Bathurst Heritage Drive This tour will take around 60-90 minutes to drive but longer if you stop to explore the sights. Follow the blue Heritage Drive signs located along the route. 1. Start at the Visitor Information Centre where two from the township and Bathurst Regional Council’s staff. examples of early transport can be seen; a fully restored The nearby Azumya (resting place) was erected to mark original Cobb & Co Coach*. This coach travelled to the the 10th anniversary. A plaque in the garden marks the Turon goldfields in the 1860s when Bathurst was evacuation of Ohkuma and relocation of its people after headquarters of the Cobb & Co Coach company. Directly the 2011 tsunami. across the highway to the right is Bathurst Showground where local agricultural shows have been held since 1877. Near the Ohkuma Garden are the Pillars of Bathurst*, Many of the pavilions and the caretaker’s residence are built using restored cast iron verandah posts that have an listed on the State Heritage Register. historic connection with the Royal Hotel in William St. The Pillars were installed in 2015 to acknowledge the 2. Exit the car park turning left on to the highway. contribution of past citizens to the story of the region. nd Proceed to 2 set of traffic lights (William St) & turn From here explore ‘A Delightful Spot’* walking trail. right. Just inside the fence of the Bathurst City Community Club on the corner is a plaque marking the point from 5. Return to the roundabout, turn left & cross the which explorers like Sturt and Oxley set out to discover Macquarie River. The river flats were originally the inland NSW. Early buildings on this site included soldiers’ hunting grounds and location of Wiradyuri sacred sites. barracks and the first gaol. Drive to end of the street and As the European population increased these lands were veer left into Stanley St. Stop in the parking area and gradually taken over leading to conflict between the two walk through Bicentennial Peace Park*. The stone Cairn groups and eventually to the declaration of martial law in in front of the Heritage Wall was erected by the 1824 with soldiers dispatched to Bathurst. The Wiradyuri community in 1930 to commemorate Governor leader, Windradyne, rose to power at this time. Macquarie’s proclamation of the townsite in 1815. The Heritage Wall around it was built in 1988 as part of 6. At the next roundabout turn right into Gilmour St & Australia’s Bicentennial celebrations and honours the city’s continue to the highway. Just past Tandora St on the hill early citizens. Stephen Hart’s sandstone sculpture to the left is Holy Trinity Church, the first consecrated ‘Conversation’ was also installed in that year. church west of the Blue Mountains. Services began here in 1826 and still take place. 3. Follow the path to the Flag Staff* re-instated on 7 May 2015 to celebrate Bathurst’s 200th birthday. The glass Optional side trip: At the highway turn left, then left pyramid at the base of the flag pole houses the original into Boyd St. Travel approx 7kms to Heritage Park proclamation cairn. Glass panels around the viewing which was an Army Training Camp* from 1940-1947 & a platform feature etched Wiradyuri designs of Girawu (the Migrant Camp* from 1948–1952. Tree Goanna) and Biladurang (Platypus) dreaming along with handprints and birthdates of regional Aboriginal 7. At the highway turn right & drive over Evans Bridge. children and elders. At the traffic lights turn left into Havannah St & travel 4. Continue along Stanley Street & through the to Keppel St turning left into the Railway Station roundabout. No 1 George St on the left was built in 1860 precinct. The station was built in 1876 when the rail line for local banker and station owner, John Ford. Old arrived in Bathurst. The residence on the left hand Government Cottage at the rear is possibly one of the corner was built for the station master in 1880. The oldest remaining buildings in Bathurst. The gardens were steam engine on display is associated with Ben Chifley restored with historic plantings in 2015. who worked on the NSW Railways in the early 1900s before he entered politics. Directly opposite is Ohkuma Garden* celebrating Bathurst’s relationship with its Japanese sister city, Ohkuma. This was completed in 1998 by gardeners 8. From the station follow Keppel St to Bentinck St. The 14. At the bottom of Conrod Straight stop at Murray’s ornate lamp standards here and throughout the CBD were Corner & visit the National Motor Racing Museum – open installed in 1924 when electricity was connected. The 9am-4.30pm closed Tuesdays. See the amazing display of Elephant & Castle Hotel on Seymour Street corner has vehicles and memorabilia capturing the history of motor continually traded since 1849. Bathurst Regional Art racing in Bathurst. In front of the museum is a monument Gallery, the oldest regional gallery in NSW and Bathurst to one of Bathurst’s favourite sons, Peter Brock, ‘King of Library are located on the left hand side as you travel up the the Mountain’, who won the Bathurst 1000 an incredible block. nine times throughout his career. 9. Turn left at the roundabout then left at the next corner 15. Travel back along Panorama Ave & turn left into into Piper St. Continue to Havannah St. In the Browning St. Cross the Mid Western Hwy & continue to the 1800s this area was known as Milltown* because of the Brooke Moore Ave. The magnificent entry to the Bathurst number of mills built here. A community arose for the mill Gaol was hand carved from Katoomba sandstone. The workers with its own pubs, stores, police station, schools building, designed by colonial architect James Barnett, was and churches. One of the mills in this area was Crago Mill, built at a cost of £120,000. It was completed in 1888 and seen at the end of Piper St (continue across Havannah St to remains a medium security facility. Riots in 1974 caused a see it). temporary closure. 10. Turn right into Havannah St, then left into Rocket St. 16. Turn right into Brooke Moore Ave then left on to Turn right into Bant St then right into Busby St & park in Mitchell Hwy. At the next corner turn right into Alexander front of No 10 – Chifley Home and Educational Centre. St. Off to the far left is Bathurst Cemetery where many Guided tours 11.30am & 1pm closed Thursdays. Chifley well-known Bathurstians are buried. Among them is Ben Home was the only marital home of former Prime Minister Chifley in the Catholic section, his wife, Elizabeth with her Ben Chifley & his wife Elizabeth. The house and its contents family in the Presbyterian section and James Rutherford of reflect the life of a humble man who rose to the highest rank Cobb & Co fame in the family vault within the Anglican in the country. Tours commence from the Education Centre section. at Number 12. Its replicated 1940s sitting room provides visitors with a unique, hands on experience of a bygone era. 17. Continue to Suttor St roundabout & turn left. At Bradwardine Rd turn right & travel to Eglinton Rd. On the 11. Proceed along Busby St then veer right at the Give Way left at the T-intersection is Llanarth. This homestead was sign into Brilliant St. Travel along to 2nd roundabout at once owned by John Smith, an important pastoralist and William St corner. St Stanislaus College on the left was magistrate. The house is nestled on four and a half acres established in 1867 making it the oldest Catholic boys among 150 year old cedar, cypress and Budwilli trees. secondary schools in Australia. Many of the homes in this area are of historical significance, including Bishops Court 18. Turn left on to Eglinton Rd & continue to Westbourne (Seymour St) where Anglican bishops resided and The Dr. Turn left & proceed to Ophir Rd. Around 3 kms along Lindens, James Rutherford of Cobb & Co’s home (corner of this road is Abercrombie House, open for guided & self- William & Brilliant Streets). guided tours at various times. If the house is not open an information bay is just near the front gate. Abercrombie 12. Turn left into William St & proceed to Panorama Ave. House was originally named Mount Pleasant by the Stewart Charles Sturt University located on the right was originally family who received land grants in this area in 1827. the site of one of the first experiment farms in NSW (1895). Building began in 1870 and it took around 8 years to From 1951-1969 it was the site of Bathurst Teachers’ College complete the 52 room mansion. Today it is home to the until the establishment of Mitchell College of Advanced Morgan family who have spent over 40 years restoring and Education. In 1989 it became the Mitchell Campus of preserving it. Charles Sturt University. The three storey red brick building opposite the entry houses NSW Land and Property 19. Return to Eglinton Rd via Westbourne Dr & turn right Information. Mapping operations moved from Sydney in travelling towards the city. Scots All Saints’ College (one 1976 providing many locals with employment. of the oldest private schools in the region) can be seen on the right. The college was originally established as a boys’ 13. Continue to Mount Panorama & turn right on to the school in 1874 moving to this location in 1923. Esrom motor racing circuit. NB This is a public road with 2 way House, the white two storey building at the front is the traffic & normal speed limits apply.