12 historic Aussie towns worth a road trip

Aftermarket Dilvin Yasa at Escape
road trips

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Feeling nostalgic for times gone by? A chance to connect with our past could be just a short drive away. Set your sights on these classic Australian destinations.

1. Alice Springs, Northern Territory Let’s face it: 200-year-old towns pale in comparison to the 60,000-plus years of culture our First Nations population brings to the table and no heritage list of Australia can be complete without highlighting the likes of Alice Springs. Despite an 1880s settlement date stamp – a time that saw the building of the Overland Telegraph Station and the Great Northern Railway (now The Ghan) – the history of the Arrernte people takes centre stage. Visit the Araluen Cultural Precinct for an introduction to local art, embark on a cultural tour of Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm) and strap on your boots for the circular walking track at Corroboree Rock Conservation Reserve. (Want heritage? It’s more than 800 million years old).

1. Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Let’s face it: 200-year-old towns pale in comparison to the 60,000-plus years of culture our First Nations population brings to the table and no heritage list of Australia can be complete without highlighting the likes of Alice Springs. Despite an 1880s settlement date stamp – a time that saw the building of the Overland Telegraph Station and the Great Northern Railway (now The Ghan) – the history of the Arrernte people takes centre stage. Visit the Araluen Cultural Precinct for an introduction to local art, embark on a cultural tour of Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm) and strap on your boots for the circular walking track at Corroboree Rock Conservation Reserve. (Want heritage? It’s more than 800 million years old).

 

2. Bathurst, NSW Gold-rush towns? Bathurst – founded in 1815, making it our country’s oldest inland settlement – is arguably our most charming thanks to its striking colonial architecture. Embracing its rich heritage is as easy as tackling one of the many self-guided walking tours available, and enjoying afternoon tea at Abercrombie House, a magnificent Victorian mansion. Tick off a hot lap around Mount Panorama and a visit to the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, then explore the historic villages (Sofala, Hill End, Rockley) that surround the town.

2. Bathurst, NSW

Gold-rush towns? Bathurst – founded in 1815, making it our country’s oldest inland settlement – is arguably our most charming thanks to its striking colonial architecture. Embracing its rich heritage is as easy as tackling one of the many self-guided walking tours available, and enjoying afternoon tea at Abercrombie House, a magnificent Victorian mansion. Tick off a hot lap around Mount Panorama and a visit to the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, then explore the historic villages (Sofala, Hill End, Rockley) that surround the town.

 

3. Port Arthur, Tasmania The Unesco World Heritage Port Arthur Historic Site should come with a disclaimer: a visit isn’t what you’d call a carefree jaunt. Established in 1830 as a penal settlement to house British convicts, it was the scene of great brutality and today serves as a powerful reminder of our country’s colonial past. Explore the ruins of the penitentiary with a Port Arthur Essentials Tour, take a guided boat tour of Isle of the Dead – the final resting place for all who died in the prison camp – or gather your courage for the nightly Ghost Tour.

3. Port Arthur, Tasmania

The Unesco World Heritage Port Arthur Historic Site should come with a disclaimer: a visit isn’t what you’d call a carefree jaunt. Established in 1830 as a penal settlement to house British convicts, it was the scene of great brutality and today serves as a powerful reminder of our country’s colonial past. Explore the ruins of the penitentiary with a Port Arthur Essentials Tour, take a guided boat tour of Isle of the Dead – the final resting place for all who died in the prison camp – or gather your courage for the nightly Ghost Tour.

 

 

4. Beechworth, Victoria It’s often said Beechworth’s paths were paved with gold during the 1850s gold rush, and with its 30-plus National Trust-listed buildings and vibrant food and wine scene, it’s a feast for all senses. Its connection to Ned Kelly, who served time here, is what really sets Beechworth apart, however, and you can immerse yourself in the life and times of our most famous bushranger with a Ned Kelly Walking Tour. Book in for an Asylum Ghost Tour and explore the Beechworth Historic Precinct, too – just be sure to bookend experiences with visits to local wineries.

4. Beechworth, Victoria

It’s often said Beechworth’s paths were paved with gold during the 1850s gold rush, and with its 30-plus National Trust-listed buildings and vibrant food and wine scene, it’s a feast for all senses. Its connection to Ned Kelly, who served time here, is what really sets Beechworth apart, however, and you can immerse yourself in the life and times of our most famous bushranger with a Ned Kelly Walking Tour. Book in for an Asylum Ghost Tour and explore the Beechworth Historic Precinct, too – just be sure to bookend experiences with visits to local wineries.

 

5. Hahndorf, SA When you’re craving a slice of Hanover close to home, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, Hahndorf, is the answer. Established in the 1830s when German Lutherans made their way to the Adelaide Hills, the town – famous for its 19th-century Prussian architecture and German eateries – provides an opportunity to enjoy a “domestic international holiday”. Stroll the main street and feast on schnitzel, pretzels and beers, then jump in the car to pick your own strawberries at Beerenberg Farm, or to taste your way around the many cellar doors a short drive away.

5. Hahndorf, SA

When you’re craving a slice of Hanover close to home, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, Hahndorf, is the answer. Established in the 1830s when German Lutherans made their way to the Adelaide Hills, the town – famous for its 19th-century Prussian architecture and German eateries – provides an opportunity to enjoy a “domestic international holiday”. Stroll the main street and feast on schnitzel, pretzels and beers, then jump in the car to pick your own strawberries at Beerenberg Farm, or to taste your way around the many cellar doors a short drive away.

 

6. Maryborough, Queensland Stories to tell? Maryborough (established in 1847) has got them all, from its connection to Mary Poppins to its port which served as the immigration point for Australia’s 19th-century immigrants. Visit the Historic Customs Precinct or track your heritage at the Maryborough District Family History Society. Leave room to check out The Story Bank – an interactive museum dedicated to everyone’s favourite nanny – and take a stroll around heritage-listed Queen’s Park, one of Australia’s earliest botanic gardens.

6. Maryborough, Queensland

Stories to tell? Maryborough (established in 1847) has got them all, from its connection to Mary Poppins to its port which served as the immigration point for Australia’s 19th-century immigrants. Visit the Historic Customs Precinct or track your heritage at the Maryborough District Family History Society. Leave room to check out The Story Bank – an interactive museum dedicated to everyone’s favourite nanny – and take a stroll around heritage-listed Queen’s Park, one of Australia’s earliest botanic gardens.

 

7. Ballarat, Victoria The folks at City of Ballarat say the gold-rush town’s history is “born of dissent, ambition, creativity, innovation, stubbornness and rapid growth”. We say yes, Ballarat – one of the richest cities in the world in the 1880s thanks to the gold boom 30 years earlier – might have stately architecture lining its streets, but we’re also all about stepping back in time at Sovereign Hill, visiting the Art Gallery of Ballarat and enjoying the city’s vibrant dining scene. A 90-minute walking tour with Ballarat Heritage Tours? Add it to the list.

7. Ballarat, Victoria

The folks at City of Ballarat say the gold-rush town’s history is “born of dissent, ambition, creativity, innovation, stubbornness and rapid growth”. We say yes, Ballarat – one of the richest cities in the world in the 1880s thanks to the gold boom 30 years earlier – might have stately architecture lining its streets, but we’re also all about stepping back in time at Sovereign Hill, visiting the Art Gallery of Ballarat and enjoying the city’s vibrant dining scene. A 90-minute walking tour with Ballarat Heritage Tours? Add it to the list.

 

8. Broken Hill, NSW The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert might have put this outback city on the global map, but Broken Hill’s history goes back to the 1880s. It’s Australia’s first heritage-listed city and a Heritage Walk is a great way to understand its mining past and see what makes it tick today. The Broken Hill City Art Gallery and the Line of Lode Miner’s Memorial are worth a visit, and don’t miss a daytrip to Silverton – a once-booming silver mining town that remains frozen in time – or the sandstone statues of the Living Desert Reserve.

8. Broken Hill, NSW

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert might have put this outback city on the global map, but Broken Hill’s history goes back to the 1880s. It’s Australia’s first heritage-listed city and a Heritage Walk is a great way to understand its mining past and see what makes it tick today. The Broken Hill City Art Gallery and the Line of Lode Miner’s Memorial are worth a visit, and don’t miss a daytrip to Silverton – a once-booming silver mining town that remains frozen in time – or the sandstone statues of the Living Desert Reserve.

 

9. Richmond, Tasmania Road-trip picnic stops don’t come much more scenic than the quaint Georgian town of Richmond, once a convict station linking Hobart with Port Arthur. Set up by the sandstone Richmond Bridge (the oldest bridge in Australia still in use) for a bite before taking a stroll through the picturesque village. A wealth of 1820s-era buildings beckon – many of them teeming with antiques and local produce – then check out Richmond Gaol and St John’s Catholic Church on your way to a nearby Coal River winery.

9. Richmond, Tasmania

Road-trip picnic stops don’t come much more scenic than the quaint Georgian town of Richmond, once a convict station linking Hobart with Port Arthur. Set up by the sandstone Richmond Bridge (the oldest bridge in Australia still in use) for a bite before taking a stroll through the picturesque village. A wealth of 1820s-era buildings beckon – many of them teeming with antiques and local produce – then check out Richmond Gaol and St John’s Catholic Church on your way to a nearby Coal River winery.

 

10. York, WA Disregard its recent reputation for canola tourism; long before Instagram, York – the first inland settlement for WA’s early colonists and a certified “Historic Town” – delighted visitors with its mix of Victorian and Federation buildings, offset with the rolling countryside of the Avon Valley. Take a York Town Hall tour, check out the vintage cars at the York Motor Museum and step back in time at the Residency Museum. Cycle and hiking trails are bountiful, too, but note canola tends to flower only from mid-August to September.

10. York, WA

Disregard its recent reputation for canola tourism; long before Instagram, York – the first inland settlement for WA’s early colonists and a certified “Historic Town” – delighted visitors with its mix of Victorian and Federation buildings, offset with the rolling countryside of the Avon Valley. Take a York Town Hall tour, check out the vintage cars at the York Motor Museum and step back in time at the Residency Museum. Cycle and hiking trails are bountiful, too, but note canola tends to flower only from mid-August to September.

 

11. Charleville, Queensland Perched on the banks of the Warrego River and immortalised in song by Slim Dusty, this outback town (settled in the 1860s) became Australia’s industrial powerhouse when coach company Cobb & Co established a base here. Today, Charleville is a town that tells the story of Australia’s pioneering spirit, and the best way to get the lowdown is at the Historic House Museum. Add a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service visitor centre and stargazing at the Charleville Cosmos Centre to the itinerary.

11. Charleville, Queensland

Perched on the banks of the Warrego River and immortalised in song by Slim Dusty, this outback town (settled in the 1860s) became Australia’s industrial powerhouse when coach company Cobb & Co established a base here. Today, Charleville is a town that tells the story of Australia’s pioneering spirit, and the best way to get the lowdown is at the Historic House Museum. Add a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service visitor centre and stargazing at the Charleville Cosmos Centre to the itinerary.

 

12. Kalgoorlie, WA Heritage buildings? Settled in the 1890s, Kalgoorlie has its fair share, but it’s also home to a wealth of character pubs, prospecting tours and, weirdly, brothels, which together weave the story of this outback town’s gold-rush history. Pan for gold with a prospecting safari or book a tour of Australia’s largest gold-producing mine, the Super Pit. And don’t miss popping in at Questa Casa, one of the world’s oldest “houses of ill repute”, where a madam will lead a historic tour with a difference. See also:  Australia's best 100 towns worth visiting 70 best short breaks to take in Australia Australia's 2025 town of the year named

12. Kalgoorlie, WA

Heritage buildings? Settled in the 1890s, Kalgoorlie has its fair share, but it’s also home to a wealth of character pubs, prospecting tours and, weirdly, brothels, which together weave the story of this outback town’s gold-rush history. Pan for gold with a prospecting safari or book a tour of Australia’s largest gold-producing mine, the Super Pit. And don’t miss popping in at Questa Casa, one of the world’s oldest “houses of ill repute”, where a madam will lead a historic tour with a difference.

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