Gundagai: Bridges, Heritage Walks and Local History

Gundagai is a destination for anyone who wants to discover Australian local history through bridges, themed walks and museums. Railway and road transport history meet local art, memorials, and walking and cycling trails here. When choosing a holiday rental, you might therefore consider which of these themes particularly interests you during your stay: historic structures, exhibitions or outdoor activities.

Bridges, Railway Station and Transport History

The Prince Alfred Bridge near Gundagai is significant for aesthetic, historical, engineering and tourism reasons. The historic Railway Bridge and its timber viaduct are also still standing; together, they connect the city to its railway and engineering history. Exhibitions at the railway station recall the history of travel from the time when trains regularly ran on the now-closed Cootamundra–Tumut line. One distinctive feature of the station is its goods shed with a slate roof: it is the only one of its kind in New South Wales.

The Australian Road Transport Heritage Centre is devoted to the development of Australian road transport. The transport museum preserves, maintains and displays vehicles and equipment from this history. Also on display are vehicles and equipment used on the Hume Highway and in the Gundagai region. This means two different transport histories sit side by side in Gundagai: railway and road transport.

Discover Local History on Foot

The Gundagai Architectural Heritage Walk is a 2 km stroll to historic points of interest. It starts and ends at the Gundagai Visitor Information Centre. A self-guided audio tour of the Old Gundagai Gaol is also available there every day. Bushrangers Captain Moonlite and Peisley were once held in the former prison’s cells. The Main Street Heritage Walk is another route with a historical focus; it takes just over an hour. The two walks therefore offer different points of reference for planning your day: a specific distance for the Architectural Heritage Walk and a duration for the Main Street Heritage Walk.

The Gundagai River Walk offers another way to experience the area. This sealed, shared, car-free path connects North Gundagai and South Gundagai. It starts at Yarri Park and passes through native parkland along Morleys Creek. Visitors can fish for Murray Cod, Yellow Belly or Trout along the Gundagai River Walk. If your choice of accommodation is guided mainly by walking trails and outdoor activities, you can take these options into account alongside the historic sites.

Museums, Art and Memorials

The collection at the Australian Pen Museum comprises more than 3,000 objects, one of which is 4,000 years old. Art in public and cultural spaces also takes other forms: Rusconi’s Marble Masterpiece is on display at the Gundagai Visitor Information Centre and was assembled from more than 20,000 individual pieces of marble. The Three Sisters of Gundagai Mural tells the story of the life and development of Melba XV of Darbalara. The sculpture The Great Rescue of 1852 honours Wiradjuri heroes. Anzac Park is home to several memorials to conflicts in which Australia has been involved.

Another place to visit is 8 km north of Gundagai: the area around the Dog on the Tucker Box Pioneer Monument features well-maintained gardens, Australian animal sculptures and spacious picnic areas. The Tuckerbox Pups invite you to explore Sheridan Street. These varied stops offer several specific themes to explore during your stay: from transport and railway heritage to art and remembrance, walking trails and the river.

If you’d like to discover more destinations: Mystery Bay, Fernbank Creek, Tintenbar, Cooma, Killara, Lake George, Fitzroy Falls and Kosciuszko National Park.

For the broader travel overview: New South Wales.