centre 2021-02-26
• Thunderbolt's Lookout, Thunderbolt Trail, Torrington State Conversation Area, Torrington (25 km north-east of Emmaville via Irby Street eastbound, continue ahead as Wellington Vale Road, turn left onto Tent Hill Road, pass the Ottery Mine Site, pass the Marven Trail turn-off on the left and continue ahead as Emmaville Road, pass the Sherrat Access Trail on the left, turn left onto Torrington Town Trail at the intersection with Bates Road, at the fork turn right onto Thunderbolt Trail, Thunderbolt's Lookout Walking Trail is on the left), -29.31168°, 151.6823°, +61 1300 072 757, parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au. 7AM-7PM. Enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of the Torrington district. Grade 3 walking trail (2 km return, 30 min-1 hr, short steep sections, many steps, formed track) from the carpark at the Nomads Picnic area. The last 200 m of the trail is mostly steps, and then a steep climb up a 5 m ladder. Picnic tables, shelter, but no toilets at the picnic area. Bring own water. 2021-03-20
• Ugly Corner Falls Walking Track (Torrington State Conservation Area), Blatherarm Road (35.5 km north-east of Emmaville via Irby Street/Wellington Vale Road eastbound, turn left/north onto Tent Hill Road, pass the Marven Trail turn-off on the left and continue ahead as Emmaville Road, continue around the bend to the right onto Bates Road, turn left/north onto Silent Grove Road, turn right/east onto Blatherarm Road, turn left/east onto Ugly Corner Falls Walk, track is on the left.), -29.24153°, 151.70815°, +61 1300 072 757, npws.ntab@environment.nsw.gov.au. Track is 3 km return, 1-2 hours, Grade 4 with steps and steep sections, limited signage, not wheelchair accessible. Bring binoculars for bird watching. Roads are boggy when wet. 2021-04-12

Do

• Emmaville Gemfest and Swap Meet. Held at end Sep/early Oct. 2021-03-20

• Gemorama, +61 436 343 935, blue_thunda@hotmail.com. Held in Jun. Annual gem festival. 2021-04-11

Sports

• Emmaville Swimming Pool, 35 Park Street (next to Emmaville Caravan Park), -29.44785°, 151.60311°, +61 2 6734 7249. Seasonal - phone for hours and fees. 2021-03-20

Buy

The locals do their shopping in Glen Innes. The nearest convenience store is in Deepwater. It is necessary to stock up on any essentials and medications in Glen Innes or Tenterfield before departing for Emmaville.

Self catering

• Foodworks Deepwater, 70 Tenterfield Street (New England Highway), Deepwater (corner of Tenterfield Street/New England Highway and Dundee Street), -29.44083°, 151.84652°, +61 2 6734 5202. M-F 7AM-6:30PM, Sa 7AM-6PM, Su 9AM-4PM. Convenience store. 2021-03-20

Eat

• Club Hotel, corner of Irby Street and O'Donnell Street, +61 2 6734 7489. Pub fare. 2021-03-20
• Tattersalls Hotel, 88 Moore Street (opposite the Emmaville Mining Museum), +61 2 6734 7309. Pub fare. 2021-03-20
• The Tin Cafe, 36 Irby Street (opposite the Club Hotel), -29.44276°, 151.59938°, +61 490 194 255. Fast food. 2021-03-20

Drink

• Club Hotel, corner of Irby Street and O'Donnell Street, -29.44282°, 151.59927°, +61 2 6734 7489. 2021-03-20

• Tattersalls Hotel, 88 Moore Street (opposite the Emmaville Mining Museum), -29.44503°, 151.59798°, +61 2 6734 7309. 2021-03-20

Sleep

Hotels

• Club Hotel, corner of Irby Street and O'Donnell Street, +61 2 6734 7489. Phone for rates and availability 2021-03-20
• Tattersalls Hotel, 88 Moore Street (opposite the Emmaville Mining Museum), +61 2 6734 7309. 10 rooms with shared bathroom Phone for rates and availability 2021-03-20

Cottages

• Bens Falls Retreat, Morgans Road (10 km south of Emmaville via Glen Innes Road/Emmaville Road southbound, turn right into Morgans Road, at the fork take the right road, continue ahead), -29.50261°, 151.61214°, +61 428 774 101. Holiday cottage (bottom cabin may not be available). Phone for rates and availability 2021-03-20

Caravan parks and camping

• Emmaville Caravan Park, Park Street (next to the swimming pool), -29.44776°, 151.60259°, +61 429 347 249, davo.donna@bigpond.com.au. Phone or email for amenities, rates, and availability 2021-03-20

Cope

Emergency

• Police station, Moore Street (near the Emmaville Mining Museum), -29.444967°, 151.598167°, +61 2 6734 7344. Not open 24 hours.
• Vegetable Creek Multipurpose Service Hospital (Emmaville/Vegetable Creek Hospital), 33 Glen Innes Road (right hand side southbound) (near the Emmaville Mining Museum), -29.45052°, 151.59975°, +61 2 6734 7900.

Fuel

• Hayward's Fuel Station, 31 O'Donnell Street (near the post office), -29.44408°, 151.59921°, +61 2 6734 7362. M-F 7AM-5PM, Sa 7AM-2PM, Su closed.

Public telephones

• Public telephone.

Public toilets

• Public toilets. Daylight hours. Disabled access. Parking.

Banks and ATM

Emmaville is not served by any banks and there are no ATMs in the village. It is advisable to do any necessary banking, and obtain cash, before departing for Emmaville, and to use EFTPOS as much as possible while there.

• Bank@Post (Australia Post), +61 2 6734 7257. M-F 9AM-1PM, 2PM-5PM. Agent for Commonwealth Bank, Westpac Bank, National Australia Bank

Services

• Australia Post, -29.44437°, 151.59915°, +61 2 6734 7257. M-F 9AM-1PM, 2PM-5PM.

Go next

• Deepwater - 27 km east of Emmaville: Irby Street/Wellington Vale Road eastbound (19 min) Convenience store, petrol.
• Glen Innes - 67 km south-east of Emmaville: Irby Street/Wellington Vale Road eastbound, at Deepwater turn right/south onto the New England Highway/A15, continue ahead to Glen Innes (45 min)
• Tenterfield - 79 km north-west of Emmaville: Irby Streeet/Wellington Vale Road eastbound, at Deepwater turn left/north onto the New England Highway/A15, continue ahead to Tenterfield (57 min)
• Ashford - 60 km north-west of Emmaville: Moore Street southbound, turn right onto Inverell Road, continue directly through the four-way intersection with Buffalo Street and Cryland Street and continue ahead as Strathbogie Road, turn right into Gordons Road, pass the Kangaroo Flat Road turn off on the right and continue ahead as Emmaville Road, turn left onto Bonshaw Road, cross the Severn River bridge, turn left at the intersection with Coalmine Road and continue ahead on Bonshaw Road into Ashford (50 min)