As it happens, the local tourist authority seems to have grasped this Australian idiomatic expression and squeezed the very life out of it.
We headed to North Bourke, which one might think was at the top of Bourke rather than at the back, but the Prop supposes that it may all depend upon one's point of view.
Clearly enough, the point of view of the locals is that North Bourke is, or is very close to, the back of Bourke.
Among the attractions to be found at the Tourist Centre is an untitled sculpture which appears to depict part of a man with three buttocks - possibly based upon Mr Arthur Frampton (of Monty Python fame)
Not far from the back of Bourke one can find the Darling River and the old bridge over the river.
Having been to the back of Bourke and back, the Prop and Mrs P set out for Cobar.
The 140 kilometre road to Cobar (The Kidman Way - named after a famous cattle cocky, not Nicole) has two slight bends but is otherwise as straight as an arrow and pretty bloody boring - apart from the odd wild and/or domesticated goat grazing in "the long paddock".
We arrived in Cobar in the early afternoon and secured lodgings in a "cabin" in a local caravan park (thanks to a last minute cancellation). It is entirely possible that the cancellation was on account of the somewhat disconcerting warning sign on the cabin -
Cobar was, and still is, economically dependent on the mining industry involving the extraction of gold and base metals.
Then to the Fort Bourke Hill Lookout to view the open cut mine and surrounding country.
As we returned from the lookout, the Prop noticed the Cobar Rugby Club
Last stop was the Great Cobar Heritage Centre - an impressively well-preserved old building which once served as the original mine and pay office.
Perfick!
5 comments:
A red wing parrot?
I see 'total page views 8,700' - either Mrs Prop is checking on the Prop's Progress, or there is some third dementia (sorry, misspelt - dimension) to this story. Keep me informed. The photos are great.
One difficulty that they have there in the Bourke, is that once they evidence any occupation of a place near Bourke, it becomes part of Bourke, and can no longer be termed "back 'o Bourke". So, then another vacant space just to the west of that now occupied space (even if only by a signboard saying "this is Back '0 Bourke") becomes Back 'o Bourke.
Talking of the matter of split infinitives, it seems the Prop and Mrs Prop are "boldly going where no man has gone before".
Now, of course, it needs to be gender and species non-specific, so must read "boldly going where no one has gone before".
Or, "to boldly split infinitives where no man had split before".
Are you with me? I guess it is time to rewatch Withnall and I.
I can't see any trucks working the open cut mine. Did you? Is it operating?
The mine is still working but now as an underground mine not open cut.
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