BATHURST
Bathurst is encounted when travelling the Sydney to Dubbo (or vice
versa) on the Great Western Hgy. Bathurst is a very attractive city
and the visitor will delight in what is on offer. 
Bathurst was founded at the terminus of Cox's Road on the orders of
Governor Lachlan Macquarie who selected the site on 7 May 1815. It is
the oldest inland town in Australia. The name Bathurst comes from the
surname of the British Colonial Secretary Lord Bathurst. It was
intended to be the administrative centre of the western plains of New
South Wales, where orderly colonial settlement was planned.
Bathurst is
often referred to as Gold Country as it was the site of the first gold
discovery and where the first gold rush occurred in Australia. Today
it is education; tourism and manufacturing that drive the economy.
Internationally known racetrack Mount Panorama is also a landmark of
the city.
Bathurst has a
historic city centre with many buildings remaining from the gold rush
period of the mid to late 1800s. _small.JPG)   
The Court House in particular is a gem.
The
Congregational Churches are all quite stunning buildings. The Catholic  ,
Presbyterian
and United
particularly so.  
Bathurst down
town has two museums; a heritage
and dinosaur
museums.
The Bathurst War
Memorial
and gardens are quite beautiful and symbolic.  
With few
exceptions
most of the hotels in Bathurst are rebuilds.     
Today, Bathurst is synonymous with motorsport, being
the site of the Mount Panorama
motor racing circuit. The circuit is a public road when not being used
for racing and is a popular tourist attraction for visitors to the
city. So when visiting allow more than three days.
Heritage diary_small.JPG) _small.JPG) _small.JPG) _small.JPG)
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