Goulburn Historic Water Works, Lunch and Winery

20 June 2024 / Words by Steve & Cecelia Wakeling. Photos by Lili Chi and Rod Nicholas

A cold and frosty winters morning saw 15 cars assemble in Bungendore for a 10 am start.

I was surprised by the number of participants, as we would be visiting Goulburn in the middle of winter. If you have ever lived in Goulburn, you would know what I mean.

Coffees had been purchased to help compensate for the fresh 3-degree morning.

Only a few hearty souls lowered their roofs.

The road from Bungendore to Goulburn via Tarago and Lake Bathurst was a series of road works, gravel reservicing and potholes. It might be sest to be avoid this route until the reservicing is completed.

Goulburn treated us to a few winter showers while we wandered around the Goulburn’s Historic Waterworks. It is a very interesting place. Sited beside the Wollondilly River, the waterworks supplied the growing city of Goulburn with reticulated water from 1886, using big Appleby Beam steam engine. The machinery is huge and in very good condition. It was all made in England and brought out by sailing or stream powered ships in the 1800s. The fly wheel for the engine is 5 metres in diameter and at 18 rpm the pumps delivered 130,000 litres of water per hour. This engine was 'moth-balled' in 1918 after 32 years of service and replaced with electric pumps. The Waterworks worth a visit. We were there for 45 minutes, but you need an hour. The tour guide was very knowledgeable.

The horizontal engine on display is only a little fella 

On to lunch just down the road at Roses Café. The range of food in their refrigerated display counter is just amazing. Sooooo much to choose from. The pies and sausage rolls are all home-made - a huge range and delicious. This is the place to have lunch if you are ever in Goulburn. It moved a while ago, so Google the new address. It is now located in the renovated school hall opposite the Cathedral.

After lunch we motored 10 minutes down the road to the Kingsdale Winery. Evidently none of the participants had been there before, including Cecelia and me. It is always pleasing as a run Leader to find a location within an hour’s run from base that none of the 23 participants has previously visited. The winery turned out to also be a farm (horses, geese, ducks, turkeys, lama’s, talking parrots). Some members never made it to the tasting room as they were too interested in the animals. Some purchases were made, and we also purchased some home-made sourdough bread, which was excellent.

Just a sample of the cars on our run

Members made their own way back home. We went via Crookwell and Gunning. The road was OK, no road works, but had some nasty potholes. 

Steve & Cecelia.

There are plenty more photos of the day on our Facebook page, courtesy of Lili. Have a look!