Upper Colo: Nature on the Colo River and local history

Upper Colo combines nature experiences on the Colo River with a well-defined local history. Day visitors are welcome at Upper Colo Reserve; Upper Colo Cemetery and Upper Colo Anglican Church offer glimpses into the history of the Colo area. This gives you a range of interests to consider when planning your trip: time by the water and wildlife watching, as well as cemetery history and a historic church building.

River and wildlife

Upper Colo Reserve is a basic wilderness campground on the Colo River. Day visitors are welcome. The reserve has a communal gas barbecue and a picnic shelter. This makes it possible to experience the place from two perspectives: as a basic campground and as a destination for a day visit. The barbecue and shelter are specific facilities at the reserve, and, alongside its riverside location, contribute to the character of the place.

At the camping and picnic areas on the Upper Colo River, visitors can swim in the sandy Colo River or float along on an inflatable tube. If you’re travelling with children, you can decide together which of these two activities to include in your day by the river. Swimming and floating offer different ways to spend time by the water.

Across the wider region, the Colo River is 86 km long and runs through the heart of Wollemi National Park. This places the river in a broader landscape context, extending beyond Upper Colo to the wider region.

Eastern Grey Kangaroos, wombats, red-necked wallabies and wallaroos are often seen grazing on the grassy banks of the watercourse at Upper Colo Camping/Recreation Reserve. Watching these different animals adds another perspective to the river as a nature destination. If you’re travelling with children, you can look out together for the species mentioned; the grassy banks are the specific setting for these sightings.

Cemetery and church building

Upper Colo Cemetery on Comleroy Road dates back to the 1830s. It contains the graves of pioneers of the Colo area, including members of the Blundell, Hulbert, Simmons and Ward families. These family names give the region’s history a personal connection. The Gill memorials in the cemetery feature naive and unusual carvings. Along with the graves, these distinctive decorative details are among the cemetery’s notable features.

Upper Colo Anglican Church also tells the story of the area. The church building opened on 14 April 1906 and was built on land donated by the Gosper family. There is a cemetery on the church grounds. From Comleroy Road, you can look out over Gospers Lagoon before descending to the church. The site brings together the history of the building and the Gosper family with a particular landscape view.

More local pages: Broken Hill, Lower Portland, Glebe, Tintenbar, Goolgowi, Myall Park, Kyogle, Tyalgum.

For the broader travel overview: New South Wales.