The sighting by Surveyor George Evans in 1813 of 'three hills to the south', is the first European record of the Blayney district. Evans named these hills the Three Brothers and during an expedition in 1815, Evans set out from the fledging village of Bathurst towards the Three Brothers. As he travelled west, he observed a large flat mountain to the north which he named Mt Lachlan, later to become Mt Macquarie. His expedition took him through the present districts of Neville and Lyndhurst, before discovering the Lachlan River.
There was temporary settlement throughout the area between 1821 and 1828 before the gold rush of the 1850s and 60s sparked the development of a number of settlements throughout the region including Blayney and Forest Reefs. Initially the shire was allocated for farming, however, with the opening and working of many mines, the townships flourished. The site eventually decided upon for the township of Blayney was in a picturesque valley with the Belubula River running along its eastern boundary.
With valuable gold came bushrangers, including the notorious Ben Hall, John Gilbert, John O'Meally, John Vane and Mickey Bourke. They were active throughout the district with a number of hold-ups along the roads to Carcoar.
The coming of the railway to Blayney in 1876, encouraged further development of the region with the towns of Newbridge and Millthorpe flourishing. The 1870s to 1880s saw great development in Blayney and it was during this time that many of the significant buildings, which still stand today, were built.
Before you rush out onto stage 3 of The Road Less Travelled, PLEASE note the following: All roads have been picked to be 2wd suitable, IN THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. Roads/Forests can be closed due to a variety of reasons. If the road/forest is closed, do not drive on/enter it. This is NOT a power trail; this is a touring trail designed to be done at a more relaxed pace over a few days. No need to rush, there are plenty of accommodation options along the way for all budgets from free camping and caravan parks to B&B, hotels or motels in some towns or nearby. Enjoy your journey!