The Goulburn region was originally a meeting place for several Aboriginal groups with the Mulwaree and Dharawal people living in and around the region.
In 1818, explorer Hamilton Hume and surveyor James Meehan first crossed the area where Goulburn was settled, and 45 years later, Goulburn was declared Australia’s first inland city by Queen Victoria.
Its strong agricultural roots came from its profitable wool industry. The cathedrals, gold rush and the rail system helped the city’s growth. Its grand buildings and homes, still standing today, attest to its being a vibrant and affluent city in the nineteenth century.
With its rich heritage, beauty and contemporary services, there are many places of interest for locals and visitors. Self-guided tour maps and local historical information are available from the Goulburn Information Centre. It is a popular destination for visitors, being 2 hours from Sydney and the coast and an hour from Canberra.
There is strong local interest in Goulburn’s heritage, with many contributors to Our Living History Festival, which will be run on the 13th and 14th March, 2021.
Click here to download the program
