Local History

The Bathurst region has been inhabited by the Wiradjuri people for over 40,000 years.

The Wiradjuri people are the people of the three rivers – the Wambool (Macquarie), the Calare (Lachlan) and the Murrumbidgee. The Bathurst Wiradjuri were the most easterly grouping of the Wiradjuri nation. The Wiradjuri nation’s totem is the goanna, the local Bathurst Wiradjuri totem is the possum. Discover More Wiradjuri resources

Today there are many clans/nations who have relocated here and actively contribute to the economic, social, cultural and political life of the region.

Bathurst is New South Wales' oldest European inland settlement. The Local History collection contains resources relating to the rich history, geography and environment of the region.

Aside from books, there are journals, newspapers dating back to the 1840s, topographic and parish maps, plans and unique photographs.

Gregory Photographic Collection - a collection of contact prints made from glass-plate negatives, which are in the custody of the Bathurst District Historical Society. These images date from the 1890s to the 1920s and originate from the studio of Albert Gregory.

Main Street Study Photographs - William and George Streets, Bathurst: the collection is an invaluable photographic record of the buildings of major historical significance in the Bathurst CBD, including those which have been demolished. There are approximately 1000 images, sourced mainly from the Bathurst District Historical Society.

Bathurst Newspapers 

Bathurst Library has local newspapers on microfilm that you can view in the library. These include Bathurst Advocate, Bathurst Daily Argus, Bathurst Free Press, Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Bathurst Post, Bathurst Times, National Advocate, Western Independent, Western Times and Western Advocate. 

Access Bathurst Newspapers online