Heritage Walking Track
Originally a coal mining area dating from the 1840s, little remains to remind you of its past. Following its closure in the 1980s, rehabilitation and dedicated work by the Minmi Heritage Landcare Group have removed many of the scars. Plantings of native trees, the eradication of invasive plants and the installation of barbecues and picnic facilities have produced a beautiful community park. The Heritage Walking Track winds through the regenerated bushland.
Located near the outer western Newcastle suburb of Minmi, the park has plenty of parking and a small toilet block. The walking tracks are shown on an information board near the car park.
The Track
We chose the Heritage Walk because it includes the brick tower of an old ventilation shaft from the coal mine. Starting at the end of the car park, the track immediately splits into two paths. There are no signs to show which way to go, but the correct direction is to the right of the large white tyre. Not far from here, a track leads off to the left. Fortunately, there are two signs here showing that this is the way to go.
From the left turn, the well-maintained path follows a shady route through regenerated Australian bushland. We didn’t see any wildlife but could here plenty of cicadas.
The trail intersects another track, where you will find the brick tower. This remnant of the old coal mine used to provide ventilation to the mine’s underground workings. Turn right at the intersection, where another well-formed track takes you back to the car park.
Only a few minutes’ walk from the car park is the old Minmi Cemetery, where you can see the graves of many of the mine workers and their families.
What Did We Think?
A simple easy walk, it only took us 45 minutes, including stops for photos. The well-maintained path and shady trees made the walk enjoyable.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
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