Rankins Springs is at the foot of Mount Conapara between Goolgowi and West Wyalong. The village is on the Mid Western Highway near the easern boundary of Carrathool Shire, and is approx. 6 hours from Sydney or Melbourne and just over 30 minutes from Griffith.
The village is known for its birdlife with designated bird hides strategically located around the area. There is also a pub, general store, post office, caravan park, motel, service station and gallery.
History
The original Rankins Springs village was established in 1870 as a service centre for surrounding farms on a site about 10 kilometres north west from the present location, all that marks this site are the ruins of the grand hotel in the middle of a valley. The village moved to its present site in 1923, following the construction of the rail line from West Wyalong. The railway closed in 2004.
Follow the heritage trail markers around Rankins Springs and learn more of the fascinating history of this small village.
Visit
Travellers passing through can make use of the picnic and toilet facilities in the well-kept shady parks, the general store and service station provides visitors with the essentials, and the Conapaira Hotel is a great place to stop for a meal or cold drink. For those wishing to stay a night or two there is a caravan park and a motel.
Rankins Springs also has a well-maintained recreation ground and a nine-hole golf course.
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A Birdwatcher’s Paradise
The Rankins Springs district is home to a large number of Australian bird species, including the Glossy Black Cockatoo, Superb Parrot, Major Mitchell Cockatoo, Gilbert’s Whistler, Chestnut Quail Thrush, Shy Hylacola, Painted Honeyeater and Mallee Fowl.
At present there are seven designated birdwatching sites in the Rankins Springs area strategically located to optimise your bird watching experience. Hides are situated at two of these locations with more planned in the future.
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Natural wonders
Cocoparra National Park is located approximately 45 kilometres south from Rankins Springs towards Griffith, and provides the opportunity for bushwalking, picnicking, nature study and photography.
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Wally’s Junkyard Gallery
Join the many interstate and overseas visitors that have stopped at this unique spot in the Village, the sculptures are made by a local identity from recycled “junk” with some spectacular results.
Did you know?
- John Oxley was the first white man to visit the Rankins Springs area during his exploration in 1817. To the west of the village, on the highway, a monument to Oxley is incorporated into the rest area.
- Australian author Karly Lane visited the area in 2017 as the Carrathool Shire’s Australia Day Ambassador and loved the area so much she decided to use the name Rankins Springs for her fictional town in the book series ‘The Callahans of Stringybark Creek’.