Overview
Hartley Historic Site offers a stimulating mix of volunteer opportunities, from cataloguing historic objects, to leading tours and helping out at the visitor centre or in the garden. Join up for this one-of-a-kind program today.
- Work
- Visitors, events, education, tour guides
- When
- Heritage collection: Fortnightly or monthly working bees.
- Visitor Centre duties and tour guiding: Shifts available 7 days a week, year-round.
- Landscape conservation and gardening: A few days each season and/or larger, one-off, 1-day working bees.
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access
Hartley Historic Site is a fascinating location for volunteering. It’s a preserved 19th-century village in the lower Blue Mountains, near Lithgow. We welcome volunteers with a wide range of interests and experience to help us across 3 work areas:
- Hartley moveable heritage collection: Working with historical objects, you’ll help us clean, capture data, research and catalogue the collection. Experience in collections management, cataloguing processes and using the e-Hive online platform for cataloguing are highly desirable.
- Hartley landscape and garden conservation: You’ll be pruning, mulching, hand weeding, planting, doing weed control and bush care.
- Hartley Visitor Centre and guiding: You’ll be working with the public, sharing local and historic information to visitors on tours. You’ll also be supporting Visitor Centre staff and helping with customer service, ensuring that visitors have a safe and enjoyable visit. You’ll need great customer service skills and a genuine interest in the local area and its history.
However, don't be deterred if you don't have prior experience in our 3 work areas. We'll provide training and equipment for all volunteer areas, so you’ll feel confident and capable in your roles. As well, all fitness levels are welcome. If you have a reduced fitness level, you may be more suited to working on the collection. Or if you have a higher fitness level, you could opt for guiding visitor tours around the site or gardening activities.
When you volunteer with us, you’ll be directly contributing to the conservation and promotion of an incredible place. You’ll develop new skills as you work with other like-minded volunteers and NPWS staff. And you’ll share stories and help create a memorable experience for our visitors.
Find out more about volunteering with us
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/volunteer-activities/friends-of-hartley-historic-site/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 Friends of Hartley Historic Site.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Mount Victoria:
- Travel west along the Great Western Highway
- Turn left into the village 4km after Little Hartley
Parking
Free parking available along the street.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - no wheelchair access
Visitor centre
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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
Friends of Hartley Historic Site 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.
- Gold Rush Antiques Nestled in the heart of Hartley Historic Site is Gold Rush Antiques. 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.
- 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.
- Friends of Hartley Historic Site Hartley Historic Site offers a stimulating mix of volunteer opportunities, from cataloguing historic objects, to leading tours and helping out at the visitor centre or in the garden. Join up for this one-of-a-kind program today.
- Gold Rush Antiques Nestled in the heart of Hartley Historic Site is Gold Rush Antiques. Browse through a beautiful selection of antiques, while enjoying an immersive shopping experience near Lithgow.
- 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.