Towns and Villages

Urbenville

The imposing volcanic plug of Coutts Crown Mountain indicates your arrival into Urbenville and a journey to a truly remarkable experience. This area is a biodiversity hot spot with the National Parks and State Forests surrounding the village rich in flora and fauna.

If you make it to Urbenville via Bonalbo or Woodenbong, you’re well and truly in the “woop woops” of the Wollumbin Volcano!  This is not to say you’ve strayed “beyond the black stump”, although you’ll see a few of these around as a result of the timber getting of earlier times.

Dairying and cattle raising, some timber milling, and a small but growing farm tourism presence are the mainstays.  It’s here you’ll truly be in wilderness county. If heading north, Woodenbong is your last chance to stop and stretch before beginning the climb over the “scenic rim”.

Spectacular views of such landmarks as the tabletop outcrop of Mount Lindesay will have you craning your neck, so pull over and stop in a safe place to get a better look.  Listen out for the constant calls of Bellbirds in the forests as you cross the border into Queensland heading for Rathdowney.

The area is rich in history and very significant to Aboriginal culture. Originally known as Tooloom, the village was renamed Urbenville after the first white child born at the Tooloom gold diggings William Urben. Gold enticed many to the area and timber kept them there and is still an important industry for the region. Situated in the head waters of the Clarence River, the local topography and numerous streams provide a diverse range of experiences for the visitor.

Further west, Richmond Range and Toonumbar National Parks via Urbenville or Bonalbo, have camping and picnicing facilities including tables, barbecues, toilets and limited tank water.  3 walking tracks provide bushwalking and birdwatching opportunities.