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, [email protected]. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-3PM, Su public holidays 9AM-1PM. (updated Sep 2019)

Getting there

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.

Stops and bookings 1 Emmaville - bus stop, Lot 1 Post Office Street (outside the post office). (updated Sep 2019) 2 Glen Innes Visitor Information Centre - bus stop, 152 Church Street (next to Woolworths), ☏ +61 2 6734 7210. (updated Sep 2019) Michael Jillett - bookings, ☏ +61 2 6734 7210. Phone for fares. Bookings essential. (updated Sep 2019)

Getting 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 1 Emmaville Mining Museum, 86 Moore Street (opposite Tattersalls Hotel), ☏ +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). (updated Mar 2021) 2 Ottery Mine Site (8.5 km north-east of Emmaville via Irby Street eastbound, continue ahead as Wellington Vale Road, turn left onto Tent Hill Road, turn-off on mine-site on the left). 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. (updated Mar 2021)

Out of town

3 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), ☏ +61 1300 072 757, [email protected]. 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. (updated Apr 2021) 4 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 a

Do

Emmaville Gemfest and Swap Meet. Held at end Sep/early Oct. (updated Mar 2021) Gemorama, ☏ +61 436 343 935, [email protected]. Held in Jun. Annual gem festival. (updated Apr 2021)

Sports 1 Emmaville Swimming Pool, 35 Park Street (next to Emmaville Caravan Park), ☏ +61 2 6734 7249. Seasonal - phone for hours and fees. (updated Mar 2021)

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 1 Foodworks Deepwater, 70 Tenterfield Street (New England Highway), Deepwater (corner of Tenterfield Street/New England Highway and Dundee Street), ☏ +61 2 6734 5202. M-F 7AM-6:30PM, Sa 7AM-6PM, Su 9AM-4PM. Convenience store. (updated Mar 2021)

Eat

Club Hotel, corner of Irby Street and O'Donnell Street, ☏ +61 2 6734 7489. Pub fare. (updated Mar 2021) Tattersalls Hotel, 88 Moore Street (opposite the Emmaville Mining Museum), ☏ +61 2 6734 7309. Pub fare. (updated Mar 2021) 1 The Tin Cafe, 36 Irby Street (opposite the Club Hotel), ☏ +61 490 194 255. Fast food. (updated Mar 2021)

Drink & nightlife

1 Club Hotel, corner of Irby Street and O'Donnell Street, ☏ +61 2 6734 7489. (updated Mar 2021) 2 Tattersalls Hotel, 88 Moore Street (opposite the Emmaville Mining Museum), ☏ +61 2 6734 7309. (updated Mar 2021)

Sleep

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

Cottages 1 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), ☏ +61 428 774 101. Holiday cottage (bottom cabin may not be available). Phone for rates and availability. (updated Mar 2021)

Caravan parks and camping 2 Emmaville Caravan Park, Park Street (next to the swimming pool), ☏ +61 429 347 249, [email protected]. Phone or email for amenities, rates, and availability. (updated Mar 2021)

Go next

Deepwater - 27 km east of Emmaville: Irby Street/Wellington Vale Road eastbound (19 min) Convenience store, petrol. Glen