Historical Walking Tour of Bathurst — Self-Guided App
A self-guided historical walking tour of Bathurst, taking in Street Lamps, All Saints Cathedral Bells and War Memorial Carillon across 9 stops.
Open this tour in the app →The route
1Bathurst Street Lamps
Bathurst's cast-iron street lamps trace the town's lighting from six kerosene lamps in 1863, converted to gas in 1872 and to electricity by 1924. The surviving collection of 105 lamps, blending Victorian bases with Art Deco elements, was added to the NSW State Heritage Register in 2003.
2All Saints Cathedral Bells
Cast in 1854 by John Warner and Sons at London's Crescent Foundry, these six bells reached Bathurst and were fully hung at All Saints Cathedral by 8 December 1855, the first bells rung outside Australia's colonial capitals. They joined the NSW State Heritage Register in 2004.
3Bathurst War Memorial Carillon
Built between 1926 and 1933 and unveiled that November before some 8,000 schoolchildren, this tower honours Bathurst residents who served in the World Wars. Its bells, cast by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough, England, now number 47, the largest weighing around 1.6 tonnes.
4Bathurst Courthouse
Designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet and completed in 1880, this landmark is regarded as one of New South Wales's finest Victorian courthouses. Built in the free classical style with a later clock tower, it still serves justice today and joined the State Heritage Register in 1999.
5Royal Hotel, Bathurst
Dating from the 1840s, this was Bathurst's leading hotel through the nineteenth and early twentieth century. A third storey and rich cast-iron verandahs were added in the 1880s, and it remains the town's only surviving three-storey verandah hotel. Closed in the early 1960s, it now holds commercial and residential space, and was listed on the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999.
6Howick Street houses, Bathurst
Built in the 1850s, this group of five face-brick cottages on Howick Street exemplifies the late Georgian style rarely surviving in Bathurst. Gabled iron roofs, twelve-pane windows and timber-post verandahs distinguish them. Added to the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999, they remain mostly private homes, with number 198 now a hearing clinic.
7Bentinck Street Elm Trees
These English elms (Ulmus procera) lining Bentinck Street were planted around 1900-1904, during the second Municipal Street Tree Period in NSW. Sixteen trees run between Howick and Durham Streets. Saved from removal for a planned roadway in the 1980s, they were added to the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999.
8Cathedral of St Michael and St John
This Roman Catholic cathedral was built between 1857 and 1861 to a Victorian Gothic Revival design by English architect Charles Hansom. It became the seat of the Diocese of Bathurst, established in 1865, and was added to the NSW State Heritage Register in 2012.
9Bathurst railway station
Opened on 4 April 1876 as the Great Western Railway reached Bathurst, this station was inaugurated by Governor Hercules Robinson. The Victorian Tudor building features projecting gabled wings, stuccoed quoins and a slate roof. Future Prime Minister Ben Chifley joined the railways here in 1903, becoming a locomotive driver in 1912. State Heritage listed in 1999.
Map
Practical info
While you’re in New South Wales
FAQ
How long is the Bathurst walking tour?
About 84 minutes over roughly 2.5 km at a relaxed pace.
Can I do the tour offline?
Yes — load the tour in the Sitesy app beforehand and it’s cached for offline use.
Is the Bathurst walking tour accessible?
The route mainly follows town-centre footpaths; check the app for any steps or uneven ground near individual stops.