Why Is The Town Square Precinct Important?

The Square of today bears little physical resemblance to the original plan, but its purpose remains unchanged.  The Square has always been, and continues to be, a public place at the heart of Bathurst.

Bathurst is in an enviable position through having an identifiable and original public square whose significance has been recognised and supported by Bathurst Regional Council as a once in a lifetime opportunity to open a new vision for the future development of the City’s centre.

The challenge, now, is to find ways of ensuring that this space has the potential to become the active cultural community and commercial heart of the City by providing a focus for daily activities, enjoyment, the arts and for appropriate public celebrations, performance and entertainment.

We have the opportunity to transform the Square into a ‘pedestrian accessible’ precinct, a place that is not only ‘people friendly’ but also interesting to visit by ensuring laneways link streets, and green spaces and alcoves are given a pre-eminent place in future planning.

The Square Through Time

Within the traditional lands of the Wiradyuri, this historic Town Square in the heart of today’s Bathurst CBD began as an undefined space bounded by Russell, George, Howick and William Streets.

Commissioned by Governor Ralph Darling in 1829, Major Thomas Mitchell produced the town plan for Bathurst – the oldest of Australia’s inland European settlements.  This plan was published in 1833.

The axis on which the Square is founded however, began earlier still in 1815 when Governor Lachlan Macquarie proclaimed the Township and had Surveyor Evans lay out a tentative plan for a town. The axis was a geographical determinant, formed by a slight ridge that ran from the Governor’s flag staff at the river’s edge, in a south-westerly direction towards what is now Mount Panorama (Wahluu). This axial ridge line ensured that the site of the township would drain naturally to creeks on either side that flowed into the Macquarie (Wambool) River.

Mitchell’s Scheme, based on this axis, evolved into the present town layout illustrated on the 1833 plan.  The Square itself was gradually lost as the town developed and land grants were issued to Government institutions, religious groups, and finally commercial interests. One third of the Square (previously occupied by the extensive Market building, demolished in 1909) was salvaged in 1910 by a group of citizens intent on creating a public space within the CBD – this area was named King’s Parade, following the death of King Edward VII.

The significance of this ‘lost’ Town Square became apparent during studies carried out for the Conservation Management Plan for the William and Howick Streets former TAFE College buildings in 2000¹.  These heritage buildings, and many others of historic importance, were found to be within the Town Square precinct which formed their curtilage.  A Conservation Management Plan for the War Memorial Carillon² also demonstrated that the Town Square was its curtilage. It became clear that this precinct was an important historical item of State significance, worthy of further study and preservation.

One hundred years after the establishment of King’s Parade, another group of citizens (The Bathurst Town Square Group) recognised the importance of the original Square’s context and heritage contents as the future heart of the CBD in the growing and increasingly important City of Bathurst.  A submission was made to the Geographical Names Board of NSW who officially gazetted the Bathurst Town Square and designated it an “Historical Area” on 20 September 2010.

Today, the Square continues to be endorsed by the Bathurst Regional Council and embraced by the people of Bathurst.