Bathurst, NSW 2795

Great regional town with a vibrant feel. I absolutely love to walk down Keppel st and sample the food on offer (The Hub & Legall Patissery and absolute must to try). The parks are really well cared for and unlike other country towns there is still alot of historical buildings in good condition. Often there is plays and productions that you can attend, the art gallery is good also.
From here you can venture to outlying little towns for a nice drive on weekends. The river is great for a Sunday BBQ (Bicentennial park) or you can head to the Fish River not far out of town for a nice swim in summer. Personally I believe this town deserves No 1 spot in the Central West. Parkes (No 1) & Orange (No 2) are nice also but they are in my view a bit dated/tired.

In a, up-to-then, friendly chat with a neighbour's Mum, we introduced ourselves. Her face dropped and she said `so you're ...' (my first name)! Conversation ended. I will never know why - but gossip is rife.
My wife sought to drive onto the main highway. A car approached - on the wrong side of the road. Three police cars followed. Later reported that was stolen car!
As I write this, gas supply is interrupted. Regional news advises restoration MAY BE WEEKS AWAY.
Retirement here dreadful!!

A town masking itself as a "City" over run by Sydney Siders looking for a tree change yet council keeps cutting them down

Rents and sales have reached ridiculous levels in the past 5 years making the dream of owning to locals impossible unless your dream is owing 1.5 million and leaving your children in debt

Bathurst prides itself on an elliteness yet the town is messy cold and full of crime

Council no longer cares about locals and more how this miserable place is seen by those who don't

I met a couple at a kid's party yesterday who were thinking of moving to Bathurst, and having lived there myself I thought I'd repeat my comments on here just to help anybody out who was also thinking of making the move.

We lived in Bathurst for nine years due to hubby's desire to live close to Sydney but be far enough away for that nice country feel, and potentially because we wanted a few acres for the kids to run around on later on. We found the town to be a relatively nice and safe place with enough to do for the first two years. But after that its limitations start to appear- the relentlessly cold winters, the limited jobs and recreation opportunities, lack of shops and the almost constant smells from the sewerage plant, devro plant and pet food plant in Raglan does start to make you wonder why you live there!

I'll mention it bluntly for the sake of those who've come from warmer areas: the weather in Bathurst is a huge obstacle for those who weren't born here and aren't used to it. Winter drags on for 6+months making it impossible to keep the outdoor/adventure routine you had going through the warmer months alive. It really takes until the end of November for it to get warm enough to want to venture outside and everything you get yourself or kids used to (swimming/swimming lessons, going to Machattie park/bushwalking) comes to a crashing halt around April. In Sydney or elsewhere on the coast we were still swimming at the beach at that time of year or at least able to go for a nice walk in a large park.

There are no specialty shops and most people head to Penrith or Orange for a good day of shopping.

Jobs are very limited, you really need to know someone to get a head start. Working for the council seems a great option but usually requires a close contact to get you in and trusted and even then the pay is much lower than at other councils. The university was a great employer, but that has been turned on its head by COVID and the financial setbacks it has suffered. The TAFE seems a ghost town. Even the big motor race isn't what it was- the RAAF hornet flyovers don't happen anymore and the big crowds are fading.

The town has lots of sporting opportunities if that's what you're looking for. And plenty of pubs.

Areas to avoid- probably best to go for a drive to work that one out.

If you're looking for warm weather, an open and inclusive culture, live music and nice weather then definitely look elsewhere.

The idea of even returning to see how the place is looking after not having lived there for one year isn't appealing in the slightest to us.

Try somewhere with a lower elevation and within one hour of the coast, with a population over 80,000.

Bathurst doesn't have much to offer.

Unless you have connections or money its hard to employment. Alot of places are levels of family members even if someone who it an 'outsider' has more experience and knowledge for the job.
The work on offer seems to be retail and nursing. ALOT of casual work not full time or part time. Apprenticeships and childcare is hard to come by again its who you know and also your age by 20 your 'too old'
Work tends to be away work or overnight so a family life is what you need to be prepared to give up to move here.
The council is hopeless to deal with, but completely content are taking money and raising rates. They can't deal with dogs which cause havoc or constantly barking, won't go check on trees that grow almost over your house amd are unsafe.
Roads are shit, constant potholes. Like all councils the simplist jobs will drag out for weeks because they need to sit in their cars on their phones, stands around, can't work if it drizzles etc,etc....
There isn't much entertainment for kids.
Quiet a bit of crime (break ins, especially cars overnight and even in daylight) around. Skatepark has issues with kids causing troubles.
Council only pays attention to the 2 parks in town, the race track and anything that interest or benefits them amd their families.
Personally i think its becoming over populated it no longer has a feeling of community or small villages. Council has let greed get the best of them making house blocks smaller and smaller to get more money. They give all land to the builders they want making their rich friends and friends richer.
Only a matter of time before its becomes units everywhere or them wanting to build up and make us into the crap part of parramatta.

Just seen below 'eat out' sunday late lunch is sometime near impossible. Went out in the snow got back and nothing was available ended up maccas 😑

Windradyne.. it's the best people are friendly it's got a local supermarket and doctor the views are fantastic and it's closer to town the the golf club and only a 40min drive to Orange it's the best rural town close to Sydney

I love Bathurst. As an independent business woman from Sydney, my dream was a home office in the CBD. Ten years later Federation Legal Services is a thriving business specialising in residential conveyancing. Buying a house here can be tricky especially if you come from out of town. So take your time and get good advice then take it.

I have lived here for a few years and have found Bathurst to be so friendly, clean, picturesque and peaceful. It has excellent schools, a top University and as a farmer, good grazing land. Bathurst has all the shops the city has, lower property prices, no traffic, easy parking, excellent customer services and a friendly community. People care about each other here - a rare and priceless commodity in a World of faceless indifference. Not too far to the big smoke if you get a craving for it. Absolutely love it here.

We've been living in Bathurst for only a few months but love it! The scenery is amazing even driving down the main streets in town you can see rolling hills. There's plenty of shopping options and cute little cafes. There is so much to do outdoors with kids or the family - the duck park, adventure playground (dinosaur park), river walks, feeding the possums, throwing money in the fountain, picnics and so much more! The locals have been friendly and even though we were warned off the Kelso area we haven't had a single problem here.

Bathurst city is alive and prosperous. Feels like a rural town, where you can become a local but big enough to have all the perks that you want without travel.
Although if you are a fan of the big smoke, Sydney is only a train ride away for $8.50 or you can jump in your car and you are there in a couple of hours. The town buzzes with the uni activity and always feels like something is happening.

I have lived in Bathurst for a long time and it is a wonderful country town to live. In Bathurst you will find excellent accommodation, restaurants and a business & shopping centres that cater for all your needs, plus the friendly warmth of country proprietors and competitive pricing.
Education in Bathurst is the best easy to make friends for your kids and friendly teachers. In Bathurst the weather is fantastic you can see all four seasons from your front yard. Bathurst also has beautiful parks that you could walk through forever, Bathurst parks are always clean and great place for you and your kids to go and spend time together.
Bathurst is not just great for the kids its also good for the parents to sit outside and drink a cup of coffee and just watch the view to relax. The Neighbourly spirit is the best everyone welcomes you and make you feel like you've been living there your whole life. I recommend that bathurst is the best place to live.

Bathurst is mainly known for Mount Panorama, but to the locals its just the local attraction, like any other town has a claim to fame. It adds depth and appeal to the town - a name synonomous with motorsport and every year the V8 1000 race converts the town into a busy festival you can't help but get involved in and enjoy.

The town itself is a clean, cosy place. With numerous boarding schools and a university, Bathurst is also known in education circles. Renting often means competing with off-campus students so there is reasonable demand on local rentals, at least the cheaper end of the scale.

A pleasant place to live and subsequently visit.

Bathurst is best known for the Mount Panorama Racing Circuit and the major car races held there, but the City has much more to offer. The drive from Sydney takes about 2 and ½ hours heading west into the central tables lands of NSW. Bathurst is also known for the many fine wines produced in the area and whilst visiting take advantage of a winery tour. Take the historic walking tour and see many historic buildings and artefacts or try your hand fossicking for gem stones in the surrounding areas. There are galleries and museums to see as well as some of the natural attractions such as nearby Jenolan Caves. As a large fast growing community there are numerous accommodation choices as well as many places to eat.