The artistic, historic, cultural, and natural attractions of the Forbes region are an irresistible drawcard to virtually all grey nomads lucky enough to be travelling in NSW’s Central West.
The town of around 10,000 or so on the Newell Highway boasts an array of heritage buildings, a couple of great museums, and is the final resting place of notorious bushranger, Ben Hall … and that’s just for starters!
Situated on the banks of the Lachlan River, the European settlement of the area really kicked into top gear when gold was first discovered here in 1861.
A tent city quickly grew as tens of thousands of people descended on the Lachlan goldfields.
The Grecian Rotunda built in 1891 in Victoria Park, Forbes.
The goldrush also attracted bushrangers like Frank Gardiner and Ben Hall who were keen to get rich without having to dig. Hall was shot dead in a police ambush in 1865 about 20 kilometres northwest of Forbes. His grave, and those of several other fascinating characters, can be found in Forbes Cemetery.
There is also an exhibition about Ben Hall at the Forbes and District Historical Society Museum, which is housed in Osborne Hall, built around 1878. The museum also contains exhibits relating to all parts of Forbes’ rich and fascinating history.
Another must-visit for most grey nomads is McFeeters Motor Museum, which boasts an extensive collection of restored motor vehicles, bikes and vans dating back to 1905.
At the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre, interpretive panels explain the local indigenous people’s spiritual connection to the country.
If first-time visitors find Forbes’ heritage buildings seem familiar, that could be because many of them featured in iconic movie, The Dish.
Vintage cars on display at the McFeeters Motor Museum in Forbes.
Many of those buildings are located on the edge of the magnificent Victoria Park. These include the Court House, the Vandenberg Hotel, the Town Hall and both the Presbyterian and Anglican churches. The park is also home to a striking Grecian design fountain, and a cast-iron band rotunda which was built in 1891.
Also worth a look are the nearby Post Office, a striking two-storey bank building, and the equally impressive, Anglesey House, which was built in 1884.
One of Forbes most noticeable sights is the giant ‘Amazing’ sign, which is part of the Sculpture Down the Lachlan (SDL) art and culture trail, which stretches from here 100 kilometres down the Lachlan River to Condobolin.
There are also a series of colourful murals on various buildings around town for art-loving visitors to enjoy.
Other points of interest include Lake Forbes, which boasts a 4.8-kilometre walking track around it; and just south of town is the Gum Swamp Bird Hide, a wetland sanctuary which is reputedly home to at least 158 bird species.
The four caravan parks in and around town are the Forbes Caravan and Cabin Park, the Big4 Forbes Holiday Park, the River Meadows Caravan Park, and the Apex Riverside Tourist Park. There is a 48-hour free rest area at Wheogo Park on the banks of Lake Forbes, where there is also a dump point.
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