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Portland
is a town surrounded by beautiful countryside and has
many areas for bushwalking. The town is of interest as
an historic mining town, with the bottle kilns open to
easy view, and Charlie Pinch's private museum of unique
interest.
The
town derives its name from the Isle of Portland (near
England). After crossing the Blue Mountains in 1813
much
of the first exploration missed Portland. James Blackman
was the first explorer to come close to Portland. in
1820
he marked the first road from Bathurst to the present
site of Wallerawang. In 1821 he headed north from his
depot towards Mudgee travelling through the Cullen Bullen
area and passing only a few kilometres to the east of
Portland. Blackmans Flat is named after him.
In 1828 Peter McPherson took
up a grant of 260ha in the Pipers Flat area. Limestone
in the area was used to build
his son's houses in the 1830's giving it the name of
Limestone
flat.
Portland really got its start
when Thomas Murray selected 61ha from what is now the
Convent Hill to Kremer park
in 1863, putting his first Lime Kiln on what is now
the
corner of Lime and Villiers Streets.
The
railway came to Portland in 1883 initially called
Cullen
as did the "Cullen Bullen Lime and Marble Works Company" which
began operations in that year in Portland.
The
Cullen Bullen Lime and Marble Works Company was renamed
the Cullen Bullen Lime and Cement Company in 1889 and
work commenced that year on construction of that company's
cement works. Production commenced in 1890 and the company
soon advertised its works as being located at 'Portand'
rather than Cullen.
A school was begun in 1884 in
the Long Street area and moved to the present Portland
Central School site in
1895.
A government Village was gazetted on 3rd March 1894 as
PORTLAND. In 1902 the Cement works was begun. and in
1906,
Portland was upgraded officially to a town.
More Information the History of
Portland |
Blue
Circle Southern Cement Works - Bottle Kilns
The Bottle Kilns are the remnants of the
early Cement making process. They were built in the early
1890's and were the first Cement making kilns west of the
Blue Mountains. The Bottle Kilns are subject to a preservation
order and are located on the northern edge of the Cement
Works.
Mt. Piper Power Station,
Boulder Road, Portland.
Mt Piper Energy Expo and daily tours of the
Power Station. State of the Art in Power Generation.
Enjoy the hands on high tech interactive exhibits at
the Information
Centre. The Energy Expo open every day from, 9am -
4pm. Features include: video and static displays and
is located
in a lovely landscaped setting. Facilities include
a picnic area with children's playground, BBQ s and
amenities. Tours
of the power station are held every day (including weekends
) at 11am. Solid enclosed shoes must be worn and cameras
and bags cannot be taken along on the actual tour. Groups and schools can book in at different
times by prior arrangement. Williewa Creek Picnic Area
Take a leisurely stroll along the creek,
picnic or just simply relax in the quite and peaceful,
surroundings. Bushwalking in the Town Common. Portland
Common - many acres of natural bushland, including picnic
areas, ideal for bushwalks.
Lake Wallace, Wallerawang
Activities include: Playground, picnic and
BBQ facilities, amenities. Sailing and fishing.
Newnes & Wolgan
Valley
From Boulder Road, turn right onto Mudgee
Rd towards Wallerawang. At Lidsdale turn left and
proceed past Angus Place Coal mine. Continue on into
the beautiful
Wolgan Valley where there are natural picnic areas.
It is necessary to cross the river and walk along
the well-defined
path to see the foundations of the shale ruins.
Glen Davis
From Boulder Road, turn left onto Mudgee
Road continue along the road until Capertee,
turn right to proceed on into the Capertee Valley.
Glen
Davis has a
picnic/camping area with amenities block and
a privately run Museum with artefacts and information
on the
Shale Oil
Ruins.
Portland Pottery Studio
Domestic and Sculptural Pottery, 5 Dulhunty St,
Portland. +61 (02) 63 555170
Honeysuckle
Gallery
Creative Clothing and Patchwork. Picnic
among a rambling garden, complimentry tea & coffee.
Open weekends 10am - 4pm. Sunny Corner. +61 (02) 63 595244
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