An hour’s drive north of Canberra, or west from Goulburn, Yass is an historic New South Wales Town. We were passing through on a drive from Canberra to Orange so stopped to have a quick look around. Being early morning, parking was easy, and we found a spot outside the Banjo Patterson Park, named after the famous Australia poet.
Several coffee shops were open, so we ordered a coffee before setting off to explore the town. The main street, Comur St contains several well preserved nineteenth-century buildings. The Post Office looks great, but the courthouse looks like a small palace!
Yass Post OfficeYass CourthouseBanjo Patterson BustBanjo Patterson ParkTootsie Gallery and Café
Yass Railway Museum
The Yass Railway Museum is small with only a few trains and pieces of rolling stock on display. However, it’s a great place to visit, see some interesting trains, memorabilia and find out about the history of trains in Yass. You can find a full story of our visit here.
1307 Steam Locomotive
Abandoned Railway Bridge
We drove to the old railway bridge over the Yass River, parking at Joe O’Conner Park and walking down to the river. Disused since 1988 when the rail line closed it’s now a tourist attraction and heritage listed. It was interesting to walk around, especially as there are trees growing through parts of it.
Old Tramway BridgeThe Old Tramway BridgeOld Tramway Bridge
What Did We Think Of Yass?
Although this was only a quick visit, we enjoyed our time here. The lovely old buildings on the main street, abandoned bridge and railway museum are all worth stopping to see.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Located in the old Yass Town railway station, the Yass Railway Museum displays some of the old rolling stock that used to work here. The main rail line passes four kilometres to the north of Yass, because two river crossing would have been needed to bring it through town. Because of this, Yass lobbied for a light tramway into the main town. Opened in 1892, but never operating at a profit, it was closed in 1988.
The old railway station building houses a small giftshop, railway memorabilia and a model railway. All the main exhibits are outside on the old tracks.
The main attraction is the 1307 steam locomotive. This coal fired steam locomotive operated at Yass from 1910 to 1964. On leaving Yass, it worked around several of Sydney’s train workshops, including Eveleigh and Clyde. When finally retired, it had operated for 94 years. Fortunately sent to Thirlmere Railway Museum for preservation, 1307 relocated to Yass in 1999.
Sitting on the tracks just passed 1307, a line of rolling stock includes a freight wagon, a covered wagon, fuel truck and brake van. At the head of the line-up is X203 diesel locomotive. Although usually employed for shunting trains around stations, at Yass it was the sole locomotive from 1964 to 1972. Scrapped in 1989 the Yass diesel locomotive was actually X202, but X203 stands in for it at the museum.
Awaiting restoration, an open carriage and brake van sit outside the goods shed. As with all the displays, you are able to enter them.
What Did We Think?
With only a few displays, it doesn’t take long to look around, but it was a fun visit, and we were pleased we went. Plenty of parking makes access easy.
Yass Town Railway Station – Now a MuseumOld Yass Railway Station1307 Steam Locomotive1307 Steam LocomotiveX203 Diesel LocomotiveX203 Diesel LocomotiveOpen End Carriage No. 1259Model Railway
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Established in the early 1900s for the NSW Cement, Lime and Coal Co Ltd, Kandos produced cement until the plant’s closure in 2011. Taken from the initials of the founding company directors: Campbell, Angus, Noyes, McDonald, Oakden and Stephen. The first letter was later changed to a K rather than a C at the insistence of the Postmaster General. He thought it was too close to Chandos in South Australia.
Cement produced here was used all over New South Wales, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House and the Central to St James underground railway, leading to the town branding itself “The Town That Built Sydney”.
Located 234 km north-west of Sydney, for a three and a quarter hour trip, or a 64 km, one-hour trip south-east of Mudgee, Kandos is a great place to visit. Not only does the town offer interesting things to do, but nearby is Dunns Swamp in Wollemi National Park.
On entering town, an old railway wagon proudly displays a load of Kandos Cement, making you aware of the town’s heritage.
Some interesting sights include the old railway station and nearby hotel, along with some interesting sculptures nearby. We also found an old underground loading unit sitting on the side of a road near the museum, which was an interesting discovery.
Cement Wagon
Old Rail Wagons
Kandos Town Sign
The Railway Station
Train Sculpture at a the Railway Station
Sculpture at the Railway Station
St Laurence’s Anglican Church
Railway Hotel
Underground Loader
Kandos Museum
Specialising in Kandos and the surrounding towns, the museum has a wonderful collection of historical items. A large section is dedicated to the cement works and their impact on the town.
Outside displays provide access to several large displays of cement works equipment, including skips from the aerial ropeway that brought limestone from the quarry to the cement works.
The volunteer staff were exceptional, full of local knowledge and more than happy to answer our questions. They really made the visit even more enjoyable.
Kandos Museum
Kandos Cement Works
Walking inside the museum’s entrance, you are greeting by the immaculate 1930 Nash Ambulance. This vehicle is surrounded by cement works artefacts, detailing the workings of the factory that kept Kandos ticking for nearly 100 years.
Kandos Cement Works 1930 Nash Ambulance
The Old Safety Sign
Gauges From the Cement Factory
The Many Used for an Old Cement Bag
Local History
The local history of Kandos and surrounding villages makes up a large display in a second room, detailing local life.
Local Towns and Villages Sign at the Museum
Gas Powered Fridge
Gramophone Collection
Gas Light
Old Telephones and Cinema Sign
Main Museum Display Room
Old Farm Tools
Outside Displays
Large pieces of equipment displayed outside the museum include part of the aerial ropeway, steam engines and crushers provide a glimpse of the limestone quarry’s operation.
Old Equipment at the Museum
Mill From the Cement Factory
Aerial Ropeway Skip
What Did We Think?
Kandos is a great town to visit, with a lot of history crammed into 100 years, as well as the wonderful Wollemi National Park to visit close by.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
