Wellington is a regional centre supporting agricultural activities of wool, fat cattle and lambs, fruit and vegetables and fodder crops.

Where is it?: Central West. Wellington is 365 km north west of Sydney at the confluence of the Bell and Macquarie Rivers.

Things To See and Do
NSW Railways chief engineer John Whitton had 11 lattice bridges built during 1871 and 1887 for placement at various locations around the state of New South Wales. The bridge at Wellington is the fourth of the series built and the third oldest of the eleven that still remain. The bridge entered service in 1881 and is still in use today.

Surrounding Area
Wellington Caves are thought to have been discovered in 1830 by a colonist, George Ranken, who accidentally fell into the entrance of one of the caves. Today, the Cathedral Cave and the Gaden Cave are open for public inspection.

Wellington Caves

Cathedral Cave is a vast area where visitors are confronted by a truly gigantic stalagmite, regarded as one of the largest in the world. It rises to a height of about 15m and measures about 32m around the base. Illuminated by hidden lights, it has a majestic appearance and is popularly known as 'the Madonna'. The Garden Cave is smaller but has unusual and exquisite formations.

Burrendong Dam

Burrendong Dam: in the late 1940s, work commenced on the construction of a large dam on the Macquarie River in the Burrendong Valley to supply water for irrigation of crops, mostly cotton, further west. Burrendong Dam was finally completed in 1967 and, as it filled, the rising water level eventually submerged the old villages, cemeteries and the many lonely graves in the valley.

Lake Burrendong State Park today offers year-round attractions for fishing enthusiasts, nature lovers, bushwalkers, campers and picnickers.

Neurea

Neurea: a plan for the township of Wellington was first drawn up in 1839 but objections from Reverend Watson concerning the impact it would have on the Aboriginal mission caused the village to be established at Neurea, 15 km south of present-day Wellington.

Although some stores and inns, a school and a stockyard were set up, the village never developed. The old streets can still be seen behind the post office. Markeita Cellars Winery is located at Nurea. Wine tasting and sales are conducted from the cellar.