Hartley, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hartley New South Wales
The main street of Hartley, showing the Shamrock Inn, Ivy Cottage and the Farmer's Inn
Hartley Location in New South Wales
Population	299 (2011 census)
Postcode(s)	2790
Elevation	792 m (2,598 ft)
Location	127 km (79 mi) W of Sydney 12 km (7 mi) S of Lithgow 9 km (6 mi) NW of Mount Victoria 26 km (16 mi) NW of Katoomba
LGA(s)	City of Lithgow
State electorate(s)	Bathurst
Federal Division(s)	Calare
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 28 °C 82 °F ? ?
Localities around Hartley: South Bowenfels Hartley Vale Mount Blaxland Hartley Mount York Little Hartley

Hartley is a special old village in the Central West part of New South Wales, Australia. It's about 127 kilometers (79 miles) west of Sydney. Hartley is located just below the western edge of the Blue Mountains.

Long ago, Hartley was a very important place. It was a main center for government and law. But then, new towns grew up along the railway line. Hartley became less busy. At the 2011 census, only 299 people lived there.

A Glimpse into Hartley's Past

Hartley used to be a busy place for law and government. It had a very active courthouse. This courthouse was built in 1837. It was designed by a famous architect named Mortimer Lewis. For over 50 years, the courthouse was busy with people who had broken the law.

Even though Hartley became less used, it stayed perfectly preserved. It's like a time capsule showing what a village looked like in the 1800s. Because it's so old and special, it's now a historic site. The National Parks and Wildlife Service takes care of it.

Visiting the Historic Site

The Hartley Historic Site is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of Mount Victoria. It's also 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) south of Lithgow. You can visit it every day, except on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. The site covers about 7.7 hectares (19 acres). It is listed on the Register of the National Estate, which means it's a very important historical place.

Hartley's Sister Villages

Hartley has two nearby "sister" villages: Little Hartley and Hartley Vale. People still live in these villages today. They also have their own interesting history.

• Little Hartley is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south-east of Hartley. It's home to a historic house called Rosedale.
• Hartley Vale is about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) east of Hartley. Here you can find the Comet Inn, Collits Inn, and the Hartley Vale cemetery.

There are also old walking tracks between Hartley Vale and Mount York. These tracks are managed by the New South Wales Lands Department.

Important Historical Places in Hartley

Hartley has several sites that are listed for their historical importance. This means they are protected because they tell us about the past.

• Great Western Highway: The Hartley historic site itself.
• 200 Jenolan Caves Road: The Military Station archaeological site. This is where old remains of a military station can be found.
• The Old Bathurst Road: Part of Cox's Road and Early Deviations - Hartley, Clarence Hilly Range and Mount Blaxland Precinct. This road was one of the first built over the Blue Mountains.

Images for kids

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  The old courthouse (1837), designed by Mortimer Lewis

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  Ivy Cottage and Shamrock Inn, two historic buildings in Hartley

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  St Bernard's Catholic Church

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  "Bungarribee" cottage, a charming old home in Hartley

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  Old Victoria Inn Hartley 1839