Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Goulburn (Australia). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre, St Peter and Paul's Old Cathedral, and St Saviour's Cathedral. Also, be sure to include The Big Merino in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Goulburn (New South Wales).
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Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre
Museum in Goulburn, Australia. The Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre are heritage-listed former railway workshops and now museum located on the Main Southern line in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as the Goulburn Rail Workshop and the Goulburn Roundhouse. The workshops were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. The workshops were saved from demolition by the Goulburn Locomotive Roundhouse Preservation Society and is now a museum open to the public with large collection of rolling stock and various exhibits, as well as privately owned locomotives and carriages.[1]
Address: 12 Braidwood Road, 2580 Goulburn
St Peter and Paul's Old Cathedral
St Peter and Paul's Old Cathedral is a heritage-listed former Catholic cathedral and now parish church at 42 Verner Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Andrea Stombuco and Charles Spadacini and built from 1871 to 1890 by C. J. O'Brien and Wilkie Bros. It is also known as St. Peter and Paul's Former Cathedral and St Peter and Paul's Catholic Cathedral; Saints Peter and Paul's Catholic Cathedral. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 20 April 2009.[2]
St Saviour's Cathedral
Historic Anglican church with tours. The St Saviour's Cathedral is the heritage-listed cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn in Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. The cathedral is dedicated to Jesus, in his title of Saviour. The current dean is the Very Reverend Phillip Saunders. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 20 April 2009.[3]
Address: 170 Bourke St, 2580 Goulburn
The Big Merino
Clothing store in Goulburn, Australia. The Big Merino is a 15.2 metres tall concrete merino ram, located in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. Nicknamed "Rambo" by locals, the Big Merino contains a gift shop on the ground floor and a wool display on the second floor. Visitors can climb to the top and look out through the Merino's eyes to view the local area.
The Big Merino was officially opened on 20 September 1985 at No.98 Hume St, Goulburn, approximately 800 metres north-east of its current location.
In 1992, the Hume Highway bypassed Goulburn, which resulted in a loss of 40 busloads of tourists to the Big Merino complex per day. On 26 May 2007, the Big Merino was moved to a location closer to the Hume Highway to increase visitor numbers, and is now located near the freeway interchange at a service station. Today, a drive-through car wash occupies Rambo's original location.[4]
Address: Corner of Hume and Sowerby Streets, 2580 Australia Goulburn
Riversdale
Riversdale is a heritage-listed house in the early colonial Regency style located in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. The house was built in about 1840 and some of the outbuildings were constructed even earlier. The house is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register and the property is owned by the National Trust of Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 1 March 2002.[5]
Address: Off Maud Street 2 Twynam Dr, 2580 Goulburn
Goulburn Court House
Goulburn Court House is a heritage-listed courthouse at 4 Montague Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed in the Federation Free Classical style based on original designs by Colonial Architect, James Barnet and his assistant Edward Rumsey. It was built from 1885 to 1887 by David Jones. The property is owned by the New South Wales Department of Justice. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[6]
Goulburn Post Office
Goulburn Post Office is a heritage-listed post office at 165 Auburn Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet and built from 1880 to 1881 by F. Horn. It is also known as Goulburn Post and Telegraph Office. The property is owned by Australia Post. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 22 December 2000.[7]
Colonial Mutual Life Building
The Colonial Mutual Life Building is a heritage-listed insurance office at Clifford Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as the CML Building. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[8]
Connollys Mill
Conolly's Mill is a heritage-listed former public baths and wheat mill and now shops at Sloane Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[9]
Brisbane Grove
Locality in Australia. Brisbane Grove is a locality in the Goulburn Mulwaree Council area, New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the road from Goulburn to Braidwood about 8 km south of Goulburn. Goulburn Airport is in the locality, on its southwestern edge. The Hume Highway passes through the northernmost part of Brisbane Grove, but there is no exit or entrance. At the 2016 census, it had a population of 131.[10]
St. John's Orphanage
Building in Australia. St. John's Orphanage, sometimes referred to as the Goulburn Boys Orphanage, is a decommissioned orphanage located on Mundy Street in Goulburn, a town located in New South Wales, Australia. The architect of the building is EC Manfred. The foundation stone was laid and blessed on 17 March 1912 by Bishop John Gallagher of Goulburn, who also blessed the building during its opening ceremony in late 1913. It is two storeys high, and several extensions were added to the building throughout its early history. The orphanage amalgamated with St. Joseph's Orphanage for girls in 1976, and the remaining orphans were placed into group homes. As a result, the orphanage was closed in 1978 and rented out to the Youth with a Mission Base until they left in 1994. Since then, the orphanage has remained abandoned.
Run by the Sisters of Mercy and the Catholic Church until its closure, the orphanage housed males from the ages of 5 to 16 initially. Its capacity was intended to be 100 children, but this peaked to more than 200 during the Second World War. By the 1970s, the orphanage began taking in female orphans from St. Joseph's because of declining numbers of males. Until its closure, the orphanage took in more than 2,500 individuals for various reasons. Only four per cent of those who stayed there were actually orphans. The orphanage's residents were given a religious education, and were trained in agriculture. Accounts by former residents state that they suffered severe beatings and punishments, and that they were issued a single set of clothing that was rarely washed. Another claims that some residents endured sexual abuse and rape, not only by the staff, but by older boys, and the caretaker. However, others state that the nuns were tough but fair and remained in contact with them.
The orphanage is currently owned by businessman John Ferrara who has proposed a number of redevelopments on the site, including the building's restoration. The building has been heavily vandalised, and a series of fires have destroyed much of its infrastructure. Ghost tours have been conducted in the building. It has been heritage listed by the Goulburn Mulwaree Council.[11]