The Courthouse Complex

Bathurst NSW 2795 (Pop 32 000)

Bathurst is a major historic city located on the Macquarie River 207 km west of Sydney via the Great Western Hwy. Explorers Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth first crossed the Blue Mts in 1813 and the plains were subsequently named after Lord Bathurst, the British Secretary of State for the Colonies.  Original inhabitants were the Wiradjuri Aborigines and European settlement was boosted with the railway (1876). East Coast Classic Rally (vintage cars) (Mar), Autumn Heritage Festival (Apr), V8 Supercars 1000 (Oct), Cool Climate Wine Show (Oct) , Bathurst 24–hour car race (Nov).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Historic homes and buildings from Colonial to Federation are in abundance here. Bathurst Gaol (1888), Abercrombie House & Strath (1870-78) and (1830s), Mrs Traill’s House (1845) National Trust home and gardens. Open (10am-3pm) Fri-Sun. Free entry. Bathurst Hospital façade (1880’s), Old Government Cottage (1817), Courthouse and Museum (1880). The Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, Keppel St. features an impressive Lloyd Rees collection. Open (10am-5pm) Tues-Sat and (11am-2pm) Sun and public holidays. Chifley Home, small railway worker’s cottage where Ben Chifley (Prime Minister of Australia 1945-49) was born and raised.

Nearby:
Mount Panorama (2 km south) one of Australia’s prime venues for touring car racing with a scenic circuit of 6.2 km. The first car Grand Prix (1938) and first motorcycle Grand Prix (1939) were held here.  The Bathurst 1000 (inaugurated in 1960) and the Australian 1000 Classic is held every October and draws over 40,000 spectactors. The Mt. Panorama Motor Racing Hall of Fame (end of Panorma Dr) vast collection of motorcycles, cars, trophies, photographs and other memorabilia. Open (9am-4.30pm) daily. Trunkey Creek, Jenolan & Abercrombie Caves (70 km s-e) rugged scenery and a magnificent caving experience. Arch Cave has a reproduction of the dance floor built by the gold miners in the 1850s. Sofala (42 km north) and Hill End (86 km n-w) former gold mining towns with many original buildings. Wallaby Rocks (40 km north) rock wall rising from the Turon River is a favourite with kangaroos and wallabies and great for swimming.

Accommodation:
Bathurst has about a dozen motels, 10 hotels, 20 B&Bs, 10 cabins/cottages, 2 farm stays, holiday apartments and 2 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: Kendall Ave. Tel (02) 6332 1444 or 1800 681 000.

Airport:
Bathurst Airport - Raglan (BHS) Pj Moodie Memorial Drive. Tel (02) 6337 3450. (7 km east of CBD).

Hospital:
Bathurst Base Hospital, Howick St. Tel (02) 6339 5311 or (02) 6331 5464.