FROM rockers to roses, Goulburn in NSW is the place to be this autumn as the inland city plays host to a feast of festivals.
From February 8-11 thousands of blues and roots fans will flock to the city for the annual Australian Blues Music Festival. Held in 11 free venues, it will feature about 70 performances, with a mix of emerging and established home-grown and international acts.
Over the weekend the city’s main street also comes alive with the sounds of blues at the annual busking competition
Belmore Park will buzz with the APRA AMCOS-supported stage as well as markets on Saturday and Sunday.
An open mic stage at The Goulburn Club will allow visitors to get involved, while on Saturday night the local bowling club will pay tribute to the contribution of Australian blues women with a line-up featuring all-female or female-fronted acts.
Then on February 24, the Goulburn Festival and Multicultural Markets head to Belmore Park. More than 20 visiting and local cultural groups will take part, with food from around the world. Dance will be an important part of the day.
Not for nothing is Goulburn known as the City of Roses. And on March 10-11 one of the best country rose shows in NSW, the Goulburn Rose Festival, comes to town. Thousands of named roses will be on display, including the City of Goulburn Rose.
Other attractions include an art exhibition by the Goulburn and District Art Society, displays of roses by local nurseries, craft stalls and plants sales.
The festival will be held in a new venue, Veolia Arena in Goulburn Showground. The theme is Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
GOULBURN Mulwaree Council has partnered with Roads and Maritime Services NSW to provide free transport to the Australian Blues Music Festival.
The free buses will operate to the festival from 3-6pm Friday and Saturday, stopping at all motels as well as four pick-up points for locals. Those who utilise the buses will also receive a $10 taxi voucher for the trip back to their homes or motels.
While there...
Historic Goulburn is a great rural escape only two hours’ drive from Sydney, an hour from Canberra and within easy reach of the South Coast, Snowy Mountains and Blue Mountains via the Tablelands Way.
Declared Australia’s first inland city in 1863, it will charm you with many attractions.
Known as the fine wool capital of the world, Goulburn is also home to the Big Merino (aka Rambo), one of Australia’s iconic “big things”. Bungonia National Park is a short drive away.
You can join the cathedral’s Bell Towers Tour on the first Saturday of the month. On the banks of the Wollondilly River is the Goulburn Historic Waterworks Museum, where you’ll find a complete steam-powered municipal water supply left in situ.
Rail buffs will love the Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre. The emancipist architect Francis Greenway designed the Goulburn Brewery, the nation’s oldest surviving brewery.