Harden Gold Trail Festival

Re-enactment of the shooting of John Barnes - Harden Gold Trail Festival

The south west of NSW is home to many towns which have been affected by the discovery of gold and ten local governments in the area have recently banded together to create a tourist trail to celebrate the region's gold rush history. Harden Shire Council has embraced this concept and in 2010, the first Harden Gold Trail Festival was held.



Re-enacment of the shooting of John Barnes, Harden Gold Trail Festival

The twin-towns of Harden and Murrumburrah are part of the 186 000 hectare Harden Shire Council area which is home to around 3 500 people. Today the area is better known for its quality dryland wheat but back in the 1800s, it was home to scandal and intrigue with several high profile bushrangers plying their trade in the area. Demondrille Creek near Harden saw the discovery of gold in 1856 and in 1897, Harden Murrumburrah was the site of the first call up muster of the 1st Australian Horse. These chapters in Harden's history are celebrated at the Harden Gold Trail Festival. The festival includes re-enactments of famous events such as the shooting of John Barnes by bushrangers Vane and O'Meally, the Murrumburrah Light Horse Troop manouvres, a bullock dray, gold panning, plays and muzzle-loading and firing demonstrations.

The festival also has market stalls featuring local arts, crafts, baked goods and produce.

Market stalls, Harden Gold Trail Festival

Harden is located three and a half hours from Sydney and one and a half hours from Canberra. The Harden Gold Trail Festival takes place at the Murrumburrah Showground on Woolrych Street in Murrumburrah with events scheduled between 11am and 4pm.
The cost of entry to the Harden Gold Trail Festival is $2.00 for adults and $1 for children or $5 for families.