Historical Walking Tour of Bathurst
Looking for things to do in Bathurst? Start with its history. Bathurst sits on Wiradjuri Country, and its Victorian public buildings still define the town centre: the courthouse, completed in 1880 to a design by James Barnet, is one of the finest in New South Wales. Cobb & Co made coaches here from around 1862, the six All Saints Cathedral bells of 1854-55 were the first rung outside the colonial capitals, and the Uniting Church chapel of 1837 is the oldest surviving Methodist chapel in the state. This self-guided walk links 12 historic places, from the railway station to Miss Traill's House, each with a short audio story in the Sitesy app.
Opens in your browser. No download and no account needed.
What is Bathurst known for?
Bathurst is known for its Victorian streetscape and early colonial history west of the Blue Mountains. The National Trust classified its Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian architecture in the 1970s. Landmarks on this walk include the Bathurst Courthouse, the All Saints Cathedral bells cast in London in 1854, the War Memorial Carillon completed in 1933, and the Cathedral of St Michael and St John. Cobb & Co built coaches in the town from around 1862, and one of those original coaches survives; the Uniting Church chapel dates from 1837.
The route: 12 historic places in Bathurst
Start at Bathurst railway station, Havannah Street. Tap a stop to see it on the map.
Pins are numbered in walking order; lines join them directly, not along streets. Walking directions in Google Maps
- 1
Bathurst railway station
Also known as Bathurst 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.
Source: Wikipedia
- 2
Royal Hotel, Bathurst
Also known as Royal 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.
Source: Wikipedia
- 3
Howick 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.
Seen from the street Mostly private homes; please view from the street.
Source: Wikipedia
- 4
Bentinck 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.
Seen from the street
Source: Wikipedia
- 5
Cobb & Co Coach
Also known as Cobb & Co Coach Bathurst
Built in Bathurst around 1862, soon after Cobb & Co set up its headquarters and manufacturing factory in the town, this is one of only a small number of original Cobb & Co passenger and mail coaches surviving in New South Wales. It ran the Bathurst to Sofala mail and passenger route. The heritage record links it to James Rutherford, the company's general manager, who built Cobb & Co into the largest horse-drawn transport business in the world.
Source: NSW State Heritage Inventory
- 6
Bathurst Courthouse
Also known as Bathurst Court House
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.
Source: Wikipedia
- 7
Bathurst 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.
Seen from the street
Source: Wikipedia
- 8
All Saints Cathedral Bells
Also known as All Saints Cathedral Bathurst 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.
Source: Wikipedia
- 9
Bathurst War Memorial Carillon
Also known as Bathurst 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.
Source: Wikipedia
- 10
Bathurst City Uniting Church and Chapel
Also known as Bathurst Uniting Church
The 1837 chapel here is the oldest surviving Methodist chapel in New South Wales, and stands beside a church of 1860; the heritage record calls them a fine, intact pair showing how church life was established in a colonial outpost west of the Blue Mountains. Inside is a William Davidson pipe organ installed in 1874, one of perhaps only nine largely unaltered, working Davidson organs in the state.
Source: NSW State Heritage Inventory
- 11
Cathedral of St Michael and St John
Also known as Bathurst Catholic Cathedral
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.
Source: Wikipedia
- 12
Miss Traill's House
Also known as Miss Traill's House Bathurst
Built in 1845, this house with its garden and paddock is part of Bathurst's early story, but it is best known as the home of Miss Ida Traill, who lived here from 1932 to 1976. A descendant of two of the district's main pastoralist families, she inherited, added to and cared for a collection of the family's belongings. The heritage record describes the collection as an intrinsic part of the home, where it is still presented.
Source: NSW State Heritage Inventory
Cobb & Co and Bathurst
Bathurst was the base of one of Australia's most famous transport firms. The heritage record for the Cobb & Co Coach says it was built in the town around 1862, after the company set up its headquarters and manufacturing factory here. The coach served the Bathurst to Sofala mail and passenger route and is one of only a small number of original Cobb & Co passenger and mail coaches surviving in New South Wales. The record ties it to James Rutherford, the company's owner and general manager, described as an innovative and dynamic leader who built Cobb & Co into the most famous coaching firm in Australia and the largest horse-drawn transport company in the world.
Source: NSW State Heritage Inventory
Free things to do in Bathurst
The walk itself costs nothing, and 3 of its 12 places are free to visit or to admire from the street:
- Howick Street houses, Bathurst Seen from the street
- Bentinck Street Elm Trees Seen from the street
- Bathurst Street Lamps Seen from the street
How the walk works
Open it from this page
Tap Start this walk free. The walk opens in the Sitesy app in your browser, with the route and every stop ready.
Walk and listen
Each stop's story plays as you arrive, with directions to the next one. Pause for a coffee whenever you like.
Save it before you go
Save the walk's audio to your phone at home, so the stories play even where the signal drops.
Free to start
- This walk: every stop is free to hear. Walk stops never use up your free stories.
- 5 free stories a day about wherever you are, at home or away.
- 1 free custom walk a week, built around your time and interests.
7 days of unlimited stories and walks. One payment, no subscription.
Unlimited, wherever you are. Cancel any time.
Both plans also let you save whole areas to listen offline. You only sign in (with Google) if you buy a plan. Prices in Australian dollars.
Before you go
More walks nearby
Questions
What is Bathurst known for?
Bathurst is known for its Victorian streetscape and early colonial history west of the Blue Mountains. The National Trust classified its Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian architecture in the 1970s. Landmarks on this walk include the Bathurst Courthouse, the All Saints Cathedral bells cast in London in 1854, the War Memorial Carillon completed in 1933, and the Cathedral of St Michael and St John. Cobb & Co built coaches in the town from around 1862, and one of those original coaches survives; the Uniting Church chapel dates from 1837.
What are the best things to do in Bathurst's town centre?
Walk the heritage core around Russell, William and Howick streets: this tour links 12 historic places, including the Bathurst Courthouse, All Saints Cathedral Bells, the War Memorial Carillon, the Cathedral of St Michael and St John, the Cobb & Co Coach and Miss Traill's House.
How long does the Bathurst walking tour take?
About 108 minutes over roughly 4.0 km, including time to stop and listen at each place.
What is the history of Bathurst in brief?
Bathurst is on the country of the Wiradjuri people. After the first European expeditions west of the Blue Mountains it became an early inland settlement; its Methodist chapel dates from 1837, the cathedral bells were hung by December 1855, Cobb & Co built coaches here from about 1862, and the courthouse was completed in 1880.
Which Bathurst places are free to see?
The Bathurst Street Lamps, the Bentinck Street Elm Trees and the Howick Street houses can be seen from the street (the houses are mostly private homes).
Do I need mobile data?
No. Load the tour in the Sitesy app before you go and it's saved for offline use.
Is the Bathurst walking tour free?
Yes. Open it in the Sitesy app and every stop on this walk is free to hear, with no account needed. Free listeners also get 5 stories a day about wherever they are and 1 custom walk a week. The Trip pass (A$7.99 for 7 days) and Sitesy Plus (A$8.99 a month) unlock unlimited stories and walks.
Page last updated 9 October 2026.