Hill End Heritage Centre
Hill End Historic Site
Overview
Hill End Heritage Centre's interactive museum displays and historic information are the perfect introduction to any visit to Hill End Historic Site.
- Type
- Education centres
- Where
- 1 Beyers Avenue, Hill End, NSW, 2850 - in Hill End Historic Site in Country NSW
- Accessibility
- Easy
- Opening times
- 7am to 7pm daily
- Please note
- Limited maps and brochures are available next to Hill End Heritage Centre, at the General Store.
Located right in the centre of Hill End Historic Site, next to the General Store, this new heritage centre is the ideal starting point for your Hill End experience.
Step into the beautifully restored 1950s Rural Fire Service shed, and enjoy the displays at your own pace. This self-guided centre brings the incredible characters, stories, and more than 120 years of Hill End history to life through screen projections, historic artefacts and interactive iPads. Peek into the the remains of a miner's cottage from the 1890s gold rush glory days. You can even see the old red Blitz fire truck, and an historic mining trolley.
The heritage centre is wheelchair-accessible and boasts both air-conditioning and heating, making it a great all-weather attraction that's suitable for everyone.
Nearby
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Hospital picnic area
Hospital picnic area is in Hill End Historic Site, near Village walking track. It’s a great spot to relax, connect with friends and enjoy a barbecue before you move on to the next art, culture or history attraction.
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/things-to-do/education-centres/hill-end-heritage-centre/local-alerts
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 Hill End Heritage Centre.
Getting there and parking
Hill End Heritage Centre is located next to the General Store as you enter Hill End Historic Site. To get there:
From Bathurst (allow 1.5hrs)
- 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
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Parking
Street parking is available outside the heritage centre, along bitumen seal Beyers Avenue.
Facilities
- Hill End Heritage Centre offers air-conditioning in summer and heating in winter.
- Accessible public toilets are located 50m from the heritage centre, at the Royal Hall, opposite the General Store.
- Picnic tables and play areas can be found 50m from the heritage centre in Bill Lyle Reserve.
- There are no rubbish bins provided, so we ask you to please take your rubbish with you.
Step-free access
Hill End Heritage Centre is flat and step-free, with a paved pathway and ramp that leads from the road to the main entrance.
The main door is a wide automatic sliding door. Inside, the heritage centre is flat and step-free, with easy access to the displays.
- Step-free main entrance to the building
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - easy
Hill End Heritage Centre is flat and step-free inside, with easy access to the displays.
There's a paved pathway and ramp that leads from the street parking to the main entrance. The main door is a wide automatic sliding door.
The nearest accessible public toilets are 50m away at Royal Hall.
Prohibited
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.
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
Hill End Heritage Centre 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.