One Tree, NSW

Last night we drove west along the Cobb Highway, better known as "The Long Paddock", to One Tree.  There is nothing there except an old hotel called One Tree Hotel that was abandoned a long time ago.  It was once a staging point for the Cobb &  Co coach that ran between Wilcannia and Echuca and there are still hitching rails outside this historic hotel.  Back in the late 1800's there were also many sheep that were moved along the Long Paddock and drovers stopped at the watering point adjacent to the hotel for an overnight stop. One Tree was originally gazetted as a township but nothing, except the hotel, was ever built.  One Tree was named after a single tree that was situated near to the hotel.  The tree died and is now a place to hang any old shoe.......

One Tree Hotel is a lonely place on this flat open saltbush downs and I can almost hear the sound of chatter coming from the hotel as I imagined it to be in the 1800's.  At some stage someone has tried to restore it by putting on a new roof and I am pleased. It is hauntingly beautiful and the photos speak for themselves.

On the return journey back to Hay we stopped for a little while to photograph the setting sun.  I have said it before, but we experienced these same sunsets at Julia Creek but did not appreciate them as much as we do know.  Funny how age gives you appreciation of the little things in life.....