Historical Walking Tour of Goulburn
Looking for things to do in Goulburn? Start with its history. Goulburn was a gathering place for Aboriginal groups long before the 1820s, when the black-soil plains of the Southern Tablelands drew settlers and the 1830s wool boom made it the centre of commerce, trade and administration for the district. The Catholic diocese was created in 1864, and the arrival of the railway in 1869 stimulated further growth. Its station is the earliest 'first class' station building in NSW. The result is a city of fine 19th and early 20th century architecture, from the Victorian Court House and Post Office to two grand cathedrals. This self-guided walk links 10 historic places, each with a short audio story in the Sitesy app.
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What is Goulburn known for?
Goulburn is known for its railway, its cathedrals and its grand Victorian civic buildings. The 1869 railway station is the earliest first-class station building in NSW, and the railway was the major employer for much of the city's history. Goulburn became a major church centre in the late 19th century, which is why St Saviour's Cathedral and the former St Peter and Paul's Cathedral stand within a few minutes' walk of each other. Visitors come for the Court House, the Post Office clock tower, St Clair and Connollys Mill.
The route: 10 historic places in Goulburn
Start at Colonial Mutual Life Building, Clifford 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
Colonial Mutual Life Building, Goulburn
Also known as CML Building Goulburn
Built in 1933 by Concrete Constructions Ltd to a design by Hennessy, Hennessy & Co, this two-storey Spanish Mission commercial building housed Colonial Mutual Life's insurance offices alongside a Bank of New South Wales branch. Its corner clock tower is a local landmark. It joined the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999.
Source: Wikipedia
- 2
Connollys Mill
Built in 1892 as Goulburn's Corporation Baths to a design by E. C. Manfred, this brick building was sold by the loss-making council and converted around 1908 into a flour mill by architect John Dunkley. The original swimming basin still survives beneath the floor. State Heritage listed in 1999.
Source: Wikipedia
- 3
St Clair, Goulburn
Built from 1843 by James Sinclair, Goulburn's first architect, St Clair is an 18-room colonial villa with Greek Revival touches and the town's second-oldest house after Riversdale. Remarkably unaltered, it was listed on the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999 and now houses the district historical society's museum.
Source: Wikipedia
- 4
Old Police Barracks, Goulburn
Built in 1874 to house Goulburn's growing police force, this single-storey barracks reflects the early provision of law enforcement in the district. It was added to the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999 and now serves as the clubhouse for the Railway Bowling Club.
Source: Wikipedia
- 5
Goulburn railway station
Also known as Goulburn Railway Station
Opened on 19 May 1869 on the Main Southern line, this Victorian Italianate station is regarded as the earliest first-class station building constructed in NSW. An island platform was added in 1915. It joined the State Heritage Register in 1999 and still serves regional trains today.
Source: Wikipedia
- 6
Alpine Lodge Motel
Built in 1872 by businessman Charles Rogers as four terrace houses, this Sloane Street building was combined in 1893 into the Metropolitan Coffee Palace, a temperance-era establishment that traded under various owners until at least 1911. Converted to a motel in the 1990s, it joined the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999.
Source: Wikipedia
- 7
Goulburn Court House
Also known as Goulburn Courthouse
Built 1885-1887 to designs by Colonial Architect James Barnet with Edward Rumsey, this grand Victorian Free Classical courthouse still hears cases today. Its ambitious scale and fine stonework reflected late-Victorian regional confidence; such extravagant courthouses ceased after the 1890s depression. Listed on the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999.
Source: Wikipedia
- 8
Goulburn Post Office
Designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet and built in 1880–81, this three-storey Victorian Italianate post office is fronted by a dominant four-and-a-half-storey clock tower on Goulburn's main street. Owned by Australia Post, it was added to the NSW State Heritage Register on 22 December 2000.
Source: Wikipedia
- 9
St Peter and Paul's Former Cathedral
Also known as Goulburn Old Cathedral
This Catholic cathedral grew in two stages around an 1843 brick church. Andrea Stombuco designed the nave, which opened in 1872; Charles Spadacini designed the transepts, sanctuary, chapel and tower, opened in 1890 with the bells and the Hill and Sons organ, now regarded as one of the best-preserved in Australia. Its walls use rare locally quarried green porphyrite. Bishop Lanigan was consecrated in the earlier church in 1867, reputedly the first time in Australia a bishop was consecrated in his own diocese. The diocesan centre moved to Canberra in 1969.
Source: NSW State Heritage Inventory
- 10
St Saviour's Cathedral, Goulburn
This Anglican cathedral was designed by colonial architect Edmund Blacket in the Victorian Gothic Revival style and built between 1874 and 1884, replacing an earlier 1840 brick church. Blacket's sons completed the work after his death, though the tower and spire were not finished until 1988-89. It is on the NSW State Heritage Register.
Source: Wikipedia
Goulburn's railway story
Goulburn's railway precinct is of state significance as one of the earliest principal rail locations in NSW, in continuous use as a major railway centre since the 1860s. The main station building of 1869 is the earliest 'first class' station building constructed in NSW. Other significant items in the precinct include the former Station Master's residence of 1869, the former Gatekeeper's residence, the c1891 barracks, and the former carriage and per-way workshops. The railway was the major employer for much of Goulburn's history, so these buildings are tied closely to the identity of the town.
Source: NSW State Heritage Inventory
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.
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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
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Before you go
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Questions
What is Goulburn known for?
Goulburn is known for its railway, its cathedrals and its grand Victorian civic buildings. The 1869 railway station is the earliest first-class station building in NSW, and the railway was the major employer for much of the city's history. Goulburn became a major church centre in the late 19th century, which is why St Saviour's Cathedral and the former St Peter and Paul's Cathedral stand within a few minutes' walk of each other. Visitors come for the Court House, the Post Office clock tower, St Clair and Connollys Mill.
What are the best things to do in Goulburn's city centre?
Walk the heritage core around Auburn, Clifford and Sloane streets: this tour links 10 historic places, including the railway station, the Court House, the Post Office, St Clair, Connollys Mill and two cathedrals.
How long does the Goulburn walking tour take?
About 86 minutes over roughly 3.1 km, including time to stop and listen at each place.
What is the history of Goulburn in brief?
Settlers arrived in the 1820s and by the 1830s Goulburn was the commercial and administrative centre of the Southern Tablelands. The diocese was created in 1864 and the railway arrived in 1869, driving a building boom.
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 Goulburn 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 12 October 2026.