Hartley
St Bernard's Presbytery, Hartley Historic Site - Credit: John Spencer | OEH
Important travel information
Travel to this destination may be affected by changes to traffic conditions on the Great Western Highway, including a detour at Victoria Pass. Alternative routes are available, with multiple travel options to access the region. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and check the latest travel advice and maps via the Transport for NSW website.
This atmospheric 1830s village in the Blue Mountains was once an important staging post for horse-drawn carriages heading west to the goldfields. Step back in time – much of the original settlement is a perfectly-preserved vestige of the colonial past, with 17 buildings telling the story of life and hardships in regional Australia.
Highlights
Relive history
This 1930s settlement of Hartley Historic Site features amazingly preserved sandstone buildings set amid lush orchards and pastures. The site is managed by NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, and can be explored on a self-guided tour. Visit the cells of its magnificent Greek Revival Hartley Courthouse, the gothic St Bernard's Church and the Corneys Garage, built of timber and iron in 1945 and today home to an antiques shop.
Corney's Garage at Hartley Historic Site, Hartley - Credit: Jennifer Leahy | DCCEEW
Next up: stop at the Hartley Historic Site Visitor Centre housed in the former Farmers Inn to pick up brochures and admire contemporary Aboriginal artworks in the Kew-Y-Ahn Aboriginal Gallery.
Walking trails
Hartley village is also the jumping-off point for several easy walks through the Blue Mountains. The River Walk begins near Corneys Garage and follows the rocky slopes of the hillside as it drops towards the Lett River, passing the remains of Rowson's Hut before returning to the village.
Meanwhile, the scenic 8km route between Mount York and Hartley Vale is one of the state's classic bushwalking trails. From Mount York, Berghofer's Pass follows the original road from the Blue Mountains to the Western Plains, with many historic reminders along the way.
Mount York - Credit: Blue Mountains Visitor Information Centres
Little Hartley
The hamlet of Little Hartley is increasingly known as a garden centre, with some spectacular private gardens such as Wild Meadows (a romantic naturalistic garden filled with roses, lilies and summer perennials), Gory'u Japanese Garden (a Kaiyushiki teien stroll garden) and Highfield Gardens (with views as spectacular as the flora) open seasonally. Time your visit with the Hartley Valley Garden Festival and Plant Fair in October to enjoy food stalls, metal garden art, artisan stalls and oil painting alongside your visits to the gardens.
Enjoy a leisurely long lunch of gourmet woodfired pizza at Alchemy, with its lovely deck and views over the valley. Afterwards, give the kids the ultimate sugar rush at The Lolly Bug, home to more than 1,500 sweets and confections.
Highfield Gardens, Hartley - Credit: David Kennedy
Where to stay
Sleep in a piece of history at the former St Bernards Presbytery, a sandstone cottage sleeping up to four that has been restored and refurbished with modern facilities. There are also several cottages and farm stays in the area, including the Woolshed Cabins in neighbouring Kanimbla Valley.
St Bernards Presbytery, Hartley - Credit: John Spencer | OEH
Getting there
Hartley is a two-hour drive west of Sydney and just 10 minutes from Lithgow. The Great Western Highway is currently closed between Mount Victoria and Hartley, so the village is only accessible via the Bells Line of Road and alternative routes. You can also catch the train direct from Sydney to Lithgow, which takes just under three hours.
