Milparinka

MILPARINKA A boomtown...brought back to life. The first proclaimed Albert Goldfields township. Milparinka is sited on the edge of Evelyn Creek. Charles Sturt had camped nearby at Preservation creek for six months in 1845 and it was he who named a nearby gum creek, Evelyn Creek. Later, Mount Browne Goldfields miners camped on the banks. They chose this spot as a waterhole in the creek gave them much-needed water. At first this was a shanty town of several hundred souls huddled in huts and tents. Before long, though, civilisation Caught with the gold boom. By the mid-1880s the town boasted a polics office, newspaper, chemist, blacksmith, photographer, two butchers, four hotels, a school, a hospital and a general store. But by the mid-1920s the golden years were only a memory. In the 21st century Milparinka has brought its boomtown years alive again with a heritage centre in the courthouse, a native plants park and a heritage walking trail. PLACES OF INTEREST *Albert Hotel, the town's one remaining hotel, first licensed in 1882 *Mount Browne Historic Township and Goldfields Pioneer Diggings (southwest) *Milparinka Courthouse and Heritage Centre *Milparinka Cemetery, many pioneers lost their lives to typhoid and dysentery. *Depot Glen, Sturt's Cairn and Mount Poole A cairn was built on top of Mount Poole by the members of Sturt's expedition during their six month encampment at Dept Glen. James Poole, Sturt's second in command died there and a beefwood tree marks his grave. The site is on a privately owned sheep station, Mount Poole. Accessible from the Hwker Gate Road, 10km west. *Milparinka Police Barracks and Cells *Pastoral History Shed *The Bakers House, the shell of a house belonging to Jeremiah and Ellen Baker - goldfield pioneers. *Milparinka Historic Walking Trail Follow a route around the old township, the school, the Bakers House, and a historic underground water tank *Harry Blore Native Park, special plantings of the region's indigenous species. *Milparinka Native Plant Enterprise, native plants for sale as seeds, flowers or fruits, public toilets.