The Postmistress Cafe and Store
Hartley Historic Site
Overview
The Postmistress Cafe and Store is in Hartley Historic Village, midway between Mount Victoria and Lithgow. Oozing rustic charm, this quaint cafe is the perfect stopover when visiting Hartley.
- Type
- Cafes and kiosks
- Where
- 37 Old Great Western Highway, Hartley, NSW, 2790 - in Hartley Historic Site in Sydney and surrounds
- Accessibility
- Hard
- Opening times
The Postmistress Cafe and Store is open Friday to Sunday, including any public holidays that fall on those days, from 10am to 3pm. Closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Housed in the lovingly conserved former post office, the cafe offers a peaceful escape with scenic views of Hartley Courthouse and the valley escarpment.
Indulge in barista-made coffee and home-cooked meals crafted from fresh, local produce. As you soak in the serenity of Hartley Historic Village, take a moment to remember that you’re lunching in the 8th official post office in NSW.
The charming heritage-listed building features a warm gas fireplace to enjoy in winter. When the weather’s warmer, dine alfresco in the outdoor garden seating, surrounded by blooming cherry blossoms and daffodils.
As well as being a great place for kids to let loose, the garden surrounds are alive with local birdlife. Superb fairy-wrens, sulphur-crested cockatoos, crimson rosellas and wedge-tailed eagles can sometimes be seen circling overhead. You might even spot an eastern grey kangaroo.
Before you go, browse a selection of locally and Australian made gifts, jewellery and jams at the adjoining store.
If you’re keen to explore the village, drop into nearby Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre. Discover the town’s past with a self-guided tour or purchase locally made art from the Kew-Y-Ahn Aboriginal Gallery.
Dogs are permitted in the village but should always be held on a lead.
Explore the area
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/cafes-and-kiosks/the-postmistress-cafe-and-store/local-alerts
Park info
- in Hartley Historic Site in the Sydney and surrounds region
Hartley Historic Site is open every day but access may be limited at times due to fire danger, school bookings or organised events.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about The Postmistress Cafe and Store.
Getting there and parking
From Blackheath and Mount Victoria:
- Tavel west along Great Western Highway.
- Turn left into Hartley village 4km after Little Hartley
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
- Street parking is available on a gravel surface close to Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre.
- There’s one accessible parking space located directly in front of the cafe.
- Bus parking is available.
Facilities
Toilets
Public toilets, including an accessible toilet, are located behind the cafe via a sealed pathway.
- Flush toilets
Picnic tables
Cafe/kiosk
Carpark
Drinking water
Electric power
Seats and resting points
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - hard
- The Postmistress Cafe and Store is not wheelchair-accessible however there are accessible picnic tables on a grassed surface outside the cafe.
- There's also 1 accessible parking space out the front.
- An accessible public toilet is located behind the cafe via a sealed pathway.
Permitted
Pets
You can walk your dog on-lead at this location. See other regional parks in NSW that have dog walking areas.
Prohibited
Smoking
Visitor centre
-
Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre
Farmers Inn, 51 Old Great Western Highway, Hartley 2790 - 10am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 4pm. Closed Mondays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
- 02 6355 2117
Learn more
The Postmistress Cafe and Store is in Hartley Historic Site. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal meeting place
Hartley was once a meeting place for the Wiradjuri from the west and Gundungurra tribes from the east. In colonial times, Hartley Courthouse served as a mustering point for Aboriginal people.
Excellent bushwalking on historic roads
The Hartley area is great for bushwalking along the early roads. After your visit to the village, you may like to set out on Lawson's Long Alley, Lockyer's Pass or Berghofer's Pass. Check out the Lithgow Town and Around website for details. The rural setting of Hartley is welcoming and peaceful – perfect for a picnic or a satisfying stroll. Explore the interesting remnants of heritage plantings surrounding the buildings in the village and keep an eye out for the many birds that thrive amid the gardens and native forest.
- Corneys Garage Nestled in the heart of Hartley Historic Site is Corneys Garage. Browse through a beautiful selection of antiques, while enjoying an immersive shopping experience near Lithgow.
- Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre Stop in at Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre to find out about the history of the buildings and town, book tours, and stock up on snacks and drinks.
- The Postmistress Cafe and Store The Postmistress Cafe and Store is in Hartley Historic Village, midway between Mount Victoria and Lithgow. Oozing rustic charm, this quaint cafe is the perfect stopover when visiting Hartley.
The story of settlement
This exceptionally well-maintained village is of national historical significance as a substantial early nineteenth-century settlement. It tells modern visitors a great deal about the expansion of European development in inland Australia and the beautiful old buildings illustrate the changing role and fortunes of Hartley from first settlement of the inland to the beginning of the motor transport era. You can find out all sorts of interesting facts at the visitor centre and educational groups can book tours with advance notice on (02) 6355 2117.
- Corneys Garage Nestled in the heart of Hartley Historic Site is Corneys Garage. Browse through a beautiful selection of antiques, while enjoying an immersive shopping experience near Lithgow.
- Hartley Courthouse This fine example of colonial architecture allows you to imagine the convicts, magistrates and members of the public passing through its doors. Book a guided tour through Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre.
- Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre Stop in at Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre to find out about the history of the buildings and town, book tours, and stock up on snacks and drinks.
- Hartley historical tour On this interactive Stage 3 (Years 5-6) History excursion, students visit key sites in the Hartley Historic Site colonial village: the courthouse, the gaol and St Bernards Church. They'll explore the history of how this key colony developed and take part in fun re-enactments with our Discovery Rangers.
- St Bernards Church Take a tour or arrange a wedding at St Bernards Church in Hartley, a lovingly preserved example of colonial sandstone architecture.