Discover Goulburn: Water Engineering, History and River Walks

Goulburn can be discovered through a variety of different traces: historic water engineering, memorial sites, public art and paths along the rivers offer different ways to shape your stay. When planning your trip, it may therefore be important to decide whether you would prefer to explore culture and history, spend time outdoors or combine both.

Water Engineering and City History

On the banks of the Wollondilly River near Marsden Weir is the Goulburn Historic Waterworks Museum. It preserves the original Appleby Bros. Beam Engine, pumps and Galloway boilers from Goulburn’s first central water supply. The preserved machinery brings this part of the city’s history to life: instead of simply reading about an earlier water supply, you can see the machines and boilers associated with it.

The Historic Waterworks hosts the Steampunk Victoriana Fair annually on the third weekend in October. If you include this date in your trip planning, you can combine your museum visit with this special event. The fair offers a different focus from a walk or a visit to Goulburn’s memorial sites.

Rocky Hill War Memorial opened in 1925 as a memorial to the people of Goulburn who served in the First World War. A new museum building opened beside the memorial in June 2020. Rocky Hill War Memorial Lookout offers views across the region; information boards and seating are also available. Here, remembrance, information and views of the surrounding area come together.

Art, Houses and Railway Heritage

Goulburn’s architectural and collection history also takes different forms. Riversdale is a 1830s homestead with flowering gardens and art collections. Garroorigang Historic Home preserves original colonial and Victorian furnishings. Those interested in historic interiors will find a different way to connect with the past here than at the Waterworks’ engineering exhibits.

The Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre is a museum in heritage-listed former railway workshops on the Main Southern Line in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. Goulburn Regional Art Gallery’s public art is another feature: since 1982, its programme has included murals, interventions and sculptures around the city. In 2020, the gallery curated a public art tour that ran from the Visitor Information Centre in Goulburn to the gallery. St Saviour’s Cemetery was Goulburn’s first cemetery and adds another aspect of the city’s history to these themes.

River Walks, Gardens and Activity

There are two different trail networks for spending time outdoors. The Wollondilly River Walkway starts at Marsden Weir and extends for more than 4 kilometres to Tarlo Street Bridge. The Mulwaree River Walkway follows a shared-use trail network around Goulburn Golf Course and Goulburn Wetlands; the entire network is approximately 20 kilometres long. If you include a trail in your day’s plans, the difference between the route of more than 4 kilometres and the network of approximately 20 kilometres can help you choose a suitable outing.

The rose gardens in Victoria Park feature the City of Goulburn Rose and are a highlight of the annual Rose Festival in March. Another active option is the Riverside Park Pump Track, designed for BMX, mountain biking, skateboarding, scooters and roller skating, for people of all ages and abilities. Visitors can also take a self-guided historical tour in Belmore Park.

When choosing a holiday rental in Goulburn, you can consider which of these aspects of the town you want to shape your stay: engineering and railway history, historic houses, art, memorial sites or outdoor activities. This way, your search for suitable accommodation starts with the travel experience you want, without combining the different offerings into a single excursion theme.

For the broader travel overview: Goulburn Mulwaree Council.