Gulgong Attractions: Walking Tour

Gulgong Pioneers Museum | Henry Lawson Centre | Prince of Wales Opera House | Walking Tour

Click here for a map of Gulgong, including the walking tour

The walking tour starts from the Gulgong Tourism Office at 64 Herbert Street. Cross the road to the main building of the Gulgong Pioneers' Museum. Follow Herbert Street uphill towards the CBD, noting the lovely old shop-fronts along the way. When you reach Mayne Street, turn left and walk past the supermarket to the intersection with White Street. Cross Mayne Street, and see the corner shop and the Prince of Wales Opera House, not forgetting to browse at the Opera House shop.

Turn left onto Herbert Street and walk past more historic buildings until you reach the old AJS Bank on your left. Across the road you will see the Cudgegong House complex. Once the old Town Hall, it now houses the first-class Cudgegong Gallery and offices. From the gallery, walk back to Mayne Street, past the Post Office and courthouse. When you reach Mayne Street, turn left.

Back on Mayne Street, walk downhill past several period shops to the timber shop featured on the original $10 note. Past Coronation Park are two old shops and two solid buildings that have served many purposes over the years.

Crossing Medley Street, note the traditional wooden doors of the Centennial Hotel opening from the rooms on to the footpath, and the former Royal Hotel - now $10 Town Motel - opposite. The Henry Lawson Centre is a living memorial to the writer. Next door is the classic Stables Guest House, and then a pair of contrasting cottages. A little further along, verging on the footpath, is the former consulting room of the doctor who lived in the adjoining brick cottage. Also next to the footpath is the tiny shop that was built by the stock and station agent who lived in nearby Beryl Cottage. Across Crown Street is another timber cottage, once used as art rooms.

Cross Mayne Street at A8 to the park land of Bulga Street, see the former rectory on the corner of Bulga and Queen Streets, and turn into Bayly Street at A5. This is ‘church hill’, with the presbytery and Catholic church to the right and the Anglican church, designed by Thomas Blacket, to the left. Further along are the convent and the Catholic school, with its Spanish-style arches. Across the road is the Presbyterian church, and further down, on the corner of Bayly and Medley Streets, the charming timber house built by Peter Larsen, father of Henry Lawson.

Turn right into Medley Street and head back towards Mayne Street. On the right, across Queen Street, the large building resembling a hall was once the power house that supplied Gulgong with electricity. Opposite that is a garage, surviving from the early days of motoring. The adjoining two-storey building, in Mayne Street, was once a guest house. Take the time to peek into some of the fabulous shops in the historic shopping area and explore the streets around the town centre for classic timber and stone buildings.

More Attractions

Lynne Street (map B1) and surrounding streets are full of historic residential architecture.

From Cooyal Street (map F9) head East to visit the remnants of the Red Hill gold mine.