Widden Valley

Widden Valley was once the home of the Kamilaroi aboriginal tribe and Widden is interpreted as meaning “stay here, go no further”.  It is surrounded by majestic towering sandstone cliffs that shine like gold in the afternoon sunlight and enchants all who go there.

In 1836 the first white man settled in Widden Valley when a former convict called John Tindale made his way down an Aboriginal track from Nullo Mountain near Rylstone.   

In 1856, the William Thompson and his father John purchased 603 acres of land in the valley along the Widden Brook between the Blackwater and Emu Creek junctions.
The Thompson's continually added to their land holdings and in July of 1867 the brothers-in-law John Thompson (son of William) and John Thomas Frost were successful in purchasing significant parcels of land from the Tyndale and Lee families forming the central part of Widden Stud as it is today.

During the 1870’s the Thompsons moved away from sheep to concentrate on horses.  The art of breeding commercial thoroughbreds and champion racehorses has been passed seamlessly from father to son since that time.  Widden Stud is today regarded as the home of thoroughbred horses in Australia .

Adjoining Widden Stud is Baramul Stud which grew out of the then Thompson holdings.    Baramul produced some of the early good horses bred by the Thompsons and today continues to be one of Australia’s leading thoroughbred breeders.

To fully experience Widden Valleys natural beauty and history it is worthwhile undertaking a trek on Section 9 of the Bicentennial Trail