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Category: Church

Church

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Goulburn New South Wales Australia

Goulburn Courthouse

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.

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

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.

Pump House
Pump House

Big Marino

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

The Big Marino
The Big Marino

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
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 Fire Station
Fire Station

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.

Goulburn Courthouse
Courthouse

Railway Station

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

Goulburn Railway Station
Goulburn Railway Station

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.

Cathedral Church of St Saviour
Cathedral Church of St Saviour
Cathedral Church of St Saviour
Cathedral Church of St Saviour

Belmore Park

War Memorial in Belmore Park
War Memorial in 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.

St. John's Orphanage Goulburn
St. John’s Orphanage

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.

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Historic Richmond Tasmania

Richmond Bridge

Richmond Tasmania

Established as an important military staging post and convict station linking Hobart with Port Arthur, Richmond is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tasmania. With over 50 historic buildings, most dating from the 1820s it’s a stark reminder of Tasmania’s convict past.

Located only 20 minutes from Hobart Airport, we chose to visit on our last day, because our flight didn’t leave until the afternoon. This gave us the morning to walk around and explore the village. First stop was the bakery, where we had a great breakfast and coffee.

Richmond Bridge

Built in 1825 to enable the military, police and convicts easier movement to Port Arthur the historic Richmond Bridge is the oldest bridge still in use in Australia. Parking nearby we must have been the first visitors for the day, because the local ducks gathered around us expecting food. Unfortunately for them, we did not come prepared to feed ducks.

  • Richmond Bridge
    Richmond Bridge
  • Richmond Bridge
    The Richmond Bridge

Richmond Gaol

Built in 1825, the gaol is the oldest in Australia and this well preserved site is interesting to walk around. With the interior s of the buildings still intact, it shows how the gaol operated until its closure in 1928.

Information boards in each room describe its function and how guards and convicts were treated. In one room, a mantrap used to catch escaped convicts shows how brutal the times were.

  • Gaol Courtyard
    Gaol Courtyard
  • Man Trap Used to Catch Escaped Prisoners
    Man Trap Used to Catch Escaped Prisoners
  • Cells at the Gaol
    Cells at the Gaol
  • Richmond Gaol
    Richmond Gaol
  • Cells at the Richmond Gaol
    Cells at the Gaol
  • Display at the Gaol
    Display at the Gaol
  • Artefacts Discovered During an Archaeological Dig
    Artefacts Discovered During an Archaeological Dig

Other Buildings in Town

Walking around the village took us past many old Georgian sandstone buildings. Many of them have been converted to cafés, craft boutiques and museums, giving them new life.

  • The Mill House Cottage
    The Mill House Cottage
  • Sandstone Georgian Building
    Sandstone Georgian Building
  • Sandstone Georgian Building
    Sandstone Courthouse
  • St John the Evangelist Catholic Church
    St John the Evangelist Catholic Church

What Did We Think

Finding such a well preserved village dating from the 1920s is rare, because many old buildings end up being replaced. We loved Richmond and it was a great place to finish our Tasmanian hiliday.

To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

Our photos are available for purchase on

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Ross a Historic 19th Century Tasmanian Village

Ross Bridge at Night

Ross Tasmania

Built by convict labour in the early 1800s, Ross is a wonderfully preserved 19th century village full of old buildings and history.

How to Get There

Ross is about a one-hr drive (78 km) south from Launceston and a 90-min drive (121 km) north from Hobart.

Ross Bridge

Probably the most famous structure in town the bridge is Australia’s third oldest standing bridge. Often considered the most beautiful of its kind left in the world because of its 186 carvings by convict stonemasons. Deemed to be of such high quality at the time of construction it won the men a free pardon.

During our brief stay the water level was very high, meaning we could not get as Close as we wanted to the carvings, but we still managed to see it from further away. Lit up at night, the bridge takes on a surreal look, with the colour of the sandstone emphasised.

  • Ross Bridge
    Ross Bridge

Town Centre

Full of old buildings and lined with elm trees, even in winter the main street look amazing. Our first stop was the bakery to get something to eat and drink after our drive. After that we walked around town admiring the old convict built buildings. Everything is close together, so you are able to get about on foot rather than driving.

Old telephone boxes add a great bit of character to the main street, rather than more modern metal ones. As well as the buildings, the war memorial at the town’s cross-roads makes a great centre piece and is surrounded on four corners by old buildings.

  • Church Street
    Church Street
  • Church Street
    Elm Tree Lined Church Street
  • Church Street
    Church Street
  • Ross Post Office
    Ross Post Office
  • Old Town Hall
    Old Town Hall
  • 15 Pounder Captured During the Anglo-Boer War 1902 at the War Memorial
    15 Pounder Captured During the Anglo-Boer War 1902 at the War Memorial
  • Old Telephone Boxes
    Old Telephone Boxes on Church Street
  • Old Police Station
    Old Gaol

Churches

Scattered around town are three sandstone churches, all worth having a look at. The Uniting Church flood lit at night, so go back and have a look after dark.

  • St John's Anglican Church Ross
    St John’s Anglican Church Ross
  • Ross Uniting Church
    Ross Uniting Church
  • Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church
    Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Ross at Night

After dark, the bridge, Uniting Church and war memorial are flood lit. This adds a great additional dimension to the feel of the town. In the middle of winter, there were only a few groups looking around, so it was even better.

  • Ross Bridge at Night
    Ross Bridge at Night
  • Uniting Church at Night
    Uniting Church at Night
  • War Memorial At Night
    War Memorial At Night

Where Did We Stay?

Our accommodation was at the Ross Motel, which we found very comfortable. It was also centrally located, so we were able to walk from here to everything we wanted to see.

What Did We Think?

Ross is a wonderful little village, with its historic 19th century centre preserved. We loved walking around the streets admiring the old buildings. The flood lit buildings at night also add a great touch, making it interesting to get out after dark to look around.

To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

Our photos are available for purchase on