Mount Hope, New South Wales


Mount Hope is a settlement in western New South Wales, Australia. It is situated on the Kidman Way, 94 kilometres north of Hillston and 160 km south of Cobar.

History

The town was once a busy copper mining town in the 1890-1920s. At the 2006 census, Mount Hope had a population of 53 people. Much of the township was destroyed in a major bushfire in the 1950s. There is no longer fuel available near the hotel in this village. It has its own crossover air strips still being used today. The only visible business open in the village is the Royal Hotel, commonly known as the "Mount Hope Pub".

Railway

The Mount Hope Railway briefly connected the Broken Hill Railway Line with Mount Hope, New South Wales, Australia. The copper mine for which this branch was constructed to service ceased full-time operations four months before the line was opened. After a bare five years, the branch itself was closed—possibly the first step of rationalisation to be practiced by the New South Wales Government Railways.

Environment

Blocks of remnant mallee to the south, west and north-west of the town are included in the 2500 km2 Central NSW Mallee Important Bird Area because of its significance for bird conservation, especially of the malleefowl and red-lored whistler.