Urbenville
Small and interesting town near the New South Wales-Queensland border
Urbenville is a little town just 25 km from the Queensland border in a quite beautiful part of NSW's Northern Tablelands. Located in what has essentially been a cattle area, it is 806 km north-east of Sydney via the Pacific Highway (852 km via the New England Highway) and 70 km east of Kyogle. Situated 366 m above sea-level, Urbenville has a population of some 200 people.

There are several volcanic plugs in the area. One, Crown Mountain, dominates the town's environs. Edinborough Castle and The Beehive are also in the area.

The forests around Urbenville have become a major destination for those with a 4WD. The National Parks and Wildlife Service have thoughtfully erected a large board aside the town's main thoroughfare (Urben St) with a map of the area which indicates the natural sites of interest and their whereabouts.

Things to see:  

Tourist Information
The Urbenville Newsagency is effectively the town's tourist information centre, tel: (02) 6634 1254.

The forests around Urbenville have become a major destination for those with a 4WD while fishing and camping are popular along the district's rivers and streams. The National Parks and Wildlife Service have thoughtfully erected a large board beside the town's main thoroughfare (Urben St) with a map of the area which indicates the natural sites of interest and their whereabouts.

Forestry Park
Adjacent the town's main street (Urben St) is a forestry park where there are picnic and barbecue facilities and where camping is permitted.

Pioneer Cottage and Historical Museum
In Urben St you will find the Pioneer Cottage and Historical Museum, situated in a building built of hoop pine for the Lamb family at Legume (39 km to the north-west by road) in 1892. It was relocated to its present site in 1977. The building has been restored. It has a high hipped roof, a bullnose verandah and timber battens. There are local historical displays relating to the town and district and the timber industry. The museum is open by appointment, tel: (02) 6634 1234.

Crown Craft Store
The Crown Craft Store is open from 10-4, Thursdays to Sundays. You can obtain pamphlets from here expanding on the town's various attractions, tel: (02) 6634 1211.

Tooloom Falls
Tooloom Falls are located 6 km south-west of Urbenville. Head out of town on the Legume Rd. After 3 km it is necessary to make a left turn at the signposted departure road and the falls, 10 m high and 60 m wide, are another 3 km distant. It is a good spot for swimming and there are picnic, barbecue and toilet facilities.

Traditionally the falls marked the boundary between the Gidabal and Wurlabal clans of the Bunjalung tribe. Also known to the indigenous inhabitants as Dooloomi, it was declared an Aboriginal Place in 1977. 'Dooloom' means lice and the Gidabal told their children not to swim there for fear of lice infestation. This may have been a ploy to keep them away as they also believe it is haunted by many spirits who are a danger to passers-by. The myth of Dirrangun the witch is also associated with the site. A plaque at the falls expands on some aspects of the site's significance to the indigenous peoples.

Beaury State Forest and Tooloom Lookout
If you ignore the Tooloom Falls turnoff the Legume Rd continues on through some beautiful rainforest and passes a volcanic plug known as The Beehive. About 25 km from Urbenville you will come to the Tooloom Rest Area where there is a 500-m walk through the forest.

Another 300 m along the road, on the left, at the top of the range, is a signposted turnoff to Tooloom Lookout from whence it is possible to see to Tenterfield and beyond. There is a picnic area and another rainforest walk.

Beaury Forest Loop Rd
An alternative route out of Urbenville is to head north-west along the Beaury Forest Loop Rd. After 4 km turn right along the 13-km unsealed road, which leads through dry and moist hardwood forest and grazing lands. At the end of the road turn right for 6 km to Woodenbong.

Yabbra State Forest and Bean Creek Falls
South of Urbenville is the Yabbra State Forest, a rainforest area on the Tooloom Range, astride the road to Bonalbo. There is some outstanding roadside scenery. 6 or 7 km from Urbenville is the Yabbra Rest Area on the left where there is a rainforest walk. About 20 km from Urbenville, to the right, is a signposted side road to Bean Creek Falls where there is a picnic area.

North Yabbra Forest Loop Road
Head south out of Urbenville. The road takes you through Yabbra Flora Reserve where there is a picnic area and walking track. After 2 km the road loops northwards to Woodenbong, passing through rainforest and moist and dry hardwood forest. The drive also takes you by another of the area's volcanic plugs, known as Edinborough Castle.

Tooloom
27 km south-west of Urbenville is the locality of Tooloom. A rich alluvial field was discovered here in the 1860s. There were some substantial finds with 2500 diggers on-site at the peak of the rush. When reef mining began the Peel River Land Mining Co. established a township and the work continued until the 1890s.

There are a few relics about off the road, such as an old butcher's shop, a crusher and an old cemetery which contains the graves of many of the Chinese who worked the field. They are located on private property so it is necessary to first obtain permission from the owner, Mrs Herbert Payne, tel: (02) 6634 6188. However, there is very little to see and it cannot be strongly recommended, being more a site to visit if you happen to be passing through.

Paddys Flat
13 km further south is Paddys Flat on the Clarence River where you can swim, fish, camp out or just have a picnic on the sandy beaches. Endangered rock wallabies inhabit the area and there are also some old tank traps about, remnants of the Brisbane Line fortifications from World War II - the second line of defence in case of an invasion from the north.

	Hotels
	Crown Hotel Urbenville NSW 2475 Telephone: (02) 6634 1213
	Restaurants
	Urbenville & District Bowling Club Recreation Reserve Urbenville NSW 2475 Telephone: (02) 6634 1269