Fast facts
- A fine example of a small, 19th-century Australian village
- On the banks of the Yass River, surrounded by fertile grazing land
- 272 km south-west of Sydney, population 600
Why go there
The village sits in the Yass River Valley in gently undulating countryside, framed by wooded hills in the distance. Listed by the National Trust, the village contains all the elements typical of a 19th-century township.
History
The Gundaroo area was explored in the early 1820s by Charles Throsby, who remarked that it was 'the finest country as ever was seen'.
Settlement began shortly afterwards, and by the 1840s a small village had emerged on the grassy plains.
Things to do
- Soak up the 19th-century atmosphere on a stroll through the quaint village.
- Wander by the town common, one of the few remaining functioning areas of its kind in New South Wales. Villagers still graze cattle there.
- Check out the Gundaroo Store, a restored emporium of yesteryear, with its treasure trove of art and collectables.
- Enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch by the Yass River.
- Wind down completely and stay overnight at the local B&B.
Events
- Gundaroo Bush Races and Festival, in March, features horse races, farrier championships, stockman horse trials, flag and barrel racing and whip-cracking competitions.
Don’t miss
- A visit to Old Saint Lukes Studio to view the work of Churchill Fellowship award-winning ceramicist Ian Jones.
- A meal to remember at Grazing Restaurant, winner of the Best Tourism Restaurant and Best Restaurant Caterer at the 2006 Restaurant & Catering ACT & Southern NSW Awards for Excellence.
- The old police lockup, which dates back to the 1830s.
- A side trip to Sutton, a picturesque area near the upper reaches of the Yass River, just 20 km north-east of Canberra.
