18 May 2023 - Cobar to Narromine

Up betimes to greet a very crisp  0 degree Cobar morning to head to Narromine.

Taking the road to Narromine means leaving the Cobar Shire and entering the Bogan Shire. At the very heart of the Bogan Shire lies the town of Nyngan

As local readers would understand, in Australian English, the word "bogan" has acquired a pejorative connotation which defies any single comprehensive definition. 

(For the benefit of international readers - and more particularly, those in the United Kingdom and even more particularly, the "Tife Faffer", the nearest synonyn is probably "chav". However, according to some random website the Prop has shamelessly plagiarized:

"There are a few differences however, between a bogan and a chav. A chav is usually a working-class youth with aggression and poor education.

A bogan is someone of tacky taste, who does not appreciate the finer things in life or look after themselves. They are not necessarily aggressive or have poor education. They are more kind-hearted, laid back, “come and have a beer mate” type people."

Anyway, the Bogan Shire is chock a block full of Bogans of every kind and description.

First, there is the Bogan Shire itself, in which, historically successive Bogan mayor's have sought to immortalise themselves by plastering their names on public buildings.

The original Bogan Shire Town Hall immortalising then mayor J K Knight - a Bogan?

The adjacent former Council Chambers immortalising then mayor, C O'Reilly  - a bogan?

Then there is "the Big Bogan" at Nyngan.

In the pantheon of "big things" in Australia (e.g. the big pineapple on the Gold Coast, the big Banana at Coffs Harbour and the big prawn at Ballina (see 10 May 2023)) the Big Bogan is, frankly, a bit of a disappointment. Not THAT big and fairly rusty.

The somewhat disappointing "Big Bogan"

There is also the "Bogan Coffee Shop" in which the Prop found a poster publicising a form of pageant or competition which seeks to identify the most snappily dressed female in the entire Shire.

The Bogan Coffee Shop - defiantly not a flamin' café

Best Dressed Bogan Sheila 2022 - part of the "Big Bogan Festival"

Also, and inevitably, Nyngan has a Bogan Street

Bogan Street - everybody needs good neighbours 

Of course, the Bogan Shire takes its name from the Bogan River which itself took its name from the local Aboriginal language in which "bogan" means the birthplace of a notable headman of the local tribe.

The Bogan River and the Peter Sinclair Bridge

Bogan Rehabilitation - necessary or just an affectation?

Historic flood levels at the Bogan River - bogan or bog?

But not everyone in Nyngan is a Bogan. There are bean counters - who even have their own house and there is also some Art Deco architecture.

Beancounter House, Nyngan

Commonwealth Bank - Art Deco with a mullet

Enough of Bogans! Onwards and downwards to Narromine.

The entire region bounded by Dubbo, Moree, Lightning Ridge, Bourke and Cobar is cotton-growing country. It's everywhere! Growing and lying by the roadside!

Cotton, cotton...

... and more cotton!

The architecture of Narromine is a good deal more modest than that of neighbouring towns, perhaps the lack of a mining industry meant that the community was less prosperous?

The Courthouse Hotel, Nyngan

The local Butchery...small goods...

...and a Sausage King

And a Dolly Parton Festival - no small goods here!

The Narromine Wetlands, perfick!