At the 2016 census, Mount Hope and surrounding area had a population of 19 people living in 9 private dwellings, with a median age of 31 years.

The Mount Hope region is within the traditional lands of the Wangaaypuwan dialect speakers (also known as Wangaibon) of the Ngiyampaa people.

[4] Located about 40 miles north of the Lachlan River, the ‘Coan Downs’ pastoral run was leased by the Desailly brothers (Francis and George) in the late 1860s.

In 1873 a shepherd on ‘Coan Downs’ station, Alexander Fisher, investigated "an unusual hill" on the pastoral run and "found copper mineralisation" and withered and yellowed vegetation on the site.

In October 1873 Henry C. Viviain, a Hay auctioneer, arrived at Booligal with “some very rich specimens of copper ore brought from Mount Hope”.

[9] The first shipment of ore from Mount Hope, weighing 10 tons, arrived at Hay in December 1873 on a dray “decorated with flags”.

In February 1874 a third discovery was made in the district (by R. D. Jones), six miles north-east of the Mount Hope mine.

[10] A manager’s house, a store, blacksmith's shop and miners’ huts were constructed at the mine site and three water tanks were excavated.

Miners were “busy getting out the ore” and, as reported by a resident, “the deep sound of a blast or shot as they call it, startles us eight or ten times a day”.

The writer noted that “Mount Hope has arisen again from the ashes of the first attempt to develop its grand mineral resources, and what was a desert of rocks a few months ago is now a busy little town that may soon rival Cobar”.

[18] In November 1882 it was reported that “a Government tank of 25,000 yards is being excavated for the benefit of the public” at Mount Hope.

[19] The Great Central Copper Mine south of Mount Hope township had re-commenced operations during 1882.

A township of 800 people had grown up around the mine with four hotels, a billiard hall and boxing saloon, four stores, a post office and a bank.

[23][5] In late 1885 and early 1886 both the Great Central and the New Mount Hope mines were closed down “in consequence of the low price of copper, and the expense of carting the ore to the port”.

However, "within the past two or three weeks some of the deserted shops have been re-opened" and the population which had departed when the two mines closed was "gradually returning".

[20] In August 1888 a correspondent from Mount Hope wrote that "the mines are going on very slowly" because of the cost of wood for the smelting furnaces.

The situation was exacerbated by the practice of “scrubbing” (removing undergrowth) by squatters, for which task Chinese workers were engaged.

[24] In August 1899 “concentrating machinery” was installed at the New Mount Hope mine which was able to utilise low grade ore by “dressing it up to a high smelting value”.

This was expected to be of “immense benefit to the trade of the district, as of late years owing to insufficient output of copper” employees had not received “the full value of their earnings”.

At the Great Central mine it was reported that “affairs look gloomy”, where work was being carried out "in a perfunctory sort of manner, but… there is no money about”.

[27] The copper mine for which this branch was constructed to service ceased full-time operations four months before the line was opened.

[33] In September 1882 a license was granted to James Lyell for the Great Central Hotel at South Mount Hope.

The inquiry revealed that “the owner was not in embarrassed circumstances, although the licensee was” and returned an open verdict regarding the origin of the fire.

[40] Mount Hope is surrounded by three extensive nature reserves: Yathong, Nombinnie and Round Hill.

The area protects the largest remaining contiguous stand of mallee in NSW and supports a rich diversity of flora and fauna, including many rare and endangered species.