Museums & Historic Houses
Discover Bathurst and its region through its museums and historic homes, where the STORIES OF THE PAST ARE BROUGHT TO LIFE. From carefully preserved heritage houses to engaging local museums, each site offers a window into the people, events, and industries that shaped the region. Visitors can EXPLORE COLLECTIONS, GUIDED TOURS AND HISTORIC INTERIORS that capture everything from early colonial life to Bathurst’s pioneering spirit, all set within easy reach of the city and surrounding countryside.
Abercrombie
House
This Scottish baronial mansion is a heritage treasure of the Bathurst Region, built in the 1870s by Bathurst pioneers the Stewart family.
Australian Fossil & Mineral Museum
The Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum houses some of the finest and rarest specimens of mineral crystals and fossils from around the world.
Bathurst District Historical Society Museum
The Bathurst District Historical Society Museum is located in the east wing of the Bathurst Courthouse & is a treasure trove of local historical artefacts:
Bathurst Rail Museum
The Bathurst Rail Museum brings the rich social history of Bathurst and our story as a railway town to life, with personal recollections and artefacts.
Chifley Home
In a quiet street in Bathurst is one of the country’s most intimate museums, the former home of Prime Minister Ben Chifley and his wife, Elizabeth.
History Hill
Experience what it was really like during Australia’s gold rush period. See an underground mine and extensive museum exhibits dating to the 1850’s.
Miss Traill's House
A delightful heritage house museum. This Victorian-era bungalow holds features pieces that belonged to some of the original settlers of the district.
National Motor Racing Museum
The National Motor Racing Museum celebrates the rich history of Australian Motor Sportand Mount Panorama.
Old Government Cottage
The building known as Old Government Cottage is a rare, intact example, of an early Bathurst home in the area of the old Government settlement.
Rockley Mill Museum
The Rockley Mill and Stables Museum was built in 1862 and displays the rich history of the area, with old mill machinery, police records and more.