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Known as the oldest inland settlement in Australia, Bathurst is a regional centre in the Central Tablelands, New South Wales. It is the seat of the Bathurst Regional Council and is located around 200 kilometres west-northwest of Sydney. It has a total land area of 3,820 km2 and is home to 36,801 residents in 2018, based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimation. The city is also known as the Gold Country as it was the site where the first gold was discovered in Australia, leading to the first gold rush in the country.

Specks of gold were first discovered in the Fish River in 1823, but it was only in 1851 when the discovery of the first payable gold was announced. In the 1860s, Bathurst began to boom and became the first gold centre of the country.

In the following years, Bathurst also became an essential region for coal mining and manufacturing after Cobb & Co, a horse-drawn coaching transport, relocated to the town. It also became an important railway centre after a line from the Main Western railway from Sydney reached Bathurst in 1876.

Facilities Around Bathurst A city thriving in manufacturing, education and tourism, Bathurst offers numerous facilities for residents and visitors alike. Most Australians associate the town with motorsports as Mount Panorama, one of the most famous racing circuits, is located here. The Bathurst 1000 is an annual motor racing event that draws in many car enthusiasts! Other sporting facilities in the town include an aquatic centre, an indoor sports stadium and a hockey complex.

Some of the top shopping centres in the region are the Bathurst City Centre, Armada Bathurst Shopping Centre and Bathurst Chase. Several educational facilities are located in Bathurst, from early childhood, primary to tertiary. Restaurants and cafes that offer local produce and wineries and breweries are found around the town.

The city also has its own airport, Bathurst Airport, served by one airline (Regional Express Airlines) and is a location for several flying schools.

Famous Destinations Around Bathurst

Mount Panorama This motor racing track is one of the most visited destinations in Bathurst as it serves host to several famous racing events and is home to Bathurst 1000 motor race and Bathurst 12 Hour.

National Motor Racing Museum Not far from Mount Panorama is the National Motor Racing Museum that displays Australia’s motor racing history along with the country’s famous modern racing cars, motorcycles and other memorabilia.

The Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum This museum permanently houses the Somerville Collection of fossils and minerals, including a T-rex skeleton and an extensive collection of Australian opalized fossils.

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery The Bathurst Regional Art Gallery features around 25 exhibits per year, including touring exhibitions, a popular place for art enthusiasts.

History of Bathurst Government surveyor and explorer George Evans first landed in Bathurst Plains in 1813, originally occupied by the Wiradjuri Aboriginal people. The following year, Governor Lachlan Macquarie approved an establishment of a road crossing the existing road terminus located west of Sydney to Bathurst Plains.

On 7 May 1815, Governor Macquarie officially named the town after the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl of Bathurst. The initial settlement of the city was in 1816, with the Wiradjuri people resisting settlers until the Frontier Wars in the early 1820s ended the conflict.