All Events in Hartley

Join your expert and experienced National Trust and hartley native volunteer tour guide huckleberry campbell for an informative and entertaining meander back in time to the origins of Hartley historic Village and its monumental court house. Hear the stories of why such a grand building was built here and about the planning for a grand new town on the banks of the River Lett. Learn about the construction of Sir Thomas Mitchell's 1832 great Western Road through the Hartley valley when he first proposed a new village on the lawless road to bathurst. See the first land grant in the village given to Pierce Collits who went on to build Hartley's first building, the Royal Garter Inn. The story of how a former convict became an Australian pioneer is remarkable. The construction of the Hartley Court House and the village that was planned around it had great promise, but Hartley was to be left behind in the development of the Colony and destined to become one of the best preserved colonial villages in Australia today. The mystery surrounding the disappearance of the Royal Garter Inn for more than a century will leave you wanting to grab your shovels and find the answers. This unique walk has content you will not hear elsewhere and is a must for anyone with a passion for history and a great tale about how hard-working people change and survive when they face adversity.