Hosies
Hill End Historic Site
Overview
Hosies offers unique group accommodation in a beautifully-renovated 1870s building in Hill End Historic Site between Bathurst and Mudgee. Discover the attractions, history, and walking tracks of this gold rush town from your doorstep.
| Accommodation type | Other |
|---|---|
| Where | 23 Clarke Street, Hill End, NSW, 2850 - in Hill End Historic Site |
| Bedrooms | 7 |
| Maximum guests | 12 |
| Facilities | Barbecue facilities, drinking water, showers, toilets, electric power, kitchen, bed linen, heating, towels, rubbish bin |
| Venue hire | Yes. Hosies is available for events and function hire. If you plan to use the downstairs area for gatherings of more than 12 people, you'll need to pay an extra fee and make a separate booking. |
| Please note |
|
Once a haberdashery store and residence, Hosies has been sympathetically transformed into Hill End accommodation for groups of up to 12 people.
Located in the heart of town, a country getaway at Hosies combines modern comforts with the atmosphere of a bygone era. During your stay, you'll get to enjoy the building in its entirety, including the lower level with a full kitchen, dining and lounge area.
Visit Hill End Heritage Centre for an insight into the village’s former life as a thriving gold mining town, or book an underground tour of Bald Hill tourist mine. Stroll along Golden Gully walking track, a short drive away, where remnants of old mine shafts and eroded rock formations in the creek bed will ignite your imagination.
Nature lovers can discover cottage-style gardens in summer, and autumn colours along historic avenues of elm, oak, Monterey pine and London plane trees. You may even spot a wallaby or kangaroo wandering around the village.
As the sun goes down, head to Bald Hill, Beaufoy Merlins or Split Rock lookout for that perfect sunset snap. Then stop at the Royal Hotel for a pint with the locals.
Our accommodation at Hill End offers an immersive experience dating back to the gold rush days of the historic town. Features include authentic historic buildings and wood heating. Some additions are separated from historic structures to maintain the integrity of the building. Please check the list of features for each building.
Nearby
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Village campground
Village campground offers exceptionally convenient camping with good facilities close to all the heritage attractions of Hill End. It’s perfect for caravan camping.
Map legend
Map
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/accommodation/hosies/local-alerts
Bookings
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Hill End Historic Site in the Country NSW region
Hill End Historic Site is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Hosies.
Getting there and parking
Hosies is centrally-located in Hill End Historic Site. To get there:
From Bathurst (allow 1.5hr)
- Turn off the Great Western Highway onto Gilmour Street, at Kelso
- Follow Sofala Road for around 45km
- At Sofala, turn left onto Hill End Road and continue for around 37.5km to Hill End Historic Site
From Mudgee (allow 1.25hrs)
- Head north towards Gulgong on the Castlereagh Highway
- Turn left onto Hill End Road and continue for around 69km to Hill End Historic Site
After arriving in Hill End, turn right onto Clarke Street past the Heritage Centre. Hosies is the second 2-storey brick building on your left, on the corner of Clarke and Short Street.
Entry is at the back of the building, via Short Street.
You’ll receive a PIN code in your booking confirmation email to access the building. Call 1300 072 757 if you don't receive the PIN code.
Access PIN code
Use your access PIN code to enter the building.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available on the roadside along Clarke Street and Short Street.
Facilities
- Hosies is a 2-storey building with accommodation on the top floor.
- There are no ensuite bedrooms. Bathrooms are located downstairs on the entry level.
- There are 2 bathrooms: 1 with toilet and shower over bath; 1 with shower and toilet. There’s also 1 separate toilet.
- Bedding configuration: 5 bedrooms with 1 queen bed; 2 bedrooms with 1 king single bed.
- Please leave the property clean and tidy with all kitchen items washed up and put away. Additional fees may be charged for any unreasonable cleaning required, or for missing or broken items.
- There's limited mobile phone service in the village. There is free Wi-fi at the nearby Heritage Centre. A public pay phone is available in the village at the post office.
Toilets
- Flush toilets
Barbecue facilities
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
Drinking water
Showers
- Hot showers
Electric power
Kitchen
A commercial kitchen is available for limited use. It has 2 large fridges, a large freezer, residential-grade oven with 4-burner cooktop, microwave, kettle, toaster, pod coffee maker and sufficient crockery and cookware to cater for 12 people. Use of the commercial dishwashers, grill and stovetop is prohibited for safety reasons.
Bed linen
Heating
Each bedroom has a heater.
Towels
Rubbish bin
Available in each room, bathrooms and the kitchen.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - no wheelchair access
Hosies accommodation is located on the first floor of a heritage building, and is accessed by stairs only.
Permitted
Amplified music is permitted with due consideration to other visitors.
Prohibited
Fossicking is prohibited in Hill End Historic Site. There is a Crown Land fossicking area in Tambaroora, 12min drive north of Hill End, where you can fossick with a permit.
Camp fires and solid fuel burners
Camping
Drones
Flying a drone for recreational purposes is prohibited in this area. Drones may affect public enjoyment, safety and privacy, interfere with park operations, or pose a threat to wildlife. See the Drones in Parks policy.
This area may be a declared Drone Exclusion Zone, or may be subject to Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) rules for flying near airports, aerodromes and helicopter landing sites. See CASA's Drone Flyer Rules.
Commercial filming and photography
Commercial filming or photography is prohibited without prior consent. You must apply for permission and contact the local office.
Gathering firewood
Generators
Horses
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Hosies is in Hill End Historic Site. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A past to cherish
Artists have long gravitated to picturesque Hill End. Since the Second World War the scarred landscape has drawn artists such as Russell Drysdale, Donald Friend, John Olsen and Brett Whiteley to capture the striking scenery on canvas. The Hill End Artist in Residence Program is run by Bathurst Regional Art Gallery and continues this tradition, offering contemporary artists an opportunity to make the pilgrimage to Hill End. Take a walk in the same landscape that has moved so many artists. Please note: Selected works from the program previously on display at the Jean Bellette Gallery in the Visitor’s Centre, will be re-located to a new venue at a date to be advised.
The gold rush hit nearby Bathurst in 1851 and Hill End, swept up in the frenzy, was settled in 1852. It wasn’t until almost 20 years later, however, that large-scale mining began. After most of the mining population had moved on, it was the Gold Centenary Celebrations in 1951 that were the catalyst for Hill End being recognised for its significant heritage value.
- Capertee and Hill End 4WD camping tour Explore the stunning sights of Capertee, the Turon River and Hill End on a 4WD camping adventure with Adrenalin Offroad Centre.
- Cornish Quartz roasting pits The quartz roasting pits are a short drive from Hill End and are a significant historical remnant of Australia’s earlier mining heritage.
- Craigmoor House Step back in time at heritage Craigmoor House in Hill End Historic Site. Home to the Marshall family for nearly a century, this lovingly preserved building has fascinating tales to tell about life in a mining town during colonial times.
- Denningtons Cottage Denningtons Cottage is a heritage miner’s cottage built in 1858 in Hill End, and now home to ceramic artist studio.
- Hill End gold 4WD adventures Hop on board a comfortable 4WD vehicle and enjoy a thrilling journey over rugged 4WD trails as you explore the Hill End and Sofala goldfields region. These excursions with Simmo’s Offroad Tours are a great way discover fascinating gold rush history and heritage.
Mine for gold
Ever wondered how gold is separated from the rock it’s found in? Or want to know what a steam boiler or battery stamp’s used for? Hill End is full of places where you can learn all about mining gold. Visit the Colonial Gold Mining Company’s roasting kilns and battery buildings, enjoy a barbeque at the grounds of the Historic Hill End Hospital, check out the impressive collection of carriages and work machinery from the gold rush era housed close by, and don’t forget to book one of the many tours available while you’re there to make the most of your visit.
- Bald Hill tourist mine Experience the underground world of a goldminer at Bald Hill tourist mine. A short walk or drive from Hill End, this guided tour is ideal for families and school groups.
- Beaufoy Merlin lookout Beaufoy Merlin lookout offers spectacular views and an excellent vantage point to see the true scale of former mining activities. It’s also great for photography.
- Hill End Heritage Centre Hill End Heritage Centre's interactive museum displays and historic information are the perfect introduction to any visit to Hill End Historic Site.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Superb fairy wren (Malurus cyaneus)
The striking blue and black plumage of the adult male superb fairy wren makes for colourful bird watching across south-eastern Australia. The sociable superb fairy wrens, or blue wrens, are Australian birds living in groups consisting of a dominant male, mouse-brown female ‘jenny wrens’ and several tawny-brown juveniles.