The Crossing Motel is situated in Junee, a rural town of about 4000 people located on the Olympic Way 41 km north-east of Wagga Wagga, 53 km south-west of Cootamundra, 444 km south-west of Sydney, 440 km north-east of Melbourne. Junee is 320 metres above sea-level.
The Crossing Motel is within easy walking distance of the Junee Railway Station, built in French Renaissance style, with its Refreshment Rooms, and opened in 1885. Just across the road from the station, at the corner of Main St and Humphrys St, is the enormous Loftus Hotel (1896), Junee's oldest and grandest establishment which occupies an entire block now known as Loftus on Humphrey's. A Late Victorian Classical Revival structure it features a heavily ornamented stuccoed facade which contrasts nicely with the finely wrought iron and timber verandah.
Monte Cristo Homestead, situated just up the hill behind The Crossing Motel, is a late Victorian house of pleasing line and proportion, built in 1884. The property houses an extremely valuable furniture and antique collection plus a large horse carriage display. Open daily, 10.00am to 3.00pm
While staying at the Crossing Motel, the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory, operated by Green Grove Organics, situated in an old flour mill in Lord Street, is well worth a visit. Open 7 days, 10.00am to 4.00pm. Tours available.
A few minutes away from the Crossing Motel is a must for train enthusiasts, the Roundhouse Rail and Transport Museum. When the roundhouse was built in 1947, in Junee, it was the largest circular railway roundhouse in the Southern Hemisphere. The Museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 12.00 noon to 4.30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 09.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Guided tours are available. More information tel: (02) 6924 2909.
Junee(Wiradjuri word for 'speak to me'), is a town that started as pastoral lease called 'Jewnee' and the discovery of reef and alluvial gold in the 1860s increased interest in the area. The main sites - Old Junee (to the west), Junee Reefs (to the north) and Illabo (to the north-east) - were mined until c.1880. In 1863 Ben Hall's bushranging gang, who were very active in the area, raided the village of Jewnee. Hall, Johnny Gilbert and John Vane held up Hammond's store while Michael Burke and John O'Meally bailed up Williams' Pub. Members of 'Blue Cap's' gang also raided a hotel at Jewnee in 1867.
The original village of Jewnee was situated 6 km to the west and was relocated to its present site when the route for the new rail line was published. The settlement went through three name changes, Junee Junction(1881), Loftus(1883) - after the then Governor of NSW, and finally Junee(1885).
Junee developed rapidly when the main railway line arrived in 1881, being halfway between the market places of Melbourne and Sydney. The wealth of the Junee is reflected in the many grand buildings still standing today. One of these buildings is The Broadway Hotel, around the corner from the Crossing Motel on The Broadway. No longer licensed, it now houses the Junee Historical Museum. This magniicent heritage building is open for your inspection. It contains items and artefacts that tell the history of our town, Junee, and surrounding district. It also has a wonderful coffee shop with antiques and gift ware and hosts the occational bush poets breakfast.
The Betungra Spiral, an engineering feat to visit while at the Crossing Motel, was constructed in the 1940's for trains to negotiate the steep slope north of Junee. It is the only example of a 360-degree railway spiral in Australia. The spiral has two tunnels and 33 metre deep cuttings.
Kaybunda Lavender Fields about 10 km from The Crossing Motel can be visited, after a phone call to Shirley or Kelvin on 02.6924 2251, to enjoy their range of many Lavender products, crafts and to see their animals.
While staying at The Crossing Motel and in the Junee area, The Temora Aviation Museum should not be missed. The Museum is 56 km from The Crossing Motel(35 min). Temora Aviation Museum hosts flying weekends regularly throughout the year. A selection of these fine aircraft are flown on these days. The Museum is open 7 days, 10.00am to 4.00pm. Ph: 02.6977 1088
|
|
