In Springtime
In October 2020 we headed west on a NSW country road trip. One of our favourite stops was the historic village of Millthorpe, a heritage listed village in the Central West and part of the Orange Wine Region. Cherry blossoms and flowering gardens lined the streets and the surrounding hills were blanketed in yellow canola and brilliant purple. Paterson’s curse never looked so beautiful! Many of Millthorpe’s historic buildings have been lovingly restored so there are plenty of photo opportunities for those who love quaint villages. Millthorpe has good accommodation options, wonderful cafes and the very popular Tonic Restaurant. This tiny village has reinvented itself as a tourist destination, and I only wish we’d stayed a couple of nights!
About Millthorpe
The Millthorpe historic village is just a 20 minute drive from Orange and 3 hours west of Sydney. It is classified by the National Trust as a historically important colonial village and has a number of fine historic buildings.
For more information about Millthorpe, please refer to the Millthorpe Historic Village website – an extract from the site is below…
Industry Leaves Town
As the 20th century arrived the commercial world changed forever. Chaff was no longer needed, the grain industry moved on and the potato market also relocated to more efficient growing areas as steam driven farming and transport resources were replaced by more efficient diesel power.
So the lovely historic buildings of Millthorpe were left alone as development moved to the larger population centres and passed by the village.
Millthorpe almost died. But in doing so, it preserved a legacy of the golden years – a wonderful streetscape which proved to be a perfect fit with the late 20th and early 21st century market shift to tourism, food and wine as powerful attractions for the village.
Millthorpe Re-invents Itself
The basics were there and needed just a dash of Millthorpe vigor and determination to reconnect with the mood of the new century. Building on its unique base of preserved heritage character, the village has transformed into a vibrant community serving the visitor trade with 19th century history and beautifully preserved buildings and offering the food, wine, shopping and accommodation experiences that the visitor expects today. The village offers a unique mix of history, culture, commerce and produce to attract visitors to a very special place.
My Millthorpe Picture Gallery
There was much to photograph in Millthorpe, especially with all the Spring colours… cherry blossoms, gardens and lush countryside. I’m always impressed with how old towns have reinvented themselves, restoring the old buildings and providing great cafes and restaurants as well as a few quirky shops.
Here’s just a few pics from our trip in Spring 2020. I must return in Autumn as I’m sure it is just as beautiful at that time of year!
Information
Where: Millthorpe NSW
Drive: From Sydney 3 hours or 20 minutes from Orange
Train: The beautiful old railway station is still used – 4.5 hours from Sydney
Bus: Just over 5 hours
Fly: Yes, fly to Orange or Bathurst then bus or train to Millthorpe
Open: Every day!
Also see: Country NSW
Map
