Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre
Hartley Historic Site
Overview
Stop in at Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre to find out about the history of the buildings and village, book tours, and stock up on snacks and drinks.
- Type
- Visitor centres
- Where
- 51 Old Great Western Highway, Hartley, NSW, 2790 - in Hartley Historic Site in Sydney and surrounds
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access
- Opening times
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 4pm. Closed on Mondays, Public Holidays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
- What to
bring - Drinking water
Drop into Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre before you tour the village. As well as providing all the information you will need about Hartley’s buildings and history, it stocks a range of Australian souvenirs, snacks and drinks. Historical and art displays give fascinating insights into the story of Hartley – spend some time checking out the old photographs and imagining the bustle of this little village in its heyday.
Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre is itself housed in a colonial building: the Farmers Inn. Today, the building is also home to the Kew-Y-Ahn Aboriginal Gallery, which is a partnership between Arts OutWest and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. The gallery has been operating since 2013 and exhibits the work of Aboriginal painters, weavers, designers, jewellers and photographers from across the NSW Central West.
Also see
Map
Map legend
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/visitor-centres/hartley-historic-site-visitor-centre/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 Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre.
Getting there and parking
On entering Hartley Historic Site along the Old Great Western Highway, Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre is opposite Hartley Courthouse and next to Former St Bernards Church.
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. Bus parking is available.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you at Hartley Historic Site. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
The rich colours of autumn leaves set a beautiful backdrop for walks in the village and Hartley valley.
Spring
Enjoy the village as the days grow warmer and the trees are in blossom.
Summer
Bring the kids in the school holidays and tour Hartley Courthouse. It stays cool despite the heat with its thick sandstone walls.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
12°C and 25°C
Highest recorded
38.4°C
Winter temperature
Average
1°C and 13°C
Lowest recorded
–8°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
179mm
Facilities
Public toilets, including an accessible toilet, are located behind the Old Post Office building, around 2mins walk away.
Picnic tables
Carpark
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - no wheelchair access
Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre is mostly flat, but it's not step-free.
There are 2 entrances to the building:
- Main entrance: You can reach this entrance from the road along a paved pathway. The entrance has 5 worn and uneven stone steps with a timber handrail on one side.
- Back entrance: Can be reached by crossing flat grass. There's a 140mm step into the back door and this door has a width of 800mm.
Inside the building is flat and step-free.
The nearest accessible toilets are 2min walk away behind the Old Post Office building.
Permitted
Pets
- Dogs are permitted in Hartley Historic Site, but you’ll need to keep them on a leash at all times.
Prohibited
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
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
Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre is in Hartley Historic Site. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal meeting place
Hartley Historic Village is set in a landscape of great and continuing importance to Aboriginal people who have lived on and passed through this land for thousands of years.
A tor, or cluster of granite rocks known as Kew-Y-Ahn to local Aboriginal people, is said to have been a meeting place for the Wiradjuri People from the west and Gundungurra People from the east.
Excellent bushwalking on historic roads
The Hartley area is great for bushwalking. Kew-Y-Ahn Bells Rock Heritage Walking Track is a 600m return walk to a striking granite tor with valley views. Rowsons River walk is a 1km loop by the river and Rowsons Hut remains.
Outside the village, you may like to set out on Lawson's Long Alley, Lockyer's Pass or Berghofer's Pass. Hartley’s rural setting is welcoming and peaceful – perfect for a picnic or a satisfying stroll.
- 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 village, 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. Discover more interesting facts at the visitor centre or buy a ticket for a self-guided tour. Large groups can book in advance 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.
- Former St Bernards Church Take a tour or arrange an event at Former St Bernards Church in Hartley, a lovingly preserved example of colonial sandstone architecture.
- 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 village, 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.