Barraba in late Autumn 19th May 2007. Water filtration plant at lower right. Barraba is on the North West Slopes of New South Wales. Here the foothills start to climb towards the Great Dividing Range to the east. The eastern edge of the Western Plains lie about 30Kms to the west. About 10Kms east of Barraba lies a major fault line. This is one of the places Australia was broken apart millions of years ago into mini-continents before being thrust back together again on it's drift north from Antarctica. This fault line is the source of many minerals, gold, copper and a major chrysotile deposit. It was situated on the edge of one of the (many) inland seas leaving major diatomite deposits on the Nandewar Range 5Kms north of the town.

Town from the South East. Very late onset of winter weather. No frosts yet this year.

Back Plain on southern edge of Barraba. Has a mostly underground spring-fed watercourse traversing it from the right. Barraba draws a considerable portion of it's town water from this source.

South-Eastern edge of Barraba looking east. The country to the east becomes much more hilly and at Ironbark Creek at the major fault the country to the east is Granite. West of the fault line (as here) the country is basalt. 

Queen St. Barraba. War Memorial Town Clock. Barraba was one of the first towns in Australia to have electric street lighting. We had it prior to Tamworth which was the first city in Australia to do so.

Cobb & Co Stagecoach outside the Maude St side-door of the Barraba Post Office. Early 1900's.

All these early B&W photos are Percy William's 1/2 Plate Glass negatives.

From the East. Manilla River in the foreground. Dry times indeed.

Cobb & Co Stagecoach outside Commercial Hotel, Queen St. This hotel is largely unchanged today. Comfort wasn't high on stagecoaches by the look of this.

Looking north down Queen St. The new rail line is in the foreground.

Official opening of the new railway. This branch line terminated at Barraba and carried large quantities of wool and wheat. The line is now closed, sacrificed to 'efficiency'.

More of the crowd for the Railway opening. A big day out. A 'school-mam' in the foreground ?.

Current National Australia Bank (previously Commercial Banking Co. of Sydney) and old Courthouse.

Early Victoria Hotel. This had the early CBC of Sydney Bank in it and the Manager was shot and killed during a hold-up. Two men, Lee and Cummins were hung for this. A door in the lounge still has a bullet hole in it. Basic pub still largely original with additions. One of the 2 pubs in Barraba that has never burnt.