Central West Canola Country Express

This morning after a hearty breakfast next door at the Club and checking out, we’ll make the short transfer to the historic Cowra Railway Station, located on the former Blayney to Demondrille Line and the home base of the Lachlan Valley Railway heritage organisation. While most of the line has been abandoned, this incredible volunteer-run organisation has kept a short section of the line operational. After enjoying morning tea in the beautifully restored MBV Lounge Car at the station, we’ll have the privilege of stepping back in time and taking a short ride aboard one of the now century old CPH Railmotors, originally constructed to service these country lines. 

Back on our coach, our next stop is the cherry capital of NSW – the charming town of Young. After a light lunch at Wilders Bakery, a well known and much loved local institution.

From here, we’ll head to the charming country town of Boorowa. While the area was first settled by two prominent Irish families in the 1820s, ‘Burrowa’ wasn’t formally recognised as a town until 1843. With the arrival of the railway in 1914 the town’s name was officially changed to ‘Boorowa’ and the post office was ordered to discontinue use of the name ‘Burrowa’. The two spellings were used interchangeably until January 1951.

We’ll stop to visit the historical 1886 Boorowa Court House building, which also houses the Boorowa Court House Arts & Crafts Co-operative, and enjoy a tour of the beautifully preserved courtroom to learn about the building’s former life, local history and engaging stories of Boorowa’s rich Irish roots and notable buildings. You’ll then have some free time to explore the main street of the town, including the Historical Museum, a lovingly restored 1882 rammed-earth building on the main street filled with displays dedicated to the region’s Irish history and the wool industry.

Our next stop later this afternoon will be at the spectacular Sir George Hotel in Jugiong for a couple of drinks and some dinner. The Sir George was first built in 1845 by Irish settler John Philip Sheahan at a time when Jugiong was a bustling stop for drovers, coaches, and travellers making their way between Sydney and Melbourne where weary travellers could rest, exchange stories and enjoy a drink.

The 19th century was also a time of bushrangers. One of the most notorious incidents tied to Jugiong was the attack by the infamous Hall Gang in 1864. The gang, led by Ben Hall, ambushed the Gundagai mail coach near Jugiong. In the shootout that followed, the town’s police sergeant, Edmund Parry, was killed, marking a violent chapter in the area’s history.

By the late 20th century, as traffic along the Hume Highway was diverted away from Jugiong, The Sir George, like much of the town, fell into decline. The once-vibrant pub became a shadow of its former self, eventually falling into disrepair. The historic stone walls and timber beams remained standing, but the spirit of the place had been lost.

That changed in the early 2010s when new owners saw the potential for revival and embarked on an ambitious project to restore The Sir George to its former glory. The restoration was completed in 2016 with great care taken to preserve the original stone walls and timber floors with each carefully restored rather than replaced. During the restoration, the team uncovered many artefacts from the past, including old coins, bottles, and even remnants of past structures hidden within the walls. 

Since its reopening, The Sir George has once again become the beating heart of Jugiong. It is a place where locals gather, travellers pause for a meal, and history enthusiasts marvel at its careful restoration. The menu showcases fresh, seasonal produce, often sourced from the surrounding region.

After dinner we’ll transfer to our hotel at Murrumbateman for a good nights rest.

Overnight: Abode, Murrumbateman 

(B, L, D)

Breakfast this morning is at our hotel allowing a comfortable start to our final day of touring. First up is a visit to the Yass Railway Museum. The Yass Tramway as it was known, was a 4.4 km branch line that ran between Yass Junction and Yass Town, operating from 1892 to 1988. Originally built to connect Yass to the main rail network, passenger services were replaced by buses in 1957, and the line was officially closed to freight in 1988. The original Yass Town station building now houses the Yass Railway Heritage Centre. 

Continuing on the heritage theme our next stop is Cooma Cottage. This rural National Trust property is the home of Australian-born explorer, Hamilton Hume, who reportedly fell in love with the area during his explorations and set about creating a retreat with his wife, Elizabeth. Walk through the house and soak up the stories of pioneering life in the nineteenth century, see the stables where Hume kept his horses, then relax in the cottage gardens for sweeping views of paddocks and the Yass valley. The house is also the starting point of the 440-kilometre Hume and Hovell Track that follows the route taken by Hume and William Hovell in 1824.

By this time it’s time for lunch and we stop to put our feet up at a local cafe. There will be time, should you wish to explore the town on foot and perhaps do a little shopping.

Mid afternoon we’ll transfer to Yass Junction in time to board our Northbound XPT for the return journey to Sydney. Our train will climb through the Cullerin Ranges with wind turbines spread out on either side of the line. At Goulburn we’ll pick up a light meal to enjoy as the train speeds through the Southern Highlands. A mid evening arrival at Sydney Central is anticipated at the end of our action packed mini getaway.

End of tour (B, L, D)