The beautiful historic City of Bathurst is the oldest inland settlement in Australia and is also home to the famous Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit.  Situated on the picturesque Macquarie River, it is also one of the fastest growing regional Centres. It is a comfortable 2.5 hour drive from Sydney via the Blue Mountains, either by the Great Western Highway or the Bells Line of Road.  Bathurst has achieved an enviable perfect balance, offering all the conveniences of a cosmopolitan city with the laid back lifestyle of a rural environment.

The crossing of the Blue Mountains in 1813 opened up the interior of NSW and in 1814, Surveyor George Evans discovered the Bathurst Plains.  On the 7^th of May 1815, Governor Lachlan Macquarie declared the site for the town and named it after the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Lord Bathurst. Settlement soon followed with the first land grants being issued to free settlers in1818.

A conflict between the indigenous Wiradjuri people and the white settlers developed to a point where martial law was declared in 1824 but was eventually repealed later that year.

The renowned English Biologist Charles Darwin visited Bathurst in 1836. He was author of the revolutionary works about evolution, titled The Origin of the Species. A plaque commemorating his visit can be found in Bathurst’s Machattie Park.

The first gold discovery in Australia was made near what is now known as Tarana by James McBrien in 1823. Later gold discoveries at Ophir in 1851, Hill End and Sofala began the Gold Rush Era, turning the quiet settlement of Bathurst into a boomtown.  The famous Holtermann Nugget, the largest piece of reef gold on record, was discovered in 1872 by Louis Beyer and Bernard Holtermann near Hill End.

Transport to the region was greatly improved when in 1862, Bathurst became the headquarters for the famous Cobb & Co Coaching company. An impressive cavalcade arrived in Bathurst in June from Victoria and the group was so large there were not enough stables or accommodation and they had to camp on the flat area near Dennison Bridge, now known as Morse Park. James Rutherford and his partners had purchased the company in 1861, was to become an important figure in the Bathurst community. An original restored Cobb & Coach is on display at the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre.      

Attractions and Things to Do in Bathurst

You are definitely spoiled for choice when it comes to activities and entertainment in Bathurst. There are cultural events galore with regular art exhibitions, theatre performances at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre and monthly musical performances at Jenolan Caves, which provides an undeniably spectacular venue to appreciate beautiful music. Bre&d on the Bridge and Bre&d Under the Stars are magnificent outdoor events showcasing delicious local produce and regional wines. The local Farmers Market, held every fourth Saturday, allows visitors and locals to sample fresh seasonal produce.

For the motor enthusiast it wouldn’t be a visit to Bathurst without a lap of Mount Panorama, the famous racing circuit of the Bathurst 1000. Then enjoy a visit to the National Motor Racing Museum where you can experience the excitement of speed and race around the track in a simulator. This can be followed by the Victor’s Walk in Russell Street, which displays plaques commemorating previous race winners. Of course there is always the excitement of the great race itself which can be experienced every October.

Rich in historical treasures, Bathurst provides some stunning architecture in many of the city’s buildings and historic homes.  Some of these are open to the public and definitely worth a visit including Chifley Home, the marital residence of Australian Prime Minister Ben Chifley who was born and raised in Bathurst and held office from 1945-1949. One of his government’s impressive achievements was the building of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme. Other significant historic homes include the magnificent Abercrombie House and Miss Traill’s House and Garden. Bequeathed to the National Trust by Miss Ida Traill, a fourth generation descendant of pioneers, her former home contains a unique collection of Victorian and Edwardian furniture and memorabilia.

The Australian Mineral and Fossil Museum houses wonderful displays of rare fossils and minerals from around the world and has Australia’s only complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, making it the perfect place to uncover the natural history of our planet.

Golf, fishing, horse and bike riding are very popular outdoor activities in Bathurst. Cycling is particularly popular, with many events and rides taking place including the ‘B2B’ Blayney to Bathurst Charity Participation Bicycling Event.  Fishermen can throw in a line at Ben Chifley Dam or fly fish along the banks of the Macquarie, and other local rivers. For the more daring, there’s the Bathurst Skate Park, for a skate boarding run, or you could venture into bushranger hideouts at either Jenolan or Abercrombie Caves.