Cobar local John Collins spent five years exploring 11,000 kilometres of the Cobar Shire, conducting extensive research for his book "The Land Between Rivers - The Cobar Never Never."

The self-published book details the history of establishing the wool industry in the region, colloquially referred to as the "never-never" in the 1870s. 

Collins grew up on his family's property 'Balowa Station' near Nymagee and has previously worked in shearing-sheds.

He interviewed dozens of landholders and shearers for his research, as well as exploring old shearing sheds.

His research included hours online using digital archive platforms, such as Trove, which he says are essential tools for cataloguing history.

Toorale woolshed, near Louth. Famous Australia poet Henry Lawson worked here in 1892. Image supplied.

Over the past 30 years, the number of sheep shearers in the Cobar region have been declining and Collins felt it was important to remind people of Cobar's history as a wool town.

"We still grew a lot of wool here even though it was a mining town, and I think people have forgotten that," he says. 

Coronga Peak wool-shed, which was part-owned by Sidney Kidman. Image supplied.  

Mr Collins launched his book last November at the Cobar Bowling and Golf Club with 40 locals in attendance.

The following day he held a meet-the-author event at Cobar Library, where his initial print run of 250 copies sold out.

He says there has "been a good response" to the book with high demand already leading to a second print run of 150 copies.

The second print run of his book will available soon and he plans to register his work online through google books.