Make the ‘tree change’ to a rural ambience with city benefits. Goulburn offers a great work/life balance with all the benefits of a big town, without the traffic, and congestion you find in a big city. If you live in town you’ll be minutes away from work (perhaps even close enough to walk or cycle) and even if you live on a property outside of Goulburn or in one of the neighbouring villages, it’s still a much shorter trip than big city living. Goulburn features a central park and many historic buildings. It is also home to the Big Merino – the world’s largest concrete sheep.
Goulburn is Australia’s first inland city with much to offer. With indoor attractions such as galleries, theatres and festival venues and outdoor activities such as bicycling, hiking, canyoning, cave walks and abseiling, there is plenty to enjoy outside work or study. Meander through the towns and villages surrounding Goulburn and make the most of the relaxed pace of its country lifestyle. Indulge in some retail therapy along Goulburn’s country mile of shopping and services.
Useful Facts
Size: 3293km 2
Population: 28,000
Climate: Warm summer days with cooler nights, glorious spring and autumn weather and alpine winters often with snow on the highest areas. Temperatures average from 10oC – 28oC in summer and 0oC -13oC in winter. Average yearly rainfall is 640mm.
Transport
Road 195km from Sydney, 90km from Canberra Rail Goulburn is is part of the public transport network of Greater Sydney. The station is also served by the long distance Southern XPT and Xplorer trains between Sydney and Melbourne, Canberra and Griffith. Airport Canberra Local PBC Goulburn offers a local bus service in the area.
Education
Employment
The Goulburn region has nearly 1,000 employers, the largest sectors being healthcare & social assistance, retail trade and public administration & safety.
Dining
Goulburn’s cosmopolitan culture is reflected in a diverse range of dining experiences. Taste local wines and ales or delight in the variety of flavours and cuisine on offer. Choose from a range of restaurants and styles, from fine dining to alfresco. Whether you’re after a meal to remember or a quiet bite to eat, Goulburn has it on the menu. The Southern NSW Harvest is a must see event. Sport Goulburn has a strong motor racing culture with Wakefield Park Motorsport, and the Marulan Driver Training Centre. There’s also a BMX track, cycle trails, gold trails, racing, a skate park, fishing, Wombeyan caves, abseiling, canyoning, rock climbing, bushwalking, eco tours, canoeing and more.
Arts & Culture
There are loads of markets including: Lilac City Markets, Homestead Markets, and Goulburn Old Brewery Markets. There is of course the Big Merino, but for some fine art and culture visit the Creative Eye Art Gallery, Gallery on Track, Garroorigang Historic Home, Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery and lots more.
Aboriginal culture In Goulburn NSW, the plains and Wollondilly River provided native game and fish for a number of the traditional Aboriginal peoples including: Mulwaree, Tarlo, Burra Burra, Wollondilly, Wiradjuri, Gundungurra, Dharrook, Tharawal, Lachlan, Pajong, Parramarragoo, Cookmal and Gnunawal. The Goulburn region was known as a meeting place for all these groups, it wasn’t inhabited by just one group of people.
Evidence remains of sites where stone tools were made and great corroborees were held – the last being late in the 19th century. Some known significant sites locally include:
- Goulburn Railway Station (a meeting place, corroboree site)
- Kenmore Hospital (ceremonial area)
- Rocky Hill (a bora site where initiations were held, a “man’s place”)
- Corroboree Hill near Taralga
- All Saints Church (corroboree site)
- Lansdowne Park Estate (burial site)
- Wollondilly River & Mulwaree Flats
