Goulburn, New South Wales

Goulburn is a historic city in New South Wales, Australia. It is located along the Sydney to Canberra corridor. Goulburn is self-referentially “Australia’s first inland city”.

Goulburn is noted for significant turn of the century architecture. The city has a population of 27,277 as at the last census (2006). Goulburn has been severely drought-stricken in recent years, as New South Wales endured the longest drought for decades. Water restrictions reached level 5; with recent rain, they have been relaxed to Level 3.

Like many towns and cities, it initially suffered when the new freeway the M5 was built and bypassed many towns along the route of the Hume Highway. Goulburn had virtually no population growth for a few years, but it did not go into the decline suffered by smaller enclaves such as Marulan to the north, and seems to have bounced back following the forced council amalgamations in 2004. Population has grown modestly, from 20,846 in 1999 to just over 27,000 at present.

Visitors to the city are struck by the picturesque workers’ cottages at the northern entrance to the city, the exceptionally wide streets and striking municipal buildings. Among many, sites of architectural interest included the court house, the post office and Goulburn Cathedral, the seat of the Anglican diocese.

Goulburn is host to the Big Merino, a large cement tribute to the area’s pastoral heritage and the primacy of the wool industry.

Also of note is the Goulburn Correction Centre (“Goulburn Gaol”), an all-male maximum security prison which is the highest security level prison in Australia. The New South Wales Police Academy is also located in Goulburn.

Local government

Goulburn is the administrative centre of Goulburn Mulwaree Council, created in 2004. Despite widespread local resistance, the Mulwaree Shire and parts of Crookwell were forced to become part of the new, amalgamated council. The current mayor of Goulburn is Paul Stephenson.

Arts and attractions

• Australian Blues Music Festival
• Riversdale, a restored 1840 cottage
• The Old Goulburn Brewery
• The Big Marino
• Rocky Hill War Memorial