Southern Tablelands Archives - Destination's Journey

7 May 20223 May 2022

Goulburn New South Wales Australia

Goulburn New South Wales Australia

Established in 1833, Goulburn New South Wales is 195 km south-west of Sydney and 90 km north-east of Canberra. It was declared Australia’s first inland city in 1863.

To get to Goulburn, you can travel by train on NSW CountryLink services or by coach. It is approximately two hour’s drive from Sydney. We drove from Mittagong, as part of a larger road trip to Newnes Industrial Ruins in the Wollemi National Park via Orange and Bathurst.

We were only in Goulburn for one day, before heading off to Wombeyan Caves. However, we saw some great sights while there.

Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

This impressive tower and museum overlook the town and is a must see when visiting. For more information, see our full story here.

Weapons on Display Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum — Rocky Hill War Memorial

Goulburn Historic Water Works

This beautifully restored pump house still contains the original pumps from its operating days. For the full story of our visit, click here.

Big Marino

The Big Marino is hard to miss as you drive through tow, Click here for our visit.

Interesting Buildings in Goulburn

Elmslea Chambers

Located in Montague St in the centre of town Elmslea Chambers has its façade beautifully decorated. Built in 1933, it was one of the first buildings in Australia to use coloured polychrome terracotta in its façade which features birds, flowers, leaves and Art Deco sunbursts under the windows.

Although worth visiting the street just for this building, it’s also the location of the historic Fire station and not far from Cathedral Church of St Saviour.

Elmslea Chambers 17 Montague St Goulburn

Fire Station

Only a few doors down from Elmslea Chambers and also in Montague street, the historic Fire Station and the building next to it are interesting to see because of their interesting architecture.

Goulburn Courthouse

At the far end of Montague Street and opposite Belmore Park, the courthouse is a large, beautiful building. Built in 1887 in the Federation Free Classical style based on original designs by Colonial Architect, James Barnet it is still an operating court.

Railway Station

Completed in 1869, the Railway Station is another beautiful building in Goulburn.

Cathedral Church of St Saviour

Bourke Street has several beautiful churches including the Cathedral Church of St Saviour. Designed by Edmund Blacket, it was completed in 1884.

Unfortunately the other large church, St Peter and Paul’s Old Cathedral was undergoing a major restoration and was covered in scaffolding.

Belmore Park

St. John’s Orphanage

Destroyed in a suspicious fire, the St. John’s Orphanage in Mundy Street caught our eye because of its sinister appearance. Access is not permuted with the whole area sealed off, so we could only view it from the street.

What Did We Think?

Goulbourn was only a quick stop for us, but we enjoyed it and would like to spend more time here. The history and old buildings were great to see, especially the Water Works and War Memorial.

5 May 20223 May 2022

Berrima Courthouse

Designed by Colonial Architect, Mortimer Lewis in the Greek Revival style, Berrima Courthouse is one of the must see buildings in Berrima New South Wales. Completed in 1839, it only operated for seven years. Subsequently the courthouse operated only occasionally as a courthouse. However, as the centre of public administration it was from here that licenses were issued to publicans and hawkers and convicts were assigned as farm workers. It was also a venue for meetings, dances, concerts and church services.

Now a museum, the courthouse contains displays illustrating its past. One room is set up as the judge’s chambers, with portraits of judges. The main attraction though is a re-enactment of a murder trial. Set in the courtroom, with manikins dressed as the judge, jurors and the accused, it details how the trial was run. Running on a 15 minute loop, the multi-media presentation was fun to sit through.

This was a quick fun visit and worth seeing if you are in Berrima. We had only intended on seeing the outside of the building, but as it was open so we saw the interior as well.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

3 May 202222 April 2022

Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

Perched on top of a hill, the Rocky Hill War Memorial and its associated Museum is very different from most memorials we have seen around Australia. Overlooking Goulburn in New South Wales, this 10.5m tall tower was opening in 1925 to commemorate all those who served in the First World War.

War Memorial

On entering the tower, you see a large marble memorial engraved with the names of service personnel from the Goulburn region who served in World War One. A spiral staircase decorated with photos from the war leads up to the viewing platform. We loved the way the photos told a story of the war and what the soldiers endured.

Memorial to the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Flying Corps Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum — Memorial to the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Flying Corps

Memorial to those who served from Goulburn in WW1. Those killed are marked with *

Photos lining the walls of the interior staircase — Memorial to those who served from Goulburn in WW1. Those killed are marked with *

Museum

Outside the museum, two 150mm German Field Guns stand guard. Donated to the town following the war and installed here following the new museum’s completion 2020. This new state of the art museum replaced an older one in the old caretaker’s cottage.

The displays inside the museum are very good, included some World War one body armour, which we had not seen before. An impressive collection of rifles from different armies and trench warfare weaponry are also worth seeing.

Illustrated in a poster is a sombre reminder of the cost of World War One with the number of dead and wounded Australians shown in relation to the size of the countries’ population. Interestingly, this poster also shows how the war trophies were divided up to the towns and cities depending on their population.

This was a great place to visit, both for the memorial and museum showing the impact of the war so far away from the local community.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Category: Southern Tablelands

Goulburn New South Wales Australia

Goulburn New South Wales Australia

Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

Goulburn Historic Water Works

Big Marino