Captains Flat is a quaint little village nestled along the Molonglo River, on the edge of the Great Dividing Range. While there are many stories as to how the town got its name, the most popular is that of a bullock known as ‘Captain’, who was known to graze on the flat grassy paddocks near the Molonglo River.
Explore the past and present of the village by taking on the self-guided Captains Flat Heritage Trail, created by Captains Flat Community Association. This stroll will take you around the village to explore its many historic buildings, as well as historical sites, such as the Lake George Mine entrance and the Miners’ Memorial.
The town was booming in the late 1800s and again in 1937-1962 as it became a major mining site in southern NSW. In fact, Captains Flat was one of the largest base metal mining fields in NSW, if not Australia, producing lead, zinc, copper, pyrite, silver and gold. This had a significant impact on the development and settlement of the area at the time with up to 5,000 people living in the area when the industry was at its peak.
Today, the village is home to over 600 lucky residents and a popular recreational destination for visitors from the nearby regions. Bushwalkers and 4WD enthusiasts frequent the surrounding Tallaganda State Forest and the Tinderry Mountains, while the Captains Flat dam offers anglers an opportunity to enjoy some quiet fishing. To this day, the unique geology around the Flat still also attracts many geologists and students to the village.
The local hangouts
This heritage trail will take you through some of the most iconic spots in town, from mining relics to architecture from a bygone era and more.
The self-guided tour starts from the former Outsider Gallery & Cafe, located in a 100-year-old building. You will then pass the Captains Flat RSL & Bowling Club, and a fine example of architecture of the time, the old post office. Postal service was established in town in April 1883, however the old post office is now privately owned.
After some exploration, check out the Captains Flat Hotel. First opened in 1938, the hotel has been built and furnished in 1940s style and recently renovated. The bar of the hotel is famous for having had the longest bar in the southern hemisphere at the time of construction.
The Mines
Next, the tour will take you past the old Workers’ Club and Bollard House, before leading you towards the main attractions in town – the mines. Starting from Keating’s Collapse, where sections of the hills collapsed in to the mine leaving fault lines, you’ll be led to the town lookout. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy the view of the village and compare it with the panoramic lithograph depicting the view as it was in 1938.
Following the stunning views off the lookout, you’ll get a chance to view the outside of the old railway station and the station master’s house, now a private residence. The railway station is unusual in that it was placed at ground level and is an island. It is now owned by NSW Estate Rail and leased as a private residence.
Blasts from the past
Continue back to the main streets of the village to witness more architecture from the 1800s and early 1900s, including the old court house and the old hospital. On your way back towards the centre of town, you’ll see the local war memorial, the focus of the annual Anzac Day ceremony, as well as the Miners’ Memorial, dedicated to the town’s miners and their families.
Finishing up the walking tour, you’ll arrive at Wilkins Park. Proclaimed as a public recreation ground in 1893, it is named after Mine Operations Manager Bert Wilkins. It is actually believed that this is the area that the bull ‘Captain’ used to graze after straying from Foxlow Station.
Off the beaten track
For those able to expand their journey outside the main village, we have also listed a few extra treats to check out, such as the Captains Flat Dam. The dam was built by Lake George Mines to supply water for the mining operations, and a new water treatment plant became operational in 2002. It’s a great spot for keen fishermen to explore, as the dam has been stocked with Murray Cod and Yellow Belly.
Further down south from the dam, on the edge of the Captains Flat Common in the Molonglo River Gorge, is a beautiful hidden waterfall, providing visitors with a charming picnic spot in the bush’s absolute solitude.