Willandra Homestead

Willandra National Park

Affected by closures, check current alerts 

Overview

Visit Willandra Homestead, the lovingly restored pastoral station of Big Willandra. Step back in time, enjoy a barbecue and watch waterbirds on Willandra Creek.

Type
Historic buildings/places
Where
91 Willandra Entrance Road, Hillston, NSW, 2675 - in Willandra National Park in Murray-Riverina
Accessibility
Medium
Entry fees
Park entry fees apply

Willandra Homestead is a fine old rural homestead and a fantastic place to visit if you’re thinking of a historic site for a picnic or barbecue. Step into the past of a remote pastoral station which has been lovingly restored; wander through the sitting rooms and office, viewing the wonderful photographs and reading the accounts of life on the station.

On the beautifully-maintained grounds, with expansive gardens and a rose courtyard, you’ll also find the schoolhouse, meat house and laundry, giving you an idea of just how self-sufficient the inhabitants of this homestead had to be.

Why not enjoy a family barbecue on the lawns before continuing your exploration of Willandra National Park? The contrast between the ordered serenity of the homestead and the wild beauty of the region is amazing.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Map


Map legend

Map legend

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this 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/historic-buildings-places/willandra-homestead/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Willandra Homestead.

Getting there and parking

The Willandra Homestead is in the Willandra Homestead precinct of Willandra National Park. To get there:

  • From Hillston, drive 53km west along the Mossgiel Trunk Road (unsealed and impassable after rain). Turn north onto Trida Road and drive another 20km until you see the park entrance signposted on the right (east).
  • From the Cobb Highway, turn east at Mossgiel and drive 61km east. Turn north onto Trida Road and drive another 20km until you see the park entrance signposted on the right (east).
  • Drive another 10km east along the Willandra Creek Trail to reach the Willandra Homestead precinct

Road quality

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • Dry weather only

Parking

Parking is available at the Willandra Homestead in a hard-packed ground carpark.

Best times to visit

There are lots of great things waiting for you in Willandra National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

Autumn

Like spring, this season is also a time of mild weather.

Spring

Spring brings mild weather and fantastic birdwatching opportunities, as well as being the best time for wildflower displays. Drive, cycle or walk the scenic Merton trail or follow the Nilla Yannagalang Billana walking trail to make the most of what's on offer at this time of year.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

17°C and 32°C

Highest recorded

46°C

Winter temperature

Average

7°C and 16°C

Lowest recorded

-4.4°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

October

Driest month

February

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

119.6mm

Facilities

There is limited water available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.

Toilets

The main homestead building has an ambulant flush toilet with a support rail.

  • Flush toilets

Picnic tables

Barbecue facilities

  • Gas/electric barbecues (free)

Carpark

Seats and resting points

There are bench seats with backrests on the verandah of the homestead and under one of the trees on the homestead lawn.

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

This park is in a remote location, so please ensure you’re well-prepared, bring appropriate clothing and equipment and advise a family member or friend of your travel plans.

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

Outback safety

Safety is of high priority in outback areas. In summer, temperatures can reach up to 50°C in some places. Food, water and fuel supplies can be scarce. Before you head off, check for road closures and use our contacts to stay safe in the outback.

Accessibility

Disability access level - medium

The main building at Willandra Homestead has a timber ramp with handrails that leads onto the verandah. It also has an ambulant toilet with a support rail.

There are some parts of the homestead and grounds where people with reduced mobility may need assistance:

  • Some of the wood floor panels inside the homestead have lifted and separated, creating small gaps.
  • There are steps between rooms in the homestead
  • Not all door frames are standard wheelchair width. The main entrance to the homestead has 2 single-width doors, one with a high lever handle.
  • There are steps to enter the other buildings on the grounds.
  • There's a paved path that runs from the homestead's main entrance to the nearby staff office, but you'll need to cross over flat grass to get around the rest of the grounds.

Permitted

Fishing

A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.

Prohibited

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

Willandra Homestead is in Willandra National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

A closer look at Aboriginal culture

Merton trail, Willandra National Park. Photo: David Egan

Evidence of Aboriginal people's lives on this land can best be seen on the scalds near Halls Lake, near the Merton trail, where erosion has exposed a number of objects. Take a look at (but please don't touch) the remains of oven hearths, broken pieces of grinding dishes and stone flakes. Nilla Yannagalang Billana, the only formal walking track in the park, means 'walking along together' in Wiradjuri.

  • Merton motor trail Whether you’re driving or cycling, the Merton motor trail at Willandra National Park is the perfect way to experience the park’s various wildlife habitats and historic past.

Plain to see

Dry creek, Willandra National Park. Photo: John Spencer

Windmill, cane, spear and white top - the names of Australian native grasses really have evolved to become far more fun than their original Latin terms. These grasses now make up most of the ground cover on the park's plains. Saltbush and cottonbush dominated - and still does - but Europeans quickly recognised the nutritional value of these plants and a century of grazing has changed the environment. A hike through the wetlands, woodlands and grasslands of the park, rich with birds and animals, is a reminder of how nature continues to adapt.

  • Nilla Yannagalang Billana The Nilla Yannagalang Billana is an easy walking track that follows Willandra Creek and passes sites of great historical and cultural significance.

The ringer looks around

Shearers Quarters, Willandra National Park. Photo: John Spencer

Big Willandra Station once stretched from Hillston to Mossgiel and covered an area eight times that of what is now Willandra National Park. Some buildings from the huge merino stud are in ruins, while others have been restored. In its time, Big Willandra saw it all: illegal squatting, leasehold, freehold, homesteading, the establishment of the Western Lands Commission, resumptions and soldier settler occupation. Today, you can enjoy cheap heritage accommodation, ideal for a weekend family or group getaway.

  • Merton motor trail Whether you’re driving or cycling, the Merton motor trail at Willandra National Park is the perfect way to experience the park’s various wildlife habitats and historic past.
  • Nilla Yannagalang Billana The Nilla Yannagalang Billana is an easy walking track that follows Willandra Creek and passes sites of great historical and cultural significance.
  • Willandra Homestead Visit Willandra Homestead, the lovingly restored pastoral station of Big Willandra. Step back in time, enjoy a barbecue and watch waterbirds on Willandra Creek.
  • Willandra shearing precinct Explore the rustic and distinctive woolshed and shearers’ quarters of the Willandra Shearing precinct to experience the fascinating working history of Big Willandra.

What bird is that?

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Willandra National Park. Photo: John Spencer

Could there really be 195 species of birdlife within an area of less than 20,000ha? The diversity of Willandra's natural environment — from woodland and wetland to grassland and open plain — provides a variety of habitats. The result is an eclectic mix that includes emu, swan, seagull, night heron, raptor and duck. Set yourself the challenge to see how many different birds you can spot during your visit.

  • Nilla Yannagalang Billana The Nilla Yannagalang Billana is an easy walking track that follows Willandra Creek and passes sites of great historical and cultural significance.

Education resources (1)