This will be an exciting weekend of stone, gold and rare trades in one of Australia’s oldest gold mining regions. Bathurst is rich in stone structures and national heritage and our field trip is timed to coincide with the Rare Trades Heritage Trail – a celebration of old trades, crafts and traditional skills.
We are sponsoring a dry stone walling demonstration with wallers, Wayne Fox and Emma Knowles showing off their handiwork.
Places are limited and bookings close 6 May 2018
Here is the detailed itinerary:
Friday 11 May
5 pm welcome at Abercrombie House in Bathurst with
- drinks and canapes
- introduction to the weekend
- a talk on the history of Abercrombie House by its owner, Christopher Morgan, followed by a tour of the House and its artefacts
- an illustrated talk on Cox’s Road, the first road across the Blue Mountains from Sydney, by David Goldney, an expert on Cox’s Road
- the opportunity to stay on for an evening of jazz
Evening: dinner: own arrangements, accommodation: own arrangements (Abercrombie House is an option – see here)
Saturday 12 May
9 am Depart Bathurst by car convoy
10 am Tour of the historic Bridle Track connecting Bathurst to the gold mining town of Hill End, visiting dry stone embankments and structures. Morning tea along the way.
12.30pm Picnic lunch beside the Turon River. Talk about the history of the area Bridle Track by a local identity.
Car convoy, with some walking, to see early dry stone structures along the Track, noting rock walls, culverts, bridges and remains of old stone/wattle and daub houses such as “Boxwood”, owned by Garry Browne and “Mountain View” once owned by Percy Gresser, an early Australian shearer.
3 pm Arrive Hill End gold rush town for guided walking tour and visit History Hill Museum
5.30pm Meeting and drinks at the Royal Hotel
6 pm Group dinner at the Royal Hotel with local historian and custodian of the History Hill Museum as guest speaker.
We have booked all 10 rooms in the Royal Hotel for up to 20 guests in single, twin and double rooms ($40pp). Please indicate your preference below. Allocations will be made on a first-come-first-served basis and confirmed in advance. Other accommodation is available in Hill End.
Sunday 13 May
8 am Breakfast for those people staying at the Royal Hotel.
9 am Car convoy to Sofala
10 am Walking tour of Sofala
11 am Depart for Bathurst
12.30 pm Attend Rare Trades Heritage Trail in Bathurst – a celebration of old trades, crafts and traditional skills including a dry stone walling demonstration by wallers Wayne Fox and Emma Knowles, supported by DSWAA. Food and drink available for purchase.
5 pm Tour and activities conclude
7 pm Dinner at a local venue (at own cost)
Monday 14 May extension tour:
- historic sights in Bathurst
- Mount Panorama race circuit and lookout
- visits to key features along Cox’s Road, the original track across the Blue Mountains
- Mayfield Gardens, a historic property and garden rich in dry stone walls
What’s included in the $130pp ticket:
- welcome drinks on Friday
- picnic lunch on Saturday
- group dinner on Saturday at the iconic Royal Hotel in Hill End.
- admission to the Rare Trades Heritage Trail venues and the DSWAA wall demonstration
- maps and tour notes
What’s included in the $170pp ticket:
- All the above plus bed and breakfast on Saturday night at the Royal Hotel
What’s not included:
- travel to and from Bathurst
- accommodation, except as above
- dinner on Friday evening
- drinks, other than at the Friday welcome
- lunch on Sunday
- any costs incurred on the Monday
