Goulburn NSW Australia

Goulburn was Australia's very first 'inland city'. This fascinating region, two hours' drive south-west of Sydney, is proud of its colourful past. With a history that includes explorers, gold-diggers and bushrangers, Goulburn was settled by colonials who forged a city from the bush. Today, Australia's first inland city offers an array of historic buildings, an energetic rural culture and country cuisine. Charming villages in the district include Binda, Laggan, Taralaga and Gundaroo.

Characteristic of Goulburn, set in a low wide plain and world famous for its fine wool production are its wide, tree-lined streets and mixture of architecture.

Looking over Goulburn on a 35C (100F) summer's day last week.

Looking up Clifford Street

Montague Street

Sloane Street

The type of built environment extends from the early 1800's:

Modernised as a medical centre

Boutique housing

To the slightly more colourful boarding house accommodation.

About the time that the original hospital building was built:

and later the more modern hospital was added:

In its early days many fine mansions were built on the proceeds of industry and 'wool cheques'. It is a sad indictment that many of these historic buildings were allowed to be demolished, or, to fall into a state of disrepair rendering them unihabitable. This one is currently undergoing restoration:

The railway station in Sloane Street - many of the railway buildings

and other significant buildings in Sloane Street were preserved

as part of the  'National Trust' estate.

Later, 'new money' into the area from the cities growing enterprise added newer forms of building architecture:

and

Education thrived and several colleges were built - this one the Goulburn Public College:

Of course, around the hospital parking is a premium:

But can come at a cost as cockatoos feed on the pine cones of the large shade trees:

This one fell on the engine bonnet of the car in which I sat waiting for a client to return.

The War Memorial tower is situated on top of a rocky hill - appropriately called "Rocky Hill":

Rocky Hill is so-called for rather obvious reasons and one can see where the stone required for the construction of the War Memorial Tower was obtained:

Goulburn is a provincial city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Goulburn Mulwaree Council Local Government Area. It is located 195 kilometres (121 mi) south-west of Sydney on the Hume Highway and 690 metres (2,264 ft) above sea-level. On Census night 2006, Goulburn had a population of 20,127 people. It brands itself as "Australia's first inland city", although this is a claim that the city of Bathurst also makes.


Goulburn was named by surveyor James Meehan after Henry Goulburn, Under-Secretary for War and the Colonies, and the name was ratified by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. The Aboriginal name for Goulburn is Burbong, a Murring/Wiradjuri word indicating a special Indigenous cultural area. Several native burial grounds have been uncovered during construction of housing developments around Goulburn, the native custom of the time being to bury the deceased in shallow unmarked graves, usually on the side of a hill over-looking the plains.


Goulburn is a railhead on the Main Southern line and service centre for the surrounding pastoral industry and a stopover for those travelling on the Hume Highway. It has a central park and many historic buildings, including old houses near the railway station on Sloane Street and two 19th-century cathedrals. It is home to the Big Merino, the world's largest concrete sheep.