Places to visit in and around Bathurst NSW

Mount Panorama/Wahluu has been a site of significance to the Wiradjuri people for many thousands of years. Wahluu means sacred place and was an initiation site for young men.

In more recent times, the area has achieved iconic status and international fame as the site of the Mount Panorama racing circuit – it is often referred to as the spiritual home of Australian motor racing.

You can visit this remarkable site, just south from Bathurst, and begin at the Skyline, the high point of the racing circuit.

From the elevated boardwalk and viewing platform you can take in stunning views of the racing circuit, the iconic Mount Panorama sign, the city of Bathurst and the sweeping Bathurst Plains beyond.

Here, you’ll also read about the story of Mount Panorama/Wahluu and the Mount Panorama racing circuit.

Relax at the scenic picnic and barbecue spots and take in the views – if you’re lucky you might even spot some grazing kangaroos.

The Bathurst District Soldiers’ Memorial Carillon is a war memorial tower in the heart of Bathurst’s Town Square at Kings Parade. The carillon honours the local people who served in World War One and all those who have made sacrifices in conflicts since that time.

This is a place that has played a central role in the Bathurst community since its dedication in 1933.

The carillon is an enormous musical instrument within the structure and 47 bells arranged in 4 tiers, with the smallest bell weighing 8 kg and the largest 1.5 tonnes.

Be sure to be there when the bells play every day at noon and 1.00pm. Take the time to connect with this great public space and the important story it tells.

One of the remarkable aspects of Machattie Park is how much of what you see and enjoy today matches the vision of the original designer, James Hine. His design was influenced by the great Victorian-era parks and gardens, as well as French and Italian styles.

Hine’s original plan called for “a handsome iron fountain” on the William Street side of “an elevated and picturesque band pavilion”.

What you see today is a Grand Fountain, opened by the mayor of the day, Alderman F Crago, as noted on the fountain’s plaque. This inscription has led to generations referring to the fountain as the ‘Crago Fountain’.

The fountain sits in Machattie Park, a significant example of a late 19th century Victorian country town park in terms of its form and layout.

As well as the fountain, you can enjoy many decorative features, such as the Bandstand, the Caretakers Cottage and the Munro Drinking Fountain. You’ll also enjoy a collection of mature and majestic trees that line the park’s avenues.

Machattie Park is a family and dog-friendly park for everyone to enjoy, with picnic shelters and accessible amenities, close to local cafes and shops.

In beautiful Machattie Park along the path to the left of the Gardener’s Cottage, towards Russell Street, you’ll find a small tree within a fenced enclosure.

While on first sight this tree may not seem to match the grandeur of so many other elements of the park, it has perhaps the most fascinating story of all.

This is the Bathurst Glastonbury Thorn, a direct descendent of the Glastonbury Thorn located in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey in England.

Legend has it that Joseph of Arimathea was sent to England in 61 AD and on his travels he stopped at Glastonbury where he was reputed to have planted his staff - and from this a thorn tree sprouted and grew.

A cutting from that famous tree was brought to Bathurst in 1935 by the Reverend J Leighton Edwell who presented it to Head Gardener Walter Kefford. The cutting he struck developed into a large specimen.

However, in 1992, the tree was blown over in a storm. The small shoot that emerged from a surviving part of the root system and has been nurtured and protected to grow into the small tree you see today.

Located in the centre of Bathurst, Machattie Park is a family and dog-friendly park with picnic facilities and accessible amenities.

At first sight, ‘From the Floor’ is an inconspicuous sculpture, in front of the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum on Howick Street in Bathurst. Yet its history tells us a lot about Australia’s history.

From the Floor, by artist Nicole Ellis, sits on the site where the People’s Federal Convention was held in Bathurst in 1899. The Convention brought together 150 citizens from across Australia to discuss how Australia would become a federation – essentially one country instead of six colonies of Britain – and how to establish the Australian Commonwealth.

The sculpture features a list of all the people who attended the Convention.

From the Floor sits on Howick Street, which forms part of Bathurst Town Square, an area that was specifically designed as an identifiable public square in the original town plan for Bathurst in 1833.

After taking in the sculpture, spend some time in the square. It includes important historic buildings and open spaces to explore, along with places to rest and shelter, including accessible amenities.

The Flag Staff at Bicentennial Peace Park in Bathurst is a striking 10 m flag staff atop a glass pyramid. It helps us to understand the story of the original custodians of the land, the Wiradjuri people, and the evolution of Bathurst into the city it is today.

The first Bathurst Flag Staff was set in place at the termination of Cox’s Road in early May 1815, marking the official survey point for the proposed town of Bathurst and making it the earliest gazetted structure in inland Australia.

However, the flag staff was lost over time.

Today, you can now see a modern flag staff in this original location, which was established in 2015 to mark 200 years of Bathurst.

You can take in this history from a viewing platform that features Wiradyuri designs of Girawu (the Tree Goanna) and Biladurang (Platypus) dreaming. Several hundred handprints and birthdates of Aboriginal children and elders all etched in the glass.

You’ll also enjoy picturesque views of the Macquarie River, and the surrounding landscaping features flowers dedicated to Governor and Mrs Macquarie – the Governor Macquarie rose and the Elizabeth Macquarie iris.

The Flag Staff is a free public space for everyone of all ages and abilities. It sits within a family and dog-friendly park with picnic facilities and accessible amenities.

Visit the Ben Chifley Engine at the historic railways precinct of the heritage-listed 1876 Bathurst rail station to honour one of Bathurst’s most famous and cherished sons.

Ben Chifley, Australia’s 16th prime minister, joined the NSW Government Railways as a shop-boy, before rising through the ranks to become the youngest first class engine driver in NSW at 29.

He later entered politics as a local government member, before entering federal politics, eventually becoming treasurer in 1941 and prime minister in July 1945.

To honour his legacy, the Ben Chifley Engine was restored to a static display condition rather than as a working locomotive engine.

You can visit the engine just outside the main entrance to Bathurst rail station. While there, pop into the Bathurst Rail Museum, which tells the story of the development of the railway and of the life of Ben Chifley. The Bathurst Rail Museum is open 6 days a week 9am to 4.30pm (closed Thursdays).

The name ‘Peter Brock’ is synonymous with Bathurst. No racing car driver has matched his record of 9 victories in the Bathurst 1000 between 1972 and 1989.

The Brock Memorial statue was first conceived following the outpouring of grief and respect by motorsports fans after Peter Brock’s passing in 2006. Many wrote messages on the wall at the Skyline boardwalk and viewing platform on the Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst.

Julie Squires was commissioned to create the artwork and it was unveiled in 2008. You can see it taking pride of place outside the National Motor Racing Museum at the entrance to the Mount Panorama circuit.

The Brock Memorial statue shows Peter Brock holding the James Hardy Trophy on top of his iconic 1984 Holden VK Commodore. It was in this car that he won the race of that year, claiming his seventh Bathurst 1000 victory.

After viewing the statue, visit the National Motor Racing Museum, which celebrates the rich history of Australian Motor Sport, particularly Bathurst and Mount Panorama. You can visit 6 days a week, 9am to 4.30pm (closed Tuesdays).

On a busy day, take some time to rest and relax in the peaceful Ohkuma Japanese Gardens, on the corner of Hereford and Stanley Streets.

The gardens symbolise the close relationship between Bathurst and its Japanese sister city, Ohkuma.

When you visit the gardens, designed with the head gardener from Ohkuma Council, you’ll see a dry waterfall and small bridge along with traditional Japanese plants.

From this design, you’ll be able to feel as if you’re within the Japanese region’s mountains with streams and a lake running down into the sea. You’ll see flowering may, horizontal juniper, spindle tree, Japanese flowering cherry, Japanese snowball, dwarf sacred bamboo, shores juniper, Japanese maple and various ground covers.

You can also sit and contemplate the garden and river from an azumaya (rest house), which is based on similar traditional structures commonly found in Japan. You’ll also enjoy the 3 beautiful weeping cherry trees that were planted in the garden in 2009.

You can visit Ohkuma Japanese Gardens all year round, and it is free to visit. You can park on Stanley Street and there’s accessible amenities a short walk away at Macquarie River Bicentennial Park.