Settlement and Early Construction

Yass lies on the junction of the Hume and Barton Highways and serves as an important interchange, connecting Sydney, Melbourne and the Australian Capital Territory. The first survey of the town was conducted in 1836 and the township was officially gazetted in 1837.


The Court House and jail were built in 1837/1838 and St Augustine's Catholic church was completed in 1843 and St Clement's Anglican church was completed in 1850. By 1846, Yass had 55 houses and 274 inhabitants, mostly clustered around Dutton and Warrambalulah Streets with a small settlement isolated in North Yass.

The Yass Gaol was later demolished when the larger gaol was built at Goulburn, some 84 kilometres to the north.

A feature of Yass are the hourly chimes from the post office clock tower, the wedding and church service tolling of the bells from St Clements Anglican Church and the automated chimes from St Augustine's Catholic Church tower.