Yass Courthouse

Yass NSW 2582 (Pop 5 500)
Pic: Yass Courthouse

Yass is an historic town located 280 km s-w of Sydney on the Yass River and famous for its superfine merino wool. Original inhabitants were the Ngunnawal Aborigines who named the area meaning ‘running water’. White settlement began in 1824 followed by the railway (1876). Yass was once considered an alternative to Canberra as Australia’s capital city. Yass markets each 2nd Sat. Picnic Races (March), Yass Show & Rodeo (Apr), Yass River Festival (Nov).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Yass and District Museum, Comur St a fascinating look at the area’s local history. Yass Town Railway Museum, Lead St the old railway station (1892) has the shortest platform in Australia. Open (10am-4pm) daily. Cooma Cottage, Yass Valley Way (1835) explorer Hamilton Hume’s home (1839-1873). Open (10am-4pm) Thurs-Mon. Yass Cemetery, via Rossi St where Hamilton Hume is buried. 
 
Nearby:
Bowning (12 km n-w) scenic historic village. Burrinjuck Dam (57 km s-w) covers 5 500 ha and is two and a half times larger than Sydney Harbour. Burrinjuck Waters State Park popular with hikers, campers, waterskiiers and anglers. Bookham (34 km west) picturesque village with two attractive local stone churches and an historic cemetery. Brindabella NP (61 km s-w) pretty alpine park with 4WD access only. Orienteering, birdwatching and bushwalking amongst the peppermint forests and snow gums. Hume and Hovell Walking Track 23 day (440 km) trek from Albury to Yass. Contact Dept. of Infrastructure, Planning & Natural Resources, Sydney Tel (02) 9762 8044.

Accommodation:
Yass has 6 motels, four hotels, 4 B&Bs, 2 holiday apartments/cottages and 4 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: Coronation Park, Comur St. Tel (02) 6226 2557.

Airport:
Canberra International Airport (CBR) Pialligo Ave. Tel (02) 6275 2222 or (02) 6275 2256. (70 km south).

Hospitals:
Canberra Hospital, Yamba Dr, Garran. Tel (02) 6244 2222 (67 km south) or Calvary Public Hospital, Haydon Dr, Bruce. Tel (02) 6201 6111 (53 km south).