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About The Area
The Southern Highlands is a very pretty region with many towns having
spectacular gardens and attractive country lodges. The towns
of Mittagong, Bowral, Moss
Vale and Bundanoon are
the main towns people come to visit.
MITTAGONG:
Mittagong
Hotel (c.18990)
Pioneer
Street
Fitzroy Inn(c.1836)
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Mittagong lies on a
plateau at the foot of Mt. Gibraltar, Mt. Jellore, and
High Range - a chain of mountains across the northern end of the
Highlands.
Gaps here offer the only natural roads into the interior,
and Mittagong from its beginning has been the gateway to the Highlands.
Mittagong was first settled by William Chalker
(1821), principal overseer of Government Stock at Cowpastures, who
was later
granted
land in the area. Within a few years there were a number of inns serving travellers.
Many of these buildings are still standing today (now 'Poplars Restaurant,
'Braemar Lodge', 'Fitzroy Inn'). The main street, Pioneer Street, and the area near the station
offer a range of interesting historic buildings. Winifred West Park,
in the centre of town, has massed displays of flowers in spring
and autumn.
There are many famous Open Gardens to be seen throughout the year.
The lookouts and walking trails on Mt. Gibraltar and Mt. Alexandra
allow you to get close to nature, with abundant birdlife and wildlife.
Village markets 3rd Saturday of every month. |
BOWRAL:
Home of
Sir Donald Bradman
Old Bowral
Town Hall 1890
Corbett
Gardens at Tulip Time
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Bowral is situated
in a valley at the foot of Mt. Gibraltar, largely on land originally
granted to John Oxley, famous explorer of the early colony of NSW.
For a generation it was farmed by his sons.
As early as 1886 Bowral was gazetted as a Municipality,
and the corporate life of the town began. Within 20 years it had
over 1000 citizens and many community, social, and sporting organisations.
It became the "big town" of the Highlands,
with its well paved streets, neat residences, many businesses, and
municipal amenities
(such as a gasworks and electricity). Bowral has a large variety
of boutiques, cafes, restaurants, bookstores, antique & craft
shops. Visit Bradman Museum and Bradman Walk. Interesting
streetscapes with historic buildings,
including residential areas with everything from C19th
cottages to grand country houses. Village market at The
Bowral Country Market
on the first Saturday each month - Kangaloon Road. Corbett Gardens (centre of town) has massed plantings of annuals
and perennials three seasons of the year, and 100,000 tulips in
spring. Many exotic trees in streets and private gardens offer spectacular
displays in spring and autumn. Open Gardens can be visited most
of year.
There are 4 hotels (live entertainment),
four major resorts, motels, many B&Bs and other accommodation
houses. First class public (2) and private (1) golf courses;
bowling club; public parks, and
picnic areas. Lookouts, and bushwalking trails on Mt. Gibraltar
and Gibbergunyah Forest. |
MOSS VALE:
Old
Post & Telegraph Office
School
of Arts 1892
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The first settlement in the Southern Highlands was
at Bong Bong on the Wingecarribee River (abandoned 1830s) a few
kilometres north of Moss Vale.
Moss Vale today lies mostly on land subdivided from the
property of the original settler in the Highlands, Charles Throsby.
The town itself was only established when the railway arrived in
1867.
The name Moss Vale is said to be derived from Jemmy Moss, an
employee of Throsby's who lived in a shack on the new subdivision.
It was formally adopted in 1869 for the town (station and post
office).
Many public buildings (churches, school, shops,
and private homes) from the 1860s to 1890s can still be seen in
the town in a good state of preservation or restoration. Leighton Gardens, in the centre of town, has massed
displays of flowers in spring and autumn, a smaller version
of the famous garden in Bowral.
The annual Agricultural Show in March is one of the
last of the old-style country fairs.
Elizabeth Street, a few blocks north of the town centre,
is famous for its lighting displays and pageants at Christmas.
Moss Vale is central to the Highlands and all other
villages and attractions.
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BUNDANOON:
Holy
Trinity Anglican Church 1905
Every
April Bundanon is Brigadoon
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Although
Bundanoon attracts a large number of visitors,
the town is not "over-touristified";
it retains the quiet, sleepy, old-world atmosphere of yesteryear,
and is the perfect place to wind down from the hectic pace
of modern life.
Bundanoon was first mentioned by explorer Charles
Throsby (1818), it was well known by the original aboriginal
inhabitants, from whose word
for "place of deep gullies" its name is derived.
The countryside so impressed him he petitioned the Governor to
have it declared a reserve (1824), perhaps the first in Australia,
and precursor to today's Morton National Park.
Some good craft shops; several excellent art galleries; cafes
and tea rooms; good restaurants; pub and licensed Bowling Club;
theatre restaurant; little museum (open weekends); nurseries;
a number of picnic areas. Park near shops, then stroll around
- across railway, left to overhead bridge, back through town,
up to art gallery, and back again (see some attractive old buildings).
Energetic? Hire a bike, or go walking
through Morton National Park. Lots of famous lookouts ('Echo
Point", "Fairy
Bower"), walking trails, picnic spots, native flowers, flocks
of native birds; and camping area. Even walking or biking around
town is relaxing and enjoyable. At night walk down to "Glow
Worm Glen". Stroll to the edge of town at dawn or dusk and
see kangaroos and wallabies. Play Golf at Sylvan Glen,
Penrose (just 10 minutes away).
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This information has been compiled from highlandsnsw.com.au Visit
this comprehensive site for a complete guide to the Southern
Highlands.
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