Around Goulburn City

Royal Letters Patent was issued by Queen Victoria on March 14^th 1863, which established the Anglican Diocese of Goulburn. Thus, Goulburn became the first inland city of Australia. This city also lies in the Southern Tablelands and is 195 km from Sydney and connected to it by railway and the Hume highway. We stayed overnight in Goulburn while moving from Melbourne to Sydney. As I was not too well then and we were taking a car full of luggage, we had decided to do the drive over a couple of days.

Since we had actually not seen anything of the city, this holiday break we thought to revisit and see the sights. In Australia there are some large sculptures about. My trip to Canberra blog gives you some pictures of them. Here in Goulburn there is a large Merino sheep. It is right as one drives into the city off the Hume Highway. Last time we were so busy trying to figure out where we were that we actually missed seeing it. This time with a map and directions worked out, I was on the lookout for this giant sheep. 

We drove to the motel and got settled in. It had been a tiring day, having driven in from Sydney and spent the afternoon in Canberra, so we decided to dine at the Steakhouse restaurant at the motel. I must say that like last time the chef was accommodating and I got a fab pasta dish, the mushrooms and capsicum were replaced with broccoli and beans. 

The next morning we drove into town and parked at the Centro (shopping mall). This mall is small one but caters for all the usual things and convenient parking place. The walk down the high street showed many old buildings which have been recently restored, most likely for the 150^th anniversary last year. I still have a look at the roads and think, they are so wide!

 City Centre

Post and Telegraph Office

Town Hall

Then we wandered over to see the St Saviour Cathedral. It is a building that kind of stands at an angle to the road. There are two gates and we took a walk around the cathedral to find an open door, as often only a side door is left ajar for people to visit. But alas….. the place was closed tight. There was no one about to ask why this was not open. Walked across the road and found the local library. I must say I am really taken up with the fact that there are wonderful libraries everywhere. They said the cathedral was opened by volunteers and maybe the one for the day could not come for some reason. Such a shame, that someone else could not just open the place. I am sure there were others like us wanting to visit, as we did see people wandering around the building.

 St. Saviour's Cathedral

St. Peter and Paul’s old cathedral is also nearby and was open for a visit. The tower is currently being restored and getting a new copper steeple. People can donate a copper tile and the count of how many have been donated is on the wall at the entrance. The building is made of green stone and looks beautiful. I would indeed like to visit and see it when it is completed.

St. Peter and Paul's

The next stop was the War Memorial on top of Rocky Hill. This is the memorial for all the men who went to World War 1 from Goulburn, and star is marked in front of those who did not return. There is a wonderful panoramic view of Goulburn from the hill. You can see the river Wollondilly meandering past. There is the city centre itself and the 2 churches, the post office clock tower, the police academy on the far side.

We went back to the shopping mall for lunch, a nice falafel wrap with some hot chilli sauce. Then decided that we had seen this city and maybe drive about in the countryside. More in the next blog.