The town of Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia, lies on the western slopes of the Great Diving Range, a little more than a two-hour drive from Sydney.
With its tree-lined streets and well-preserved historic buildings, Bathurst retains much of the character and grandeur of its colonial past.
The Wiradjuri people, who are united by strong kinship ties and a distinctive language, also possess physical and spiritual connections with the lands on which they live.
Before Europeans arrived, Wiradjuri people largely lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, mostly using wood and stone-based technologies for gathering food and creating weapons. Hunter-gatherers, who lived in small groups that moved across an area of land, needed an intimate knowledge of their land to survive.
René-Primevère Lesson, a French surgeon and naturalist, wrote in his journal in 1824:
"Environs of Bathurst are inhabited by about sixty aborigines, true nomads who have no fixed abode, but who for the most part follow the banks of the rivers and streams."
Farming lands
The exploration of Bathurst by the British was motivated by the need to
find farming land, which did not flood in the same way as the
Hawkesbury Valley.
After several unsuccessful attempts, Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth succeeded in crossing the thick
bushland of the Blue Mountains in mid-1813.
When George Evans,
the colony's Assistant surveyor later that year of 1813, made his way to the
other side of the mountains, he described the plains as, "
the handsomest country I ever saw". However, hopes of finding a great inland sea were dashed.
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| Portrait of George William Evans (1780-1852) |
Whilst George Evans was the first European to sight the Bathurst Plains in 1813, William Cox was responsible for building the road, which crossed the Blue Mountains
from Emu Plains.
In only six months, 30 convicts, along with eight guards built more than 160 kilometres of road and a dozen bridges. And shortly afterwards,
the establishment of Bathurst as an administrative and pastoral centre commenced.
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| Flogging stone, where convicts were beaten. The grooves in in the rock gave the flogger a better foothold |
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| Cox's Road, down Mt York. The plaque in the stone on the left reads "These pick marks were made to allow Governor Macquaries vehicle to pass over the Blue Mountains in 1815" - it seems Cox & his team hadn't made it quite wide enough, so that when Governor Macquarie & his entourage travelled the newly completed Road in 1815 to inspect the "newly opened west" |
Governor Macquarie
On his 1815 visit to Bathurst, Governor Macquarie observed that there were three adult male natives and four native boys, amongst Cox's men. In his journal, Governor Macquarie wrote:
"The locals showed great surprise, mixed with no small degree of fear, at seeing so many strangers, horses and carriages.
But they soon appeared to be reconciled on being kindly spoken to..."
Governor Macquarie erected his Bengal tent along with a makeshift Flag Staff, on a slightly raised platform of land. Governor Macquarie then chose the site for the town of Bathurst, naming it in honour of the Secretary of State for Colonies, Earl Bathurst. However, the grandly named town was hit hard by a series of droughts in its
first years of establishment, making life tough for many of the new settlers and farmers.
Ten farmers were allowed fifty acres (20 ha) on the river flats and a town allotment of two acres (.8 ha) at Bathurst, by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1818. They were, James and John Blackman, William Lee, George Cheshire, Thomas Kite, Richard Mills, John Abbott, John Nevill, Thomas Swanbrooke and John Godden.
Macquarie Farm
William Lawson (1774-1850), one of the men who successfully crossed the Blue Mountains in 1813, at the age of 19, was granted 1000 acres of land west of Bathurst in 1814. In the following year, Lawson had 100 head of cattle on his property, called "Macquarie".
The
property remained in the Lawson family until 1918. This property retains an intact convict barracks on the land. In November 1823, after more than four years as commandant at Bathurst, Lawson resigned. In a letter to his brother, he said, "Our farm at Macquarie Plains the house will be finished very shortly".
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| Macquarie House, photo taken 22 August 1913, former country house of Lieutenant William Lawson at O'Connell Road, Bathurst, with two unidentified men in overcoats on front porch, Copyright expired. RAHS. Built about 1824 |
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| Front view of the convict quarters at Macquarie House, former country house of Lieutenant William Lawson at O' Connell Road, Bathurst. Copyright expired. RAHS. Building still exists today, see below. Built about 1824 |
Settlement
In 1816 the first settlement of Bathurst was established in current-day Kelso, on the eastern banks of the Macquarie River.
In April 1817, John Oxley, Surveyor-General, led a party which included George Evans and the botanist, Allan Cunningham, to explore the land lying beyond Bathurst. Of the Aboriginal people, Oxley wrote:
"Those we saw were very stout and Manly, well featured with long Beards, there were a few Cloaks among them, made of the Oppossum skin, and it was Evident that some of the present party had been at Bathurst, from their making use of [indecipherable] English Sounds
at parting they said Good Bye, Good Bye. I was much pleased with their Boats, they appear to unite Capacity with Lightness, and do much credit to [indecipherable] and the The Builder".
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| A chart of part of the interior of New South Wales by John Oxley, Surveyor General, London, 30th Jan.y 1822 |
Convicts
In September 1819, James Blackman became superintendent of convicts at Bathurst. Blackman had previously resided at Richmond and he built Bowman Cottage which still stands today.
In the muster of 1821, the population of the Bathurst district was 287, of which, 210 were convicts.
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| Ruins of a convict built hut in Kelso, Land (Sydney, NSW : 1911 - 1954), Friday 21 September 1934 |
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| House built by convicts officers barracks, Kelso, NSW. later owned by author Beatrice Ethel Grimshaw |
Settlement and Resistance
Bruce Suttor who arrived in Australia on the H.M.S. "Porpoise", was in charge of 18 cases of plants, a job acquired with the help of Sir Joseph Banks. Suttor applied for a grant on the Bathurst Plains in 1822. He was eventually granted land at the junction of Winburndale and Clear Creeks and he established, "Brucedale ".
Windradyne (1800 – 829), a Wiradjuri Aboriginal resistance leader, also known to British settlers by the name of Saturday, is buried at Brucedale.
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| A glimpse of " Brucedale", Baihurst , the original collage built by Mr George Suttor, as if appeared in 1906 |
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| The grave site of Windradyne is located in a paddock on Brucedale property, Bathurst, NSW |
Life was so difficult for the new settlers of Bathurst that many sold up and set off for the Californian goldfields to try their luck.
The arrival of Governor Brisbane in 1821 ended Governor Macquarie's limit on inland settlement, resulting in settlers being granted large tracts of land around Bathurst. Large numbers of convicts were also assigned to settlers.
Sheep and cattle numbers also increased from 33 733 to 113 973, between 1821 and 1825, which caused disruption of Wiradjuri land use.
Wiradjuri raids dramatically increased from 1822 until 1824, and Governor Brisbane declared martial law in the district in August 1824. Martial law was revoked in December 1824. Approximately 22 settlers were killed on the Bathurst frontier during this period, but the number of Aboriginal deaths is disputed (Connor, 2002: 56)
The Hunt Club
Strangely enough, the Bathurst Hunt was established in 1825. However, the club members, after spending much time designing uniforms, of green jacket and brass buttons really only had the dingo available to hunt.
Major General Stewart took up a land grant of 3,000 acres in 1827 at Mount Pleasant, west of the township of Bathurst. The construction of the original Georgian house, "Strath", commenced in 1827 and was completed by 1832. A descendant of major Stewart demolished two-thirds of "Strath" in 1869 and built "The Mount" (Abercrombie House) in 1870.
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| Major William Stewart, Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), Saturday 25 November 1922 |
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| Abercrombie House, Bathurst, New South Wales, 1893 |
Morley House, one of the oldest houses in Bathurst, was built in 1828 by Thomas Hartley, a blacksmith who came from Nottinghamshire, England.
The 1828 census showed that 73% of the Bathurst population were convicts.
John Piper (military officer)
John Piper (1773-1851) was a military officer, public servant and landowner, born in Ayrshire Scotland. He was commissioned as an ensign in the New South Wales Corps in 1791 and led the convict ship the "Pitt" arriving in Sydney in February 1792.
Piper purchased
significant amounts of land, including the area of Sydney which is now called Point Piper, where he led an extravagant lifestyle. He hosted grand balls in the ballroom of his mansion, as well as dinner parties, water parties and picnics.
After experiencing a significant financial downfall, Piper retired to his country property, "Alloway Bank" at Bathurst, which was established in 1829.
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| "Alloway Bank", residence of Captain Piper, Bathurst, n.d. Black and white glass lantern slide of watercolour. Royal Australian Historical Society Image Library |
The author, Marjorie Barnard claims that "John Piper was a man of his times. He personified the colonial dream". He was an officer during the military rule, a civil servant when New South Wales became a civil state and a land pioneer during the pastoral age. "He was honourable, generous, gay and so well-loved that he was forgiven things which would have wrecked a stronger man. … He was a master of the bright illusion".
The Bathurst Rebellion
The Bathurst rebellion, which occurred in 1830 at Bathurst, involved a group of escaped convicts, who broke into houses and stole as many firearms, food and horses as they could find, between October and November of that year.
The group was led by 25-year-old English convict, Ralph Entwistle, who had been flogged and had his ticket-of-leave cancelled.
John Greenwood, a convict overseer, was murdered by Entwistle and two others and various shootouts between
the convicts and the authorities occurred. In the end, 10 gang members were caught and tried in Bathurst, at the first sitting of the Supreme Court resulting in all ten being found guilty of murder.
The Bushranger Act, which had passed earlier in the year, led to their quick sentencing. A mass public execution by hanging was conducted in the centre of Bathurst. However, Entwistle’s last words were:
“My old mother said I would die like a brave soldier with my boots on.”
“But I’ll make a liar of her.”
And, he kicked off his boots.
Housing Convicts
The old government storehouse, built at Bathurst in 1818, was transformed into the female factory. The two-storey building had a thatched roof and the ground floor had two rooms. The larger room was the workroom and the smaller room housed the matron. The building which had no fireplace was located on the corner of William and Charlotte Street.
Bathurst Gaol was constructed adjacent to the Bathurst Court House, in the town centre in 1830. The gaol was demolished to make way for Machattie Park, which was officially opened in 1890.
The Federation Free Classical style Bathurst Courthouse was built between 1830-40. Demolished 1875.
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| Old Court House at Bathurst, NSW, built 1830-40, Bathurst, NSW |
Town Open
In 1832 Major General Sir Richard Bourke, the Governor, visited Bathurst and instructed Major Thomas L. Mitchell, Surveyor General, to prepare for "opening the town of Bathurst without delay". Assistant Surveyor at Bathurst, J.B. Richards, was instructed to lay out the town, which was completed in September 1833. Major Mitchell then, named the streets. It is believed that George Street was named after King George III.
The Mounted Police carried mail from Penrith once a week. From 1832, the Post Office was open seven days a week.
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| Mounted police, Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), Friday 23 September 1921 |
In 1833 a survey of the township of Bathurst was conducted and land sales commenced.
A convict hospital in Bentinck Street was constructed at Bathurst in 1824 (burnt down in 1878). In 1828 Dr George Busby, who qualified as a surgeon at Edinburgh in 1824, was in charge of the convict hospital. In 1842, Busby's employment was terminated, but he refused to leave Bathurst and remained there for the rest of his life.
On the 10th of September 1834, residents of Bathurst met at Mrs Dillon's Golden Fleece Inn, at Kelso, to discuss the need for a bank. The Bathurst Bank, which was opened in 1835, was the first country bank in the colony.
Charles Darwin
During Charles Darwin's 5 year voyage around the world, in the "Beagle", he spent 19 days docked in Sydney in 1836. Darwin then, “hired a man & two horses to take [him] to Bathurst…to get a general idea of the country”.
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| Journal of researches into the natural history and geology of the countries visited during the voyage round the world of H.M.S. 'Beagle, Internet Archive Book Images |
Of the Holy Trinity Church at Kelso, Darwin said: "There is a hideous little red brick Church standing by itself on a hill".
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| Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Kelso, NSW, (100 tears after Darwin's visit). Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 22 January 1936 |
Changing Times
Transportation of convicts to NSW officially ended in 1840.
The original building of the Royal Hotel was constructed in the 1840s. However, the building was added to significantly over the years. The land on which the hotel was built was granted to George Kable on 7 May 1805.
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| The Royal Hotel, Bathurst, NSW, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 27 December 1905 |
In 1847, James William Bligh, a solicitor, bought land on the corner of George and Stanley streets, which was set aside as a government reserve. Some of the Old Government Cottages, which still exist on this site, may have been constructed as early as 1837.
The first bridge across the Macquarie River, for the purpose of connecting the left and right bank settlements, was built of timber in 1855, but it was destroyed by floods in 1867.
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| Kelso Church and graveyard, Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 19 February 1919 |
The Centre of The Goldfields
Though surveyor James McBrien and others before him noticed gold particles by the Fish River east of Bathurst in 1823, the authorities were fearful of instigating a gold rush. So, the various gold finds were kept quiet, until....
In 1851, gold was discovered at Ophir about 35 kilometres from Bathurst, by Edward Hargraves. This gold fever caused chaos and excitement and Bathurst transformed into an important commercial and administrative centre, for the whole goldfield's region.
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| Landscape painting of Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, c.1847-57 painted by Joseph Backler |
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| In the background is seen part of the town of Bathurst, with the towers of the Protestant and Catholic Churches appearing beyond the plain; nearer, and crossing the bed of the Macquarie River, parties of eager pilgrims may be observed with their dray loads of tools and provisions, entering the town after their long and tedious journey across the mountain ranges. Circa 1851, National Library of Australia |
During the gold rush of the 1850s, the population of Bathurst doubled, as workers in places like Sydney abandoned their jobs and took off for the goldfields, to try their luck as prospectors. Thousands of migrants eager to make their fortune also arrived by ship causing a great surge in the population of New South Wales.
Tremain Brothers Flour Mill, at 5 Keppel Street, was built in 1854.
Bathurst was connected to Sydney in 1859 by telegraph.
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| Arrival in Sydney of the first gold escort from Bathurst Illustrated Sydney News and New South Wales Agriculturalist and Grazier (NSW : 1872 - 1881), Friday 31 March 1876 |
It was on 26 June 1862 that James Rutherford arrived in Bathurst from Bendigo, with ten coaches to establish a Cobb and Co. coach service in the Bathurst region. Within a week, Rutherford was operating a coach service to Forbes. The Cobb & Co factory was established in Bentinck Street just north of the hospital.
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| Billy Maloney Jr, leaving Hill End for Bathurst, NSW in 1883 |
Bushrangers
Ben Hall and his farming partner, John McGuire, sold cattle in Bathurst. Later, McGuire was tried at Bathurst as an alleged Gold Escort robber.
Ben Hall was married at the Cathedral of St Michael on 29th February 1856 and he celebrated his wedding reception at the Crilly’s Hotel, on the corner of Piper and Bentinck Streets.
In 1863 there were about 80 hotels and inns and several breweries in the town of Bathurst.
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| A gold escort leaving Bathurst in the early 1860s. Land (Sydney, NSW : 1911 - 1954) |
A well-known driver of the district, Jack Fagan, was driving the Forbes-Bathurst coach when it was bailed-up by bushrangers, Ben Hall and Gardner, in 1867. Fagan later became a grazier. (
1.)
Bushrangers, John Gilbert, Ben Hall, John O’Meally, and John Vane and Micky Burke, held up a jeweller’s shop and the Sportsman’s Arms Hotel in Bathurst in broad daylight and exchanged gunshots with police. Three days later, they returned to the outskirts of Bathurst and continued their crime spree.
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| Reward poster, National Museum of Australia |
Bushranger John Peisley was born at Bathurst in 1835. While a teenager, he was a notorious horse thief and sentenced to serve time on Cockatoo Island near Sydney. Peisley met another bushranger, Frank Gardiner in 1860 and they embarked on a crime spree. Peisley was hanged in Bathurst in 1862.
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| Night raid on Bathurst, by Marony, Patrick William, Created/Published1894 |
Some Buildings of Bathurst
The Bathurst School of Arts and Mechanic's Institute was established in 1855. This building was built by 1861, was located on the corner of Howick and William Streets on land adjoining the Church of England's All Saints Cathedral.
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| The School of Arts premises, how it appeared originally, Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Saturday 25 November 1899 |
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| School of Arts, Bathurst, NSW, circa 1880, The Bathurst School of Arts and Mechanic's Institute was established in 1855. This building was built by 1861, located on the corner of Howick and William Streets on land adjoining the Church of England's All Saints Cathedral. |
The Bathurst bred thoroughbred racehorse, "The Barb", was famous for winning the 1866 Melbourne Cup and the Sydney Cup twice. The horse "Merriwee", who won the Melbourne Cup in 1899, was, like The Barb, owned by George Lee of "Leeholme", near Bathurst.
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| Leeholme, Bathurst, NSW, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 27 December 1905 |
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| Houses surrounding a flour mill, looking south and taken from the tower of the Catholic Cathedral, Bathurst, New South Wales, 1870s, national Library of Australia |
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| A view of the unsealed Howick Street, Bathurst, NSW, in 1871, with two men engaged in conversation on footpath outside The Duke's Hotel. From negative in Mitchell Library Frank Walker Collection |
A Grand Hospital
In 1876 there was an appeal launched for a new hospital and tenders were called for the construction of a hospital in Durham Street.
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| Bathurst Hospital, NSW, Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 29 January 1898 |
Marie Herzog, who was Swiss-born, brought modern nursing practices to the Bathurst Hospital. After training under Florence Nightingale at London's St Thomas' Hospital, Marie Herzog arrived in Australia in the 1880s and was appointed Matron of Bathurst District Hospital in 1887.
Edmund Webb (1830-1899) was born in England, the son of a farmer. He came to Australia for his health. Starting as a draper's assistant he rose to be a
leading businessman of the city of Bathurst and a politician. He was a member of many civic and charitable organisations and died a wealthy man. He built "Hathrop" in the 1860s and in 1916 the house had 23 rooms and a large garden-room, used as a skating rink. It later became a convalescent hospital during WWI.
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| Edmund Webb, his wife and two daughter and their home, Hathrop, Bathurst, circa 1875 |
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| Borough Council Chamber, Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Saturday 25 November 1899 |
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| Patrick Coyle's Clubhouse Hotel, (incorporating the booking office and terminal for Coyle's Bathurst Coach Service, later taken over by Cobb & Co.), Hill End, SLNSW |
Bathurst's development slowed a few years later, as the gold rush slowed and the importance of farming to the region returned.
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| Public School Bathurst, NSW, in 1871, Royal Australian Historical Society |
Shops and Business
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| Mr Pulbrook was born in London, and came to Australia in 1855. He went to Forbes and engaged in the saddlery business, and later settled at Bathurst. Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Saturday 25 November 1899 |
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| Webb's Western Warehouse, Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Saturday 25 November 1899 |
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| Mutual Life Association of Australasia Offices, "Sparta Corner", cnr Bentinck & Keppel Streets, Bathurst, NSW, Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Saturday 25 November 1899 |
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| John Meagher opened his own store at Bathurs, NSW,t in 1867, Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), Saturday 25 November 1899 |
Pixie Ladies College
Bathurst High School was established 1884, operating at first only as a boys school, and then as a boys and girls section from 1885, but by 1887, it was forced to close due to lack of students.
Pixie Ladies College, which was located in Upper William Street, was a private school for ladies, established by Miss Sarah Keyes.
Another school, Macquarie House for Young Ladies, was run by Mrs Mackenzie, who was born in London in 1846.
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| Miss Sarah Keyes, Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Saturday 8 November 1930 |
A New Century
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Cobb & Co's workshop, Bathurst, NSW, Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser (NSW : 1876 - 1951)
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| Bathurst, George Street, NSW, circa 1900 |
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A military display in aid of the funds of the proposed soldiers' memorial took place
at Bathurst on November 24, in the presence of Brigadier-General Gordon.Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 6 December 1905 |
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| All Saints' College an independent college in the Anglican tradition was established in 1874, and closed in 2018.Playground All Saints' College, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 27 December 1905 |
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| Bathurst Committee and staff, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 27 December 1905 |
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| Bathurst Bank of Australasia, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 27 December 1905 |
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| Teachers' conference at Bathurst NSW, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 28 February 1906 |
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Bathurst William Street Choir, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 18 November 1908
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WWI
Twenty-six men left Gilgandra NSW on 10 October 1915 on the '"Cooee March" to recruit men for service in World War I. The march is entering Bathurst below.
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| A recruitment march entering Bathurst, NSW, Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), Saturday 30 October 1915 |
Commerce
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A progressive Bathurst business, Mockler Bros, bathurst NSW, Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 27 February 1924
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Edgell’s cannery was established at Bathurst in 1926.
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| Asparagus Cannery, Bathurst (NSW). No date, NSW State Archives |
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| William Street, Bathurst, NSW, n.d. Royal Australian Historical Society |
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| William Street Bathurst, NSW, Aprox 1930s |
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| William Street, Bathurst, NSW, n.d. Royal Australian Historical Society |
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| Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939), Wednesday 1 January 1930, |
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| William Street Bathurst, NSW, Aprox 1930s |
WWII
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| Soldiers on a march to Bathurst, NSW, circa 1940. Shows troops marching on the Western Highway through the Blue Mountains, crossing Lennox Bridge, band of the 2.13th Battalion, men of B Company at Hazelbrook and ceremonial arch at Katoomba to welcome troops |
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| 2/19th Australian Infantry Battalion, Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Bathurst, Second World War, 1939-1945. AWM |
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| 2/19th Australian Infantry Battalion, Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Bathurst, Second World War, 1939-1945. AWM. later used as migrant camp |
In 1941 a munitions factory was built at Bathurst. The building was later used as a clothing factory.
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| Tribune (Sydney, NSW : 1939 - 1991), Wednesday 29 October 1947 |
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JAPS BUTCHERED THESE NURSES
They were lined up with 18 others on a beach with their faces
to the sea off Banka Island (near southern Sumatra) and were
Fix this textmowed down, in cold blood, by machine-gun bullets.
Only one nurse of their party, left for dead, survived the
massacre. Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), Sunday 23 September 1945 |
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| View of William Street, Bathurst (NSW). No date, NSW State Archives |
Prime Minister Ben Chifley
Ben Chifley (Joseph Benedict Chifley) the 16th Prime Minister of Australia, was born at Bathurst, at 29 Havannah Street, in 1885. He became an engine driver at New South Wales Government Railways and active in the trade union movement before he entered politics.
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| Ben Chifley 16th Prime Minister of Australia |
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| Home of Australia's 16th Prime Minister, Ben Chifley, Bathurst, NSW |
Women's Rally
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| Mrs George Mack is widely known. She was a former State Vice-President of the Country Women's AssociationBlue Mountains Advertiser (Katoomba, NSW : 1940 - 1954), Friday 23 September 1949 |
The Mount Panorama Circuit
The Mount Panorama Circuit was first used on 16 April 1938 for the Australian Tourist Trophy meeting for motorcycles, followed two days later by the Australian Grand Prix for cars.
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| Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 19 April 1938 |
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| Ted Gray in his Alfa Romeo Ford in front of Frank Kleinig in a Hudson Eight Special, Grand Prix Bathurst, October 1946, October 1946, State Library of New South Wales |
Are You Being Served?
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| Bathurst Railway Refreshment Room, Dated: 15/07/1947- interior, NSW State Archives |
Migration
At the end of the WWII the army camp at Bathurst became a migrant reception and training Centre for European refugees and displaced persons. Between 1948 and 1952 the Bathurst Migrant Camp housed nearly 100,000 people.
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| Group of migrants at the Bathurst Migrant Centre, 1949, Australian National Maritime Museum on The Commons |
Royal Visits
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| The Queen walking along Russell Street, Bathurst, NSW, Lithgow Mercury (NSW : 1898 - 1954), Monday 15 February 1954 |
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| The Queen shakes hands with Station Master Mr Louis Le Breton at Bathurst Station ready to board the Royal Train. Dated: 12/02/1954, NSW State Archives |
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| Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Friday 12 February 1954 |
Today Bathurst is a centre of learning with several major tertiary education providers in the region. Many of the impressive buildings of the colonial period remain, giving Bathurst a distinctive and gracious character.
2015: Bicentenary of Governor Macquarie's journey to Bathurst.
Restoration of the Tremain flour mill and silo site begins in 2015 to become an arts, retail, events and dining hub for Bathurst.
Around Bathurst
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| Brucedale, belong to the Suttor family, Bathurst, NSW. The descendants of many pioneer families still live in Bathurst today, like those of George Suttor (1774-1859), who established Brucedale at the junction of Winburndale and Clear Creeks, on the outskirts of Bathurst. Seven generations of Suttor's family have lived on this property since 1822. |
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| Bathurst Courthouse (circa 1880) |
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| Bathurst Correctional Complex (circa 1830) |
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| Bathurst Railway Station opened 1876 |
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| St Stanislaus' College, established 1867 |
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| Abercrombie House, Bathurst,1870s. Abercrombie House was built in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, in the 1870s by the Stewart family, who were Bathurst pioneers. William Stewart came to Australia from England in 1825 |
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| Bathurst Base Hospital, (circa 1880) |
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| Bathurst Showground Buildings (circa 1880s) Carpenter Gothic |
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| Former Bathurst Public School. The Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum |
The Regent and Knickerbocker Hotels, Bathurst, This photo of Knickerbocker Bistro is courtesy of TripAdvisor
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| This photo of Bathurst Visitor Information Centre is courtesy of TripAdvisor |
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| Neo-Classical The Bathurst Courthouse (circa 1880) with an octagonal Renaissance dome |
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| Bathurst. Settlers Cottages, built 1800s, used as accomodation |
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| Bentinck St, Bathurst, NSW, Dairy Farmers Factory (formerly Convict Hospital) |
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| Miss Traill's House was built in 1845, located at 321 Russell Street, Bathurst, NSW. Miss Ida Traill (1889-1976), who lived in the house from 1931 until 1976. Ida Traill was a descendant of early settlers in the region.Ida Traill's grandparents were George Lee and Emily (née Kite) who lived at Leeholme, a large homestead close to Bathurst |
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| Morley House built in 1828 by Thomas Hartley, Bathurst, NSW |
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| "Rankin Cottage" at Rankin St Bathurst, NSW, circa 1842 |
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| Mitchell Conservatorium (the old Telegraph Office) is the west wing of the Court House Complex. The east wing, originally the Post OIffice now houses the District Historical Society Museum. The east wing of the Bathurst Court House was once the Post Offices for Bathurst. The east wing was built in 1877 |
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| Bathurst Westpac Bank (CityBank), built in the 1894, Bathurst, NSW |
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| The War Memorial Carillon (1933) behind the Evan's Memorial (1920), in Bathurst. NSW |
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| Located at 16 Stanley Street, Bathurst, NSW Old Government House,. It was believed that the cottage was built in 1817 as the residence of the Commandant of the Bathurst Settlement, established in 1815 by Governor Macquarie. Later research has established that the Commandant's residence, also known as Government House, was a short distance away |
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| The former Masonic Hall, built 1889, Bathurst, NSW |
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| Old Government House, Bathurst, built 1837–1860 Rangasyd |
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| The former TAFE site in William Street Bathurst, NSW, built in 1898 |
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| Logan Brae was built in the 1870s by Dr John Busby for his wife Harriett and his eleven children, Bathurst, NSW |
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| Convict barracks at Macquarie farm, located between O’Connell and the city of Bathurst were built between 1822 and 1824 by convicts |
Things To Do and Places To Go
Ben Chifley's home
Bathurst Heritage Walks begin at the Macquarie River, below Stanley Street. A guide written by Dr Rob McLachlan, adjunct senior lecturer in history at Charles Sturt University, Flag Staff to Town Square - A Guide to the Government Settlement Heritage Trail, is available for sale at the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre for $12.95.
How it Feels (2010), by Brendan Cowell
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