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Bathurst is a large regional city located about 200 km from Sydney in the Central Tablelands. The Wiradjuri are the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters of the area. As the oldest inland settlement in Australia, Bathurst has a rich history. There are several museums in the area, including Miss Traill’s House and Garden and the Chifley Home and Education Centre.

In 1876, the Main Western Railway Line reached Bathurst. The proposal to build a railway line from Sydney to Bathurst had been announced in 1848, but there were considerable logistical challenges to be overcome. This included the crossing of the Blue Mountains, which required the construction of ‘Zig Zags’ at Lapstone for the ascent, and towards Lithgow for the western descent.

The arrival of the railway opened up the western districts with trade, communication, and transport options expanding further westwards. At the time, to travel to Bathurst on the Western Road by horse and buggy took 24 hours. By train, this trip would take 6 hours. The Bathurst Bullet now does this trip multiple times a day, and it takes just over 3.5 hours. Employment opportunities also expanded with the railway, and it was a major employer. During the 1930s, about a third of the male population in Bathurst worked on the railways.

The Railway Institute offered support and recreational activities for railway workers and their families. The building was erected in stages from 1909, and for over 80 years it was a focal point for educational and social functions. The Institute included a library, a billiard table and two tennis courts. There was a kitchen for catering functions, which included dances, parties, and weddings. It was also a place to study and sit for exams to take on higher positions within the railway, including the coveted train driver role. Bathurst’s most famous train driver was the Australian Prime Minister Ben Chifley.

The donation of an extensive model railway was the impetus for the redevelopment of the Railway Institute into the Bathurst Rail Museum. The building was extended to house the museum and a tennis-court sized model railway. This is a scale model of the Main West Railway during the 1950s and 1960s, displaying the Tarana to Bathurst line with operating trains. A community day was held at the site to gather stories about the building.

The museum opened in February 2020 and offers a selection of displays which provide a social history of Bathurst, telling the story of a railway town through personal recollections and interesting artefacts. There are some great photos and background on the museum design here. There really is something for everyone here, and it offers a different perspective for locals and visitors to enjoy.

Have you been transported back in time to the Bathurst Rail Museum?

Photo: street view of the Bathurst Rail Museum, NSW