Goulburn

Goulburn is a regional city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. It sits on the traditional lands of Indigenous communities and on the Goulburn River, about 195 kilometers southwest of Sydney and around 80 kilometers north of Canberra. The town is at approximately 700 meters above sea level and experiences a cool temperate climate with four distinct seasons.

European settlement began in the 1820s, and the town grew as a service and administrative centre for surrounding pastoral runs. It was named after the Goulburn River, which in turn was named for Henry Goulburn, a British politician. The arrival of the Main Southern railway in the late 19th century and later the Hume Highway helped establish Goulburn as a major transport and commercial hub for the region.

Today, Goulburn serves as a key service centre for the Southern Tablelands economy, with activities in agriculture, wool production, light manufacturing, retail and public administration. The city preserves a number of 19th-century and early 20th-century buildings and is known for landmarks such as the Big Merino, a large ram statue reflecting the region’s pastoral heritage.

Transport links include the Hume Highway and the Main Southern railway line, with regular NSW TrainLink services to Sydney and Canberra and an extensive local bus network. The city hosts several primary and secondary schools and a TAFE NSW campus, and provides health, cultural and administrative services for the surrounding district.

Goulburn also hosts a correctional facility and serves as the administrative centre for the surrounding local government area.