Werris Creek - town in New South Wales, Australia

Werris Creek is a village in the southernmost part of the New England region of New South Wales in Australia.

Understand

The indigenous Kamileroi people were the original inhabitants of the area. The name 'Werris' is thought be derived from the Kamilaroi word 'werai' meaning 'a lookout point' in reference to the many hills in the district. European settlers arrived here in the 1830s. The heritage-listed railway station was built in the late 1880s, and Werris Creek is considered to be the first railway town in Australia.

Werris Creek is in the Liverpool Plains Local Government Area, with its main centre in Quirindi.

Visitors information centre

• Liverpool Plains Visitor Information Centre, New England Highway, Willow Tree (next to King George V Memorial Park), +61 2 6747 1226. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 9AM-2PM.

Get in

By car

Werris Creek is located on the Werris Creek Road, 20 km north of Quirindi and 46 km south-west of Tamworth.

Werris Creek is 35 km north-west (via Quirindi on the Kamilaroi Highway) of the junction of the New England Highway/A15 and the Kamilaroi Highway/B51, which is just north of Willow Tree.

By bus

Tamworth Buslines

Tamworth Buslines run Bus Route 428 M-Sa to Werris Creek. This is a regional bus service, not a coach service - pay the driver with cash as you would a city bus service, exact fare preferred. One-way fares between Werris Creek and Tamworth are $5.90 for adults and $2.90 for children (4-15) and concession holders.

• Tamworth Buslines, 21 Hume Street, +61 2 6762 3999, info@tamworthbuslines.com.au. Download a timetable and map here. See the fare rates here.

To Werris Creek

The morning service to Werris Creek departs from The Atrium Shopping Centre in Kabel Avenue M-F 9:05AM and arrives at the Werris Creek Post Office 9:44AM. The afternoon services depart from Tamworth Railway Station at M-F 2PM, then departs from The Atrium Shopping Centre in Kabel Avenue 2:02 PM and arrives at the Werris Creek Railway Station 2:42PM; and departs The Atrium Shopping Centre in Kabel Avenue M-F 5:17PM and arrives at the Werris Creek Post Office 5:54PM.

On Saturdays the service to Werris Creek departs from The Atrium Shopping Centre in Kabel Avenue Sa 10AM and arrives at the Werris Creek Post Office 10:40AM; departs from The Atrium Shopping Centre in Kabel Avenue 1:30PM and arrives at the Werris Creek Post Office 2:10PM; and departs from The Atrium Shopping Centre in Kabel Avenue Sa 4PM and arrives at the Werris Creek Post Office 4:40PM

To Tamworth

The morning service to Tamworth departs from the Werris Creek Railway pedestrian entrance M-F 7:15 AM and arrives at the corner of Brisbane Street and Kabel Avenue 7:50AM; and departs from the Werris Creek Railway pedestrian entrance M-F 11:59AM, arrives at the corner of Brisbane Street and Kabel Avenue 12:38PM, and arrives at the Tamworth Railway Station 12:40PM; and departs from the Werris Creek Railway pedestrian entrance M-F 2:21PM and arrives at Adairs at the corner of Brisbane Street and Kable Avenue 2:54PM.

On Saturdays the service to Tamworth departs from the Werris Creek Railway pedestrian entrance Sa 9:14AM and arrives at The Atrium Shopping Centre in Kabel Avenue 9:53AM; departs the Werris Creek Railway pedestrian entrance Sa 11:49AM and arrives at The Atrium Shopping Centre in Kabel Avenue 12:28PM; and departs from the Werris Creek Railway pedestrian entrance Sa 3:14PM and arrives at The Atrium Shopping Centre in Kabel Avenue1 3:53PM.

Bus stops in Tamworth

• The Atrium Shopping Centre (Kabel Avenue entrance), Kabel Avenue (opposite the cricket ground), -31.09155°, 150.92886°.
• Corner of Brisbane Street and Kabel Avenue, -31.09059°, 150.92846°.
• Tamworth Railway Station, Marius Street (corner of Marius Street and Brisbane Street), -31.08790°, 150.93052°.
• Adairs - Brisbane Street, corner of Brisbane Street and Peel Street, -31.09038°, 150.92900°.

By train

Trains run from Sydney daily to Werris Creek, where lines branch off to Tamworth and Armidale and to Narrabri and Moree.

Trains depart Sydney at Central Station M-Su 9:30AM and arrive at Werris Creek 2:57PM. Trains depart Werris Creek M-Su 11:07AM and arrive at Central Station in Sydney 4:39PM.

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

Bookings and railway stations

• NSW Trainlink - regular bookings, +61 13 22 32. Daily 7AM-10PM.
• NSW Trainlink - multi-trip and Discovery Pass, +61 13 22 32. Daily 7AM-10PM.
• Central Station, Sydney, Eddy Avenue, Haymarket, +61 2 9379 1777. Long-distance trains depart from The Grand Concourse (Platforms 1-15)
• Werris Creek Railway Station, Single Street (entrance opposite Cafe on Single), -31.34845°, 150.64711°, +61 132 232. Station only - no ticket office, no ticketing agent in Werris Creek, tickets not available from the train.

Train connections

Once the train reaches Werris Creek, it splits into two - one section heads north-west to Quirindi, Gunnedah, Boggabri, and Narrabri, and terminates at Moree. The other section heads north-east to Tamworth, Walcha Road (the nearest railway station for Walcha), Uralla, and terminates at Armidale.

Travellers who wish to travel on to those destinations or to Sydney, or who wish to travel between stations on the Gunnedah-Narrabri-Moree branch liine and the Tamworth-Armidale branch line by transferring at Werris Creek will need to make their bookings before departure, as there is no longer a ticket office at the Werris Creek Railway Station, there is no ticketing agent in Werris Creek, and tickets are not available on the trains themselves.

Also note that the Walcha Road Railway Station is not in Walcha itself, but 24 km north-west of Walcha. A taxi-link service run by Trainlink is available between Walcha Road Railway Station and Walcha itself, but that too must be booked as part of your journey before departure.

To/from Tamworth and Armidale

Trains depart Werris Creek M-Su 2:57PM and arrive at Tamworth 3:37 PM, at Walcha Road 4:46PM, at Uralla 5:12PM, and terminate at Armidale at 5:35PM.

Trains depart Armidale M-Su 8:40AM, and arrive at Uralla 8:56AM, at Walcha Road at 9:22AM, at Tamworth 10:06AM, and at Werris Creek 11:07AM to meet the other train section.

=Stations and bookings=

• Tamworth Railway Station, Marius Street (corner of Marius Street and Brisbane Street), +61 132 232. M-Su 8:30AM-4:30PM. Station and bookings.
• Walcha Road Railway Station, Wallun Road in Walcha Road (24 km north-west of Walcha via Oxley Highway/B56 westbound, turn right into Wallun Road), +61 132 232. Station only - the nearest ticketing office is in Walcha itself, otherwise book online or over the phone.
• Walcha - bookings (Linmac Engineering), 211N Pakington Street (off Jamieson Street), +61 2 6777 2822. M-F 7:30AM-5PM, Sa 8AM-noon.
• Uralla Railway Station, Duke Street (corner of Duke Street and Hill Street), +61 132 232. Station only. Bookings are to be made by phone or online - there is no ticketing office at the station, no ticketing agent in Uralla, and tickets are not available from the train itself.
• Armidale Railway Station, Brown Street, West Armidale (near Watson Park), +61 132 232. M-F 7:30-11:30AM 2-5:30PM - closed public holidays.. Station and bookings.
• Flight Centre Armidale - bookings, Shop 3A, 108 Dangar Street (Armidale Plaza shopping centre, corner of Dangar Street and Beardy Street), +61 2 6771 5474. M-F 9AM-5:30PM, Sa 9AM-noon.

To/from Gunnedah-Narrabri-Moree

Trains depart Werris Creek M-Su 2:57PM, arrive at Gunnedah at 3:45PM, at Boggabri 4:10PM, at Narrabri 4:52PM, and terminate at Moree 6PM.

Trains depart Moree M-Su 8:05AM, arrive at Narrabri 8:45AM, at Boggabri 9:47AM, at Gunnedah 10:14AM, and at Werris Creek 11:05AM to meet with the other train section.

=Stations and bookings=

• Gunnedah Railway Station, Railway Avenue (near the corner of Chandos Street and Railway Avenue), +61 132 232. M-F 9AM-12:30PM, 1:30-4:30PM - closed public holidays. Station and bookings.
• Boggabri Railway Station, Oakham Street, Boggabri (opposite the old Railway Hotel (closed)), +61 13 22 32. Station only - there is no ticket office at the station, and tickets are not available from the train.
• Boggabri Pharmacy - bookings, 2/132 Morton Street, Boggabri (diagonally opposite the IGA supermarket), +61 2 6743 4344. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-noon.
• Narrabri Railway Station, Logan Street (corner of Logan Street and Bowen Street - look for the grain silos), +61 13 22 32. M-F 8-11AM, 2:30-5:30PM - closed public holidays. Station and bookings.
• Moree Railway Station, Gosport Street, Moree, +61 2 6750 7161. M-F 7AM-11AM. Parking in Gosport Street (cross over Newell Highway to get to the station) or directly behind the station in Morton Street. Station and bookings.
• M & G Travel - bookings, 66 Balo Street, Moree, +61 2 6752 3055. M-F 9AM-5PM.

By plane

Werris Creek is not served by any domestic flights. The nearest airport with regular scheduled services in in Tamworth.

Get around

Private transport is the most convenient way to get around Werris Creek, and essential for exploring the surrounding district.

The nearest car rental agencies are in Tamworth and Quirindi.

By taxi

• Perrett's Taxi Cabs, 99 Henry Street, +61 2 6768 7228. Taxis must be booked, not hailed

See

In and near town

• Australian Railway Monument and Railway Museum (The Rail Journeys Museum), Werris Creek Railway Station, +61 2 6768 7929, railjny@nsw.chariot.net.au. Sa-Tu 11:30AM-3:30PM. The Railway Museum showcases memorabilia from electric railway implements, interactive model railways, an the railway past of Werris Creek. The Railway Monument commemorates the 2,700+ lives lost while working for the railways since the 1850s. 2021-03-24

Out of town

• Quipolly Dam Recreation Ground and Bird Hide, Lowes Creek Road (19 km south-east of Werris Creek via Werris Creek Road southbound, turn left into Paynes Road/Lowes Creek Road, turn left at the T-junction and continue on Lowes Creek Road, parking on the left), -31.41958°, 150.70495°. M-Su sunrise-sunset. Recreation area with gas barbecues (wood/charcoal barbecues not permitted), picnic tables, toilet with disabled access, walking paths. Fishing. Birdwatching. Swimming and boating not permitted as it is the town water supply for Werris Creek. Fishing must be done only at the designated areas. No pets - guide dogs exempted. 2021-03-16

Do

Sports

• Werris Creek Golf Club, Gap Road (1.5 km west of Werris Creek via Gap Road), -31.34368°, 150.63361°, +61 2 6768 7165. W 4-7PM, F 4-10PM, Su 10:30AM-6PM. 9-hole golf course. $5 (honesty box) 2021-03-24
• Werris Creek Bowling and Tennis Club, 136 Henry Street (southbound lane), -31.35476°, 150.64792°, +61 2 6768 7144. M 2-10PM, Tu-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight, Su 11AM-10PM. Lawn bowls. Tennis. 2021-03-24
• Werris Creek Swimming Pool, end of Coronation Drive eastbound, -31.35197°, 150.6531°, +61 2 6768 7246. Phone for hours and fees. 2021-03-24

Buy

When locals can't obtain anything locally, they shop at Quirindi and often at Tamworth.

Self catering

• Friendly Grocer, 56 Single Street (opposite the railway station), -31.34990°, 150.64716°, +61 2 6768 7006. M-F 8:30AM-6PM, Sa 8:30AM-3PM, Su 10AM-2PM. Grocery store 2021-03-24
• Werris Creek Pharmacy, 53 Single Street (opposite the railway station), -31.34947°, 150.64712°, +61 2 6768 7038, info@werriscreekpharmacy.com.au. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-12:30PM. Chemist. 2021-03-24

Eat

• Commercial Hotel/Motel, 81 Single Street (opposite Sunset Park), +61 2 6768 7075. Pub fare. 2021-03-24
• Alison's Bistro (Railway Hotel), 65 Single Street, +61 2 6768 7024. W-M evenings only. Pub fare. 2021-03-24
• Werris Creek Bowling and Tennis Club, 136 Henry Street (southbound lane), +61 2 6768 7144. Tu-Su noon-2PM, 6-8PM. Bistro fare. 2021-03-24
• Coffee Corner (Werris Creek Pharmacy), 53 Single Street (opposite the railway station). Coffee shop. 2021-03-24
• Wing Cheun Chinese Restaurant, 102 Single Street (near a bus stop), -31.35635°, 150.64627°, +61 2 6768 7622. Tu-Su 11:30AM- 1:30PM, 5-8:30PM. Chinese cuisine. 2021-03-24
• Cafe on Single, 46 Single Street (opposite the Werris Creek Railway Station pedestrian entrance), -31.3483°, 150.64722°, +61 2 6768 7089. M-F 6AM-3PM, Sa 8AM-4PM. Cafe fare. 2021-03-24

Drink

• Commercial Hotel/Motel, 81 Single Street (opposite Sunset Park), -31.3521°, 150.64691°, +61 2 6768 7075. 2021-03-24
• Railway Hotel, 65 Single Street, -31.35084°, 150.64705°, +61 2 6768 7024. 2021-03-24
• Werris Creek Bowling and Tennis Club, 136 Henry Street (southbound lane), +61 2 6768 7144. M 2-10PM, Tu-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight, Su 11AM-10PM. 2021-03-24

Sleep

• Commercial Hotel/Motel, 81 Single Street (opposite Sunset Park), +61 2 6768 7075. Phone for rates and availability 2021-03-24
• Railway Hotel, 65 Single Street, +61 2 6768 7024. Phone for rates and availability 2021-03-24

Cope

Emergency

• Police station, 72 Henry Street, -31.34991°, 150.64873°, +61 2 6768 7444. Not open 24 hours.
• Werris Creek Multipurpose Service Hospital (Werris Creek Community Hospital), 22 North Street (corner of North Street and Punyarra Street), -31.34771°, 150.65264°, +61 2 6768 6600. In case of an emergency call +61 000 and expect the patient to be taken to Tamworth Base Hospital.

Fuel

• Caltex/Ampol, 18 Single Street, -31.34446°, 150.64749°, +61 2 6768 7108. M-Su 7AM-7PM. Petrol station.

Public telephones

• Public telephone.
• Public telephone, -31.35876°, 150.64560°.

Public toilets

• Public toilet, Hoamm Park (opposite the post office - look for a children's playground), -31.34905°, 150.64703°. Open daylight hours. Disabled access. Sharps disposal.
• Public toilet, Lions Park (not far from the Wing Cheun Chinese Restaurant), -31.35574°, 150.64627°. Open daylight hours. Parking.

Banks and ATMs

There are no major banks in Werris Creek, and there are no ATMs. It is advisable to do any necessary banking and to obtain cash before departing for Werris Creek, and to use EFTPOS there whenever possible.

• Regional Australia Bank, 63 Railway Street (near the Railway Hotel), -31.35056°, 150.64705°. Tu Th 10AM-3PM.
• Bank@Post (Australia Post), 50 Single Street (corner of Single Street and Anzac Parade), +61 2 6768 7099. M-F 9AM-12:30PM 1:30-5PM. Agent for Commonwealth Bank, Westpac Bank, National Australia Bank

Go next

• Nundle - south-east of Werris Creek: 76 km via Werris Creek Road southbound, at Quirindi turn left at the roundabout onto Henry Street, cross the Quirindi Creek bridge and continue straight ahead as Dewhurst Street, pass the Quirindi Showground on the right and continue ahead as Wallabadah Road, at Wallabadah turn left/north onto the New England Highway/A15, turn right onto Lindsays Gap Road, pass the Garoo Road turn-off on the left, pass the Middlebrook Road turn-off on the left, turn right/south onto Nundle Road, cross the Peel River bridge (56 min)
• Quirindi - south of Werris Creek: 20 km via Werris Creek Road southbound (16 min)
• Tamworth - north-east of Werris Creek: 45 km via Werris Creek Road northbound (36 min)
• Willow Tree - south-east of Werris Creek: 36 km via Werris Creek Road southbound, at Quirindi continue southbound on the Kamilaroi Highway/B56 (30 min)