New South Wales - Hartley

Hartley Historic Village


Hartley was founded in the 1830s and grew into the 1860s, at which point it was left off of the railway. Despite that crushing blow, Hartley stuck around long enough for tourism traffic to start to rise as roads became developed and cars became reliable. After its last hurrah post-World War II, the Great Western Highway was realigned, and that was all for Hartley. Fortunately, instead of letting the buildings deteriorate, the National Parks and Wildlife Service bought it and preserved what was left of historic Hartley.


Enter from Highway A32, and the first building on your left is Old Trahlee Cottage, built in 1846-1854. It is now an inn for people who want to waste money to say they slept in an old house. If you were to turn sharp left here, you would see the Hartley Colonial Homestead and St. John's Anglican Church. Unfortunately, I failed to turn sharp left here.


Next up on our tour, the 1842 St. Bernard's Catholic Church and its 1845 presbytery.


Step right up to Farmers Inn (1843), now the visitor information centre.


Next on our tour, the 1860s Ivy Cottage and the 1842 Shamrock Inn, which despite its original purpose is no longer an inn. Or anything. You can see pieces of St. Bernard's and Farmers Inn just behind Ivy Cottage.


On the return trip, look left and spot this 1945 garage. Though not the same type of historic as the other buildings in the village, the old signs for the garage and Golden Fleece Oils and Greases are worth saving.


Last and least new, the 1837 sandstone court house (all stone buildings in this town use sandstone).

Back out to Great Western Highway
Hartley road photos from Old Great Western Highway
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