Tingha
Small service town on the New South Wales Northern Tablelands
Tingha, with an Aboriginal name said to mean 'flat or open land' is located on the Northern Tablelands of NSW, 26 km south of Inverell, 629 km north-north-east of Sydney and 460 km south-west of Brisbane.

Before European settlement the area was occupied by the Anaiwan, a sub-group of the Murri Aboriginal people. Many of their descendants still live in the area.

Early European occupation of the district is related to the settlement of Inverell. In 1870, tin was discovered at Tingha, after an initial find north at Elsmore. At the peak of the tin boom Tingha was the largest tin-producing district in NSW with mines stretching for 8 km and employing, it is said, 8000 men, of which perhaps 2000 were Chinese.

Tingha was established as a private town to service the mines in 1885. New dredges were brought in to rework the old ground in the 20th century. Little remains of the old mines but a rusting steam engine and lots of weeds.

From a peak of 2500 people in the 1880s the population has declined to some 900 persons today.

Things to see:  

Campbell's Honey Farm
For those interested in purchasing fresh honey or looking at how it is produced, Campbell's Honey Farm is located on Swimming Pool Rd, tel: (02) 6723 3446.

Green Valley Farm
The main attraction in the area is Green Valley Farm, a 1000-acre working sheep property located on New Valley Rd, 10 km south-east of Tingha. Open seven days a week it has a playground and gardens, waterslides, a native and exotic zoo, a mini-golf course, picnic and barbecue facilities, a kiosk and a gift shop. Smith's Mining and Natural History Museum, relocated from Tingha, has a rare collection of gems and minerals from all over the world as well as general memorabilia, particularly from the New England area. There are Aboriginal artefacts, antiques, period clothing, early mining tools, Chinese relics and weaponry, tel: (02) 6723 3370.

Moredun Ponds
5 km beyond Green Valley Farm (the road now gravel), take the left fork into Moredun Ponds Rd. About 10 km along this road is the old Moredun Dam site, Tingha's water supply early in the twentieth century. Today it is the Moredun Ponds Fish Farm where you can see, feed or catch yellowbelly, cod and silver perch. There is fishing gear for hire. You can have a picnic or barbecue amidst pleasant surroundings, camp out or stay in the cabins, tel: (02) 6779 4500.

Baxter's Farm Museum
About 2 km further along Moredun Ponds Rd is Baxter's Farm Museum (watch for the mailbox with a white triangle on the right). They have a large and diverse array of historic items, large and small. There are domestic items, farm machinery, a bottle collection, arts and crafts and, by prior arrangement, devonshire teas. The gardens are at their best in spring and summer. Admission is $2.50 for adults and $1 for children, tel: (02) 6779 4535.

Fossicking
Tingha is also a popular fossicking area, particularly at Stannifer, 10 km north-west of town along a bitumen road. For other sites ask locally.

	Hotels
	Royal Hotel 15 Ruby St Tingha NSW 2369 Telephone: (02) 6723 3417
	Caravan Parks
	Tingha Gems Caravan Park Swimming Pool Rd Tingha NSW 2369 Telephone: (02) 6723 3234