Barraba, an award winning tourist location, is a pleasant small town about 90km north of Tamworth in the New England area of New South Wales, Australia. Its tree lined streets nestle in the gentle valley of the Manilla River and it is surrounded by the rolling Nandewar Range, whose highest point is the spectacular, 1500m Mt. Kaputar, about 50km to the west. Barraba is also a short drive from Split Rock Dam and The Three Creeks Gold Mine.
The beautiful, diverse countryside is the home of many different birds and complex rock structures, which make the area an attractive fossicking location. The area was occupied by the Kamilaroi people until white settlement.
Barraba is an excellent area for bird watching and is a notable habitat for the rare Regent Honeyeater. There are many parks and reserves in which to you can explore the native flora and fauna.
Barraba is located midway along the 'Fossickers' Way', and excellent fossicking is found in the surroundings. The very best areas are in the vicinity of a geological fault line which runs from north to south through the whole district, known as the Peel fault. Gold, copper and asbestos have been mined near Barraba in the past, and diatomite is still mined. Locally, the most exciting fossicking centre is around Ironbark Creek, about 18km's to the east of the town, and accessible by sealed road. There is a chance of gold findings in this area as well as other minerals (pyrites, malachite, sphalerite, copper carbonate, zinc sulfide, jasper, cherts, opaque red, brown and yellow quartz).
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