Strike creative gold at historic Hill End

Not your run-of-the-mill gold-rush town, Hill End is a significant icon in Australia’s history. Why so, you ask? Like most things in 19^th century Australia, the answer lies in gold, but more on that later.

Welcome to Hill End: sleepy village, rustic (and incredibly photogenic) dream town, full of original Victorian buildings, old gold fields, and a thriving community of artists, artisans, poets and painters. Had enough of the city and surf? Head to Hill End!

So how did Hill End get its start? This little town, an hour north-west of Bathurst, exploded in 1872 when German immigrant Bernhardt Holtermann discovered the world’s largest hunk of reef gold, turning Hill End into one of the state’s biggest inland towns.

As with most gold rush towns, though, after the boom Hill End had to redefine itself. Luckily, after discovery of the ‘Holtermann Collection’ showcased off the town’s old-worldly charm, famous Australian painters including Brett Whiteley, John Olsen and Russell Drysdale flocked to Hill End in the fifties, establishing a rich artistic legacy.

No trip to Hill End is complete without a visit to where the gold was found. Not far beyond the township is impressively craggy mountain and gorge country where some of the old mines were. Bald Hill walk leads to the restored Bald Hill Mine, which reflects real mining conditions and has its own regular tours. Post-ochre tour, hang for a beverage and bite at the rustic, heritage-listed 1872 Royal Hotel.

It’s no longer rich in gold, but Hill End is worth its weight for an alluringly day trip or peaceful weekend away.