The late 19th century saw this part of New England being explored (and exploited) for valuable resources (e.g. gold, silver, tin, copper, antimony, precious stones). Two adjacent areas north from where I live are Kookabookra and Bear Hill. While these two locales had small but vibrant communities over a century ago, there’s nothing that remains today.

Update: I’m told that there are ruins to be seen – they’re on private property and not visible from the road.

Armed with a GPSr I located the Kookabookra Cemetery and found a lone gravestone. Presumably other grave markers were made of wood and have long since rotted away.

Ellen Meehan (née Pearce) died on June 16, 1898 as a result of “inflammation of the lungs”. She was 33 years old and had already had 9 children.

Death at Kookabookra.—Mrs.
Meehan, wife of Mr. R. Meehan, of
this township, died on Wednesday
last (15th inst.) about midnight from
inflammation of the lungs, and was in-
terred in the local cemetery on Friday
(17th.) The deceased lady was uni-
versally respected, and it is computed
that over 80 persons assembled to
husband and nine small children are
left behind to mourn an irreparable
loss. Mr. Boyne read the Catholic
service over the grave.

The above text appeared in “The Armidale Chronicle”, June 22, 1898.